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Charmaine Williams (left), giving an American Sign Language 'P' for 'peace', and Shakeel Harris greet each other on the first day of classes Wednesday at Lee Early College. Both are sophomores at the unique school, a collaboration between Central Carolina Community College and Lee County Schools. Students attend for five years and earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

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Tania Brewington, teacher assistant, welcomes students to Lee Early College at an assembly Wednesday, the first day of classes. The college, located on Central Carolina Community College's Lee County Campus, is a collaboration between the college and Lee County Schools. Students attend for five years and earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to them.

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Math teacher John Howard answers students' questions during the first day of classes Wednesday at Lee Early College on Central Carolina Community College's Lee County Campus. The LEC, a collaboration between the college and Lee County Schools, enables students to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in five years at no cost to the students.

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Lee Early College Principal Mark West welcomes students to the college at an assembly Wednesday, the first day of classes. The college, located on Central Carolina Community College's Lee County Campus, is a collaboration between the college and Lee County Schools. Students attend for five years and earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to them.

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Lee Early College students gather in small groups in the gymnasium at Central Carolina Community College to get to know each other at the start of the first day of classes Wednesday. The college, located on the college's Lee County Campus, is collaboration between the college and Lee County Schools. Students attend for five years and earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree at no cost to them.