LAKEWOOD - Just because Ariel Peterson never finished high school doesn't mean she will never finish high school.
"I don't know. I was kinda slacking throughout high school," Peterson said.
She is now a student at McLain Community High school. One of the few high schools in the country open to adult students of any age.
"It gives people options," Peterson said. "It's always good to have options instead of like, you have to get your G.E.D. and that's you only option."
Last year, the testing administrators changed the requirements of the General Education Development test making it more difficult to pass.
"The failure rate for the G.E.D. skyrocketed and so now students are looking for alternatives," George White, McLain assistant principal, said.
White says McLain has changed its program to have a more career-bound focus. Adults start off by taking a three week class called the Discovery Program.
"The Discovery Program kinda helps them get all the career skills that they need to be successful - when they're in an interview, meeting people in social situations," White said.
Peterson says the Discover Program can help students find success anywhere.
"You can learn life lessons in school, too. That'll help you with jobs and with family and with other relationships outside of school," Peterson said. "They taught us time management, problem solving."
White hopes that these skills will translate into helping these adult students finally attain a high school diploma.
"It's for success in school," White said. "But, it's success in the work environment."
McLain Community High School will hold registration for its adult education classes at 6:30 p.m. on September 9 at the high school for the day session. Adults interested in night classes can register at 6:30 p.m. on September 16 at the high school. If you want to find out more information, click here: http://bit.ly/1Q79ylJ
"It helps with everything in general," Peterson said. "Especially with us all being adults, because once you get older, you're kinda stubborn and like stuck in your ways."
(© 2015 KUSA)
