The Virginia Department of Education has approved the first adult high school to be operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys in Roanoke at Melrose Plaza.
The Excel Center is a monumental step forward for Virginia adults who lack a high school diploma and will allow them to finish high school courses in a supportive environment while simultaneously earning industry-recognized workforce credentials.
More than 670,000 adults in Virginia do not have a high school diploma. Lack of a high school diploma is connected to decreased income, decreased life expectancy and increased health concerns for the individual. At the community level, high school dropout rates lead to less spending and tax revenue while increasing public costs for crime, health and public assistance.
The Excel Center will address barriers for adult students by providing wraparound services that include childcare, transportation services, and college and career navigation.
“We know there are many Virginians who are missing only one or two classes to earn their high school diploma. A GED isn’t as logical for these students because of the time and monetary investment required. The Excel Center creates another option for students. At the Excel Center, students will take advantage of accelerated coursework and smaller classes to expedite their learning,” The Excel Center Vice President of Business and Community Engagement Zenith Barrett.
Courses are offered at an accelerated pace and at times to accommodate working students. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, based in Roanoke, is the first Goodwill in the Commonwealth to offer an adult high school. Designed as a cornerstone of Melrose Plaza, the Excel Center is part of Goodwill’s greater initiative to address poverty, healthcare concerns and food accessibility in Roanoke.
“Addressing economic disparities, community health, and quality of life concerns must first begin with education,” Goodwill Valleys CEO Richmond Vincent Jr. said. “The Excel Center aims to address this concern for residents in the Roanoke Valley.”
Barrett said that creating a brighter future for students requires more than just helping then earn a diploma. “We have to support them as they envision new opportunities and a new career path.”
“Goodwill has a long-standing history of helping people connect to jobs and career paths in the community,” said Vincent. “The Excel Center builds on our successful career assistance programs by helping job seekers get the credentials that they need in order to be in high demand.”
Planning for the Excel Center began in 2023, with legislative action to allow adult high schools in Virginia.
“State law had to change in order to allow for an adult high school to exist,” said Barrett. “It was a simple amendment to state code that opened doors for more than 600,000 adults in Virginia without a high school diploma. We hope that our model can be emulated throughout the state to benefit every community.”
The Excel Center is an evidence-based, proven educational model that has been used by Goodwill centers across the country since 2010, helping adults earn high school diplomas and workforce credentials.
“This will be the first Excel Center in Virginia, and we are looking forward to expanding the model in other areas where high dropout rates are having an impact on the local economy,” said Barrett.
“The Excel Center is one vital step forward in ensuring a brighter future for Virginians,” said Vincent.
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Rebecca Barnabi
