Our Vision
Thousands of individuals drop out of high school each year, impacting their career potential as employers seek workers with higher skills and specialization. As part of our commitment to enhance career potential and access to high-growth jobs, The Excel Center provides effective ways to offer adult high school students accelerated learning, opportunities for post-secondary education, and individualized career planning.
Our Mission
The Excel Center provides adults the opportunity and support to earn a high school diploma and post-secondary education while developing career paths that offer greater employment and growth opportunities. Our schools “meet students where they are” in their education by providing a flexible structure and supportive relationships to help students manage work, life and family concerns as they achieve their educational goals.
Why is a High School Diploma Preferred?
Why is a high school diploma preferred over a GED (General Education Diploma)? The LEO study found that:
- The Excel Center students are 40% more likely to be employed after graduating
- Graduates increase their earnings by 39% within five years compared to their non-graduating peers
- Nearly 70% of Excel Center students are parents and of those, more than two-thirds indicated their own children’s academic achievement improved
Our opportunity to create significant outcomes is illustrated by the following demographics:
- 42% of Excel Center graduates are first-generation U.S. residents
- 51% of Excel Center students have school-age children
Meeting Students Where They Are
No prerequisites, no barriers and no limit to the things our students can achieve.
One of the best things about The Excel Center is that we meet students where they are: no prerequisites, no barriers and no limit to the things our students can achieve. We offer language translation, free drop-in daycare, transportation support and more.
Words from our Students
“It’s in person and it’s free, and it’s more of an educational environment where you really get a chance to learn one-on-one with the teacher.”
“I did not imagine myself where I am now. At 18, I truly thought I would be dead by [age] 28…What I was doing in life wasn’t exactly going to get me anywhere. I started thinking about ways I could turn my life around. I heard about The Excel Center from a friend who was attending at the time. The type of community I felt at The Excel Center was tight-knit and bonded–people that had your best interest. You start to see that you can achieve anything you want to.”
“I’m just so thankful for The Excel Center because my son was able to get the help he needed in the free child care center while I earned my diploma. This program has been amazing for not only me but also for my entire family.”