Leaders Respond to 500,000 Virginias Without High School Diplomas or GEDs.
Virginia marked a milestone Monday with the opening of the Commonwealth’s first adult high school, giving residents a second chance to earn their diplomas.
The Excel Center, located at Melrose Plaza in Roanoke, welcomed its inaugural class of more than 50 students. Unlike a GED program, the school offers adults a chance to earn an actual high school diploma in just 18 weeks, with the option to add industry certifications tailored to specific career paths.
“To see this happening here is just an exciting representation of the fact that we’re all life-long learners,” Governor Glenn Youngkin told 10 News. “Some just might need that first big step. A high school diploma, their first credential, a certificate that opens up a new avenue for them. And I’m excited to see it embodied right here in Roanoke.”