It’s the kind of description every mother and father dream of hearing about their own child:

“He is loved by his peers and his teachers. He is easy to befriend and gets along well with others. A real go-getter. He knows what he wants and knows how to go about getting it.”

As if that high praise from Principal Gloria Woods-Weeks weren’t enough, having that same child graduate from high school with almost 70 college credits under his belt goes beyond most parents’ wildest dreams.

For Malik Majette’s family, that dream is reality.

A 2015 graduate of J.D. Clement Early College High School in Durham, Malik finished high school with his diploma and 69 college credits earned through North Carolina Central University and summer programs at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He began his official university studies this fall as a junior at NCSU in computer engineering.

“Going to Clement was a great opportunity,” Malik said. “My guidance counselor was always encouraging me to take the hardest classes, get them out of the way. She helped me focus my college applications. The principal and everyone really supported me. I’d be in some classes with graduating college seniors, so they were surprised I took the initiative to take courses like that so early.”

The school’s counselor, Karen Rankins-Hinton, holds a weekly senior seminar for students, helping them navigate college planning and processes. Every senior attends the class and applies to some type of post-secondary program. Sessions include helping students find colleges that match their interests, walking through the application process, finding scholarships, completing financial aid applications and other skills needed for success after graduation.

Malik’s father saw something different in the school from the beginning.

“When he went to the early college, they saw the potential in him and he was able to excel,” said Reggie Majette. “Traditional schools focus on just graduating students. At J.D. Clement, the focus from the first day of orientation is graduating students with honors and scholarships and going to college. They’re going to do everything they can to make that happen.”

Malik’s parents are understandably proud of their son, but not surprised by his accomplishments.

“He always wanted to exceed at everything, but this school supported him more and the academic levels were higher than they were 10 years ago,” said his mother, Gloria Majette. “The expectations now are higher. Sometimes in early college when you have too many credits as a senior, you can take easy credits at the end. Malik’s counselor encouraged him not to do that and that helped him to achieve this many credits.”

By completing so many credits through the early college, Malik was able to save money that would have otherwise been spent on the first two years of undergraduate study.

“In real dollars, it’s two years of college learning with no expense to us,” said Reggie Majette. “It helps us a lot. With all his accolades, he wasn’t able to get a full scholarship, but at least we know that out-of-pocket expense is half of what it would be.”

Having almost 70 credits completed also gives Malik a head start on his career.

“He can finish his undergrad degree in two years, then he can go on to get his master’s degree,” Gloria Majette said. “He’ll be able to enter the workforce ahead of his peers, so he’ll be ahead of the curve in terms of career opportunities.”

Beyond the dollars and hours saved, Malik points out benefits to the whole experience of beginning college while still in high school.

“Just being able to walk on a college campus and interact with other students and professors starting in 10th grade, I definitely feel more prepared for the next steps,” Malik said. “The transition to college can be difficult, but being able to take college classes with support through my high school has helped me start that transition so it won’t be so rough.”

Thinking back over his high school experience, Malik knows he gave up some elements of the traditional high school to get where he is today. But he has no regrets — and he shares words of encouragement with younger students at J.D. Clement.

“I would tell them to keep pushing, even when it gets hard,” Malik said. “The high school classes at J.D. Clement are different, they’re actually preparing you for the college classes you’ll take the next year. There aren’t the same extracurriculars, like football and baseball, but you’ll reap the benefits. To be able to come out of college at 20 years old with your own job? That’s worth it.”