The city of Boston offers a myriad of alternative education programs, regardless of your walk in life.
One size never fits all, and not every child, teen or adult is suited to thrive in the traditional classroom setting. According to the Boston Public Schools website, 1987 in the Massachusetts city saw the collaboration between the Mayor's Office and BPS to fund a network of community-based alternative education programs. Since then, a myriad of schools and programs have thrived. The extent of the network reaches out to the entire community, no matter what your situation in life.
Career Exploration
Career exploration programs are geared toward youths who are unsure about which career path to choose. These programs are available for high school graduates as well as those who did not attend or complete high school. These programs allow youths to explore a range of options in a particular field, gain experience, learn skills and make the transition to employment. Career exploration programs in Boston focus on opportunities in the health field, marine trades, construction and technology. Boston career exploration programs include ABCD Career Explorations, Hyde Square Task Force's Health Careers Ambassadors Program, Hull Lifesaving Museum's Maritime Apprentice Program, Sociedad Latina's Health Careers for Youth, Year Up and YouthBuild Boston.
Diploma Granting
For youths who did not attend or complete high school, the city of Boston offers numerous programs for certain age brackets that will allow these individuals to earn an official high school diploma upon completion. The Boston Adult Technical Academy, the Boston Day and Evening Academy, the Community Academy, and the Greater Egleston Community High School are all part of the BPS system. ABCD University High School, City Roots, EDCO Youth Alternative, El Centro del Cardenal, Ostiguy High School and YouthBuild Boston and all community-based programs, but still offer a BPS diploma. The Notre Dame Education Center offers a program for students to earn a diploma through Cathedral High School.
GED Preparation
A GED can also be earned in place of a high school diploma. The General Education Development test, accepted by 95 percent of U.S. employers, colleges and universities, covers the knowledge and skills learned during the four years of high school. GED-preparation schools in Boston include Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Crittenton Women's Union, El Centro del Cardenal, GED Plus, Notre Dame Education Center, The Log School and YouthBuild Boston.
Middle School
The city of Boston also offers alternatives not just for high school and beyond but for middle school as well. Many youths do not and cannot succeed in the traditional middle school setting. Truancy, discipline and expulsion are frequent experiences cast upon these types of students. Boston's alternative middle school programs operate with the goal of providing a safe, structured and supportive setting and to help them transition to their next level of education, according to the BPS website. Alternative middle school programs in Boston are offered at the Boston Middle School Academy, the Dorchester Youth Alternative Academy and the Little House Alternative Middle School.
Tags: high school, city Boston, exploration programs, High School, YouthBuild Boston, alternative education