Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is making plans to open a unique school in Roanoke, which would be the first of its kind in Virginia. The school, called the Excel Center, will be a high school for adults, offering morning and afternoon classes and support services such as childcare.
According to Mary Ann Gilmer, the chief external affairs officer for Goodwill, about 13,000 people in the Roanoke region aged 25 or older do not have a high school diploma or GED. Although there are more career opportunities for those without a college degree, a high school diploma is a requirement for most jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Graduates of the Excel School will earn more money than before completing their diploma and be more likely to take college classes or earn professional certifications, Gilmer said.
Though the school was announced in November, opening a school requires more than setting up desks and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Legislation had to be amended to permit a nonprofit to serve adult students throughout the region, and an education plan had to be established to meet state high school standards. Renovations are currently underway to accommodate the new school, which will be located at Goodwill’s regional headquarters on Melrose Avenue in Roanoke.
The project will include a grocery store called Market on Melrose, a bank, and a wellness center. All four components are expected to open by the end of 2024, and Gilmer says that Goodwill plans to raise about $5 million for the project, with another $10 million pledged by the city of Roanoke.
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, which serves 35 counties in Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia, currently offers free GED programming through Roanoke Valley-Region 5 Adult Education. Once the new high school opens, students will have the option of pursuing a high school diploma or a GED, with wraparound services such as childcare and career coaching available as needed.
Goodwill plans to downsize its administrative offices and relocate some of the services it currently offers in the Melrose building, including day support and older worker programs, to make room for the new amenities.
The Excel Center in Roanoke faces unique challenges because it is the first of its kind in Virginia. However, Gilmer says that once it opens, the school expects to welcome about 100 students from throughout the region, with word of mouth expected to increase enrollment over time.
The nonprofit also plans to offer certification and community college classes at the school for free. Goodwill has successfully implemented the Excel Center model in over 30 schools across six states and Washington, D.C., and it hopes to replicate its success in Virginia.
