Virginia Opens Its First Adult High School

ROANOKE,Va.–VirginiamarkedamilestoneMondaywiththeopeningoftheCommonwealth’sfirstadulthighschool,givingresidentsasecondchancetoearntheirdiplomas. TheExcelCenter,locatedatMelrosePlazainRoanoke,welcomeditsinauguralclassofmorethan50students.UnlikeaGEDprogram,theschooloffersadultsachancetoearnanactualhighschooldiplomainjust18weeks,withtheoptiontoaddindustrycertificationstailoredtospecificcareerpaths. “Toseethishappeninghereisjustanexcitingrepresentationofthefactthatwe’realllife-longlearners,”GovernorGlennYoungkintold10News.“Somejustmightneedthatfirstbigstep.Ahighschooldiploma,theirfirstcredential,acertificatethatopensupanewavenueforthem.AndI’mexcitedtoseeitembodiedrighthereinRoanoke.” Theprogramisfreeandchildcare,transportationsupport,lifecoaching,andjobplacementservicesareincluded. “Forme,itissomethingseriousthatIhavebeentryingtodoandthatIreallywanttofinish,”saidstudentPorscheCallowaywhoenrolledintheprogramwithheroldersister,Ro