News & Events

The journey to obtaining a high school diploma as an adult is fraught with unique challenges. How can you balance studying while juggling a job and raising kids? How should you decide what career to pursue once you graduate? How do you set life goals and achieve them? Recognizing the…

Becoming a teen parent is one of the highest risk factors for dropping out of high school. Baltimore City has a high school dropout rate of 17.8% — the highest in Maryland, according to the Maryland State Department of Education. In addition, over half (56.26%) of Baltimore’s households with children…

It’s easy to assume that everyone will go through the K–12 education process and celebrate on graduation day with a high school diploma in hand. But that’s not reality for a significant number of students across the United States, and particularly in Baltimore, who find themselves unable to complete their…

Tyeeshia Cannady embodies fearlessness and resilience. A mother of six, she faces the daily challenges of managing a crowded household and working night shifts, all while trying to pursue her education.  Becoming a mother at age 15, Tyeeshia faced the harsh reality of juggling motherhood at a young age. Earning…

Going back to school is a big step, and it can be intimidating for adults who haven’t set foot in a classroom for many years. But the Baltimore Excel Center’s Lead Teacher, DaShawn Archer, says there’s no need to worry. As lead teacher, she makes sure students get the help…

ABC's Nightline recently aired a heartwarming segment titled "Second Chances", spotlighting Goodwill's new "Excel Center" high school that's giving students a second chance to earn a high school diploma and forge a path for a better future. Located in the heart of Baltimore, the innovative school is poised to transform…

Applying to the Baltimore Excel Center is easy! But just in case, we have the perfect tour guide, Ari Minyard, who is here to walk us through how to apply to the tuition-free adult high school, as well as how to complete the online application at excelcentermd.org.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBAagtHvyGM Ari, the…

News of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake officially opening the Baltimore Excel Center is attracting tremendous TV, radio and print coverage. Here are some standout highlights from recent headlines. WBAL-TV I-Team reporter Lisa Robinson spotlighted how “as many as 80,000 Baltimore adults are estimated to have dropped out of high…

Photo Credit: Glenwood Jackson The excitement in downtown Baltimore was palpable as Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake officially opened the new Baltimore Excel Center at 222 East Redwood Street. The new tuition-free adult high school gives residents aged 21+ who dropped out of high school a second chance at their…

Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake is opening the doors to a new tuition-free adult high school in Baltimore, called the Excel Center this September. On The Record radio host Sheilah Kast interviews Goodwill CEO Lisa Rusyniak and two prospective students about how the Excel Center offers Baltimore residents a second…