The Alternative High School Program provides an additional pathway to high school completion for students who are not succeeding at the traditional home high school. For students whose lives have presented them with obstacles, this program allows them a second chance to meet their graduation requirements.

Our school is a separate community and has small classes where one on one work can occur. It has a full-time daily schedule from 12:00 noon to 6:15pm. Students have a different environment away from the stresses experienced in a large school population. Attention, support and intervention is consistent and enables them to learn to cope with their personal issues and mature into successful young people, ready to be an asset in our ever changing society.

Students must be 16 years of age and have completed their first year of high school. The course work includes the basic curriculum required for a High School Regents Diploma. They take the same district-wide and Regents exams as their cohorts at the home high school. Electives are limited to our facility’s capabilities. Diploma and graduation take place with the home high school. Students are allowed to attend school functions (banquets, proms, etc.) unless they have violated the District’s Code of Conduct.

At the end of the second semester, some students may return to their home high school to complete their graduation requirements.

Application for this program may be obtained from the student’s Guidance Counselor.

GED (AHSEP) Program

This program is a second opportunity for students who have not found success in the traditional or Alternative High School environment to obtain an Equivalency High School Diploma.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Students must be 16-18 years of age (Special Ed – 16-21).
• Students must have completed the school year in which they turned 16 years of age (e.g. if DOB is 5/12 they cannot enter the GED program until September). They should remain in the regular program.
• Students must be offered all options to complete the requirements to earn a regular High School Diploma before being admitted into the GED Program. Thus, the Alternative Program must be tried first. GED will always be there.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES:

• If the student exceeds the calculated number of credits, a committee representing the Home School, CSE, GED Program, parent/guardian, etc., decides that the GED route is most beneficial for the student.

GED TEST PURPOSE:

• It was and is an adult test for 19+ year olds. Only 3 States have a variance to allow 16 year-olds to take this test and earn an equivalency diploma; California, Florida and New York. If a student does drop out of High School, they may not take this test until one year after their class has graduated or they are 19 years of age. Applications are available from the student’s Guidance Counselor at the Home High School.