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About Us

A full-day comprehensive high school, Highland School of Technology (HST) is Gaston County Schools’ first “school of choice.” Designed around an Academy Pathway, it features rigorous academic and technical curricula for students in grades 9-12. 

HST prepares students for entrance into quality four-year universities and two-year community college degree or certificate programs and/or entry into high-demand career pathways in the 
workplace. 

Highland is the first 9-12 high school in the state to receive the School of Excellence status and was recognized as a model school by the International Center for Leadership in Education. 

As a school of choice, students and their families interested in benefiting from HST’s unique curricula and real-world experiences need to complete application materials, participate in the lottery process and meet the Board of Education's established entrance criteria. 

Information about the lottery process is available in January each year.  The website is https://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/schoolchoice. The lottery is held when students are in the eighth grade. A waiting list is established from the lottery.  Students must be Gaston County residents to apply and attend Highland.

Curricula Offerings
HST offers all students rigorous and relevant core academic curricula in mathematics, English, science, social studies, world language, fine arts, and related elective classes. Honors and Advanced Placement(AP) courses are offered to qualifying students. The three specialized technical academy pathways and the career pathways available at HST are listed below. Curricula offerings are enhanced by the use of video, integration of course topics, and distance learning capabilities.

Character education and ethics for the workplace are recognized as of critical importance and are infused into the curricula. The HST curricula also offer students abundant opportunities for experiential (hands-on) learning in focused student internships, focused career mentoring with professionals from the private sector, youth apprenticeships, and opportunities for service learning.

Graduation Requirements
Graduation requirements for HST are 28 units - the same number of credit units as for other North Carolina and Gaston County high schools. However, the Board of Education requires students to complete four units of math while at HST.

Required Career and Technical Education Course Sequences for Graduation

BUSINESS, LEGAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCES ACADEMY:

  • Computer Science Pathway
    • Adobe Visual Design I and II, CompTIA IT Fundamentals, Python Programming I and II, Cisco Network Engineering Technology I and II, Advanced Studies
  • Business and Legal Studies Pathway
    • Accounting I, Adobe Visual Design I and II, Business Essentials, Financial Planning I and II, Business and Personal Law, Advanced Studies

MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING AND GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY:

  • Graphic Design Pathway
    • Adobe Visual Design I and II, Adobe Video Design I and II, Marketing, Digital Design and Animation I, Game Art and Design, Advanced Studies.
  • Manufacturing & Engineering Pathway
    • Adobe Visual Design I and II, Engineering Technology I, II, III, IV; Drafting I; Advanced Studies

HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY:

  • Dental Science Pathway
    • Adobe Visual Design I and II, Dental Science I, II, III, IV, V and VI
  • Allied Health Science Pathway & Medical Science Pathway
    • Adobe Visual Design I and II, Health Team Relations; Biomedical Technology; Health Science I and II
  • Allied Health Science Pathway
    • Nursing Fundamentals (Double Block)
  • Medical Science Pathway
    • Business Essentials, Health Sciences Advanced Studies (Internship)