School starts Monday, Aug. 25 and despite the opening of two new schools and the start of the Early College program, school officials are looking forward to a smooth first day.

Currituck County Schools is preparing to open the Jarvisburg and Shawboro elementary schools. In addition, the new Early College program, which will be housed at The J.P. Knapp School campus, also opens this year.

However, while Jarvisburg is scheduled to open on time, school officials anticipate the Shawboro school to be ready for classes within a few weeks. That means that Shawboro Elementary students will attend classes at The J.P. Knapp School campus until the new school opens, officials said. In the meantime, Early College students will attend classes at Currituck County Middle School until the elementary students move out of Knapp and into Shawboro Elementary.

Melissa Jensen, a school spokeswoman, said approximately 84 teenagers are enrolled in the Early College program. Jensen said that after the elementary school students vacate the Knapp building, larger desks will be added and the bathroom facilities will be changed to accommodate the older students.

School officials created the Early College program as a means to provide high school students the opportunity to complete high school courses, while at the same time earn college credits. The program gives students an early jump on college by providing them the opportunity to complete up to two years of college credits. Students will then be able to transfer their earned college credits to any of the 16 institutes within the University of North Carolina system.

The current Knapp building will be named The J.P. Knapp Early College High School and its first-ever principal, Wes Smith, along with the program's founding staff, are preparing to introduce the new curriculum to its first freshman class.

Students attending the school must be prepared for a taste of the college experience and be prepared to work hard. In addition to academics, the program also will offer social activities, such as clubs and intramurals. It will not, however, offer competitive sports.

Jensen said school officials are planning to hold a grand opening ceremony of the new Jarvisburg School some time before school starts. The new school will help alleviate crowding at Dr. W.T. Griggs Elementary School, lower Currituck's other elementary school.