Adult high school holds first day of classes in Columbia

COLUMBIA — The Excel Center held its first day of classes Monday, operating as an adult high school in Columbia.

The center, located in downtown Columbia on 4th Street, provides classes for people age 21 and older who never completed their high school diploma. The center provides free classes and childcare to accommodate students with children.

Director Mike Reynolds said more than 600,000 Missourians do not have their high school diploma. He said each person has a unique story, but obstacles such as lack of childcare and financial means often prevent people from seeking to complete the education. The Excel Center works to fill in the gaps.

"Every story is unique," he said. "Every obstacle is different. That's one of the really neat things is that we have so many different, diverse backgrounds for those students. We try to overcome some of that by giving them an opportunity for free classes and then we give them free childcare."

The center is operating in temporary facilities right now throughout the building located at the corner of Providence and Walnut. However, the old Tribune Publishing building, on 4th Street, is being renovated to be the center's permanent home.

The project renovations cost $1.1 million and will turn the space into a fully operational childcare center, cafeteria and six classrooms.

Longtime Boonville High School English teacher Jill Campbell retired from secondary education four years ago. Now, she is teaching classes at the Excel Center and said it is a privilege.

"I can see the fear in their eyes," she said. "I just want to alleviate that, make this comfortable and wonderful, and get them through to their goal."

Each student has a different amount of course work to complete depending on how much high school they finished. Students can attend classes during the day or in the evenings, depending on their schedules.

Four adult high schools exist in Missouri thanks to Goodwill Industries and state funding. The other three are located in Poplar Bluff, Springfield and St. Louis. While earning their diploma, students can also get a variety of industry-recognized certifications.