In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 - 6), Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana celebrates its staff of over 360 education professionals, including teachers, guidance coaches and administrators throughout the entire month. 

Goodwill opened its first charter high school in 2004 for traditional-age students. Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is a best-fit school for students experiencing circumstances that may present a barrier to education and places emphasis on ensuring students enroll in college or enter into a career that offers a living wage post-graduation. 

“Our goal was to reach students with critical resources so they could have a postsecondary path and successfully navigate life’s next steps,” said Betsy K. Delgado, Senior Vice President & Chief Mission and Education Officer. “Although the school achieved this goal, we realized some of these students were working to support themselves or their family; some of them had children of their own and couldn’t follow the structure of a traditional high school setting.”

These challenges were the catalyst for an entirely unique model of high school instruction focused on the educational challenges faced by adults. When The Excel Center® opened in 2010, there were nearly a million Hoosiers aged 18 and over who didn’t have a diploma, and there weren’t any options for those who wanted to earn one. We now have 15 adult high schools serving students across central and southern Indiana, with over 30 campuses total nationwide.

Outcomes include:

• 7,278 diplomas earned since 2010
• 7,396 job certifications earned since 2010
• 14,666 college credits earned since 2010

Goodwill changed the game when it opened The Excel Center, a high school for adult learners. The school directly addresses unique challenges by offering accelerated classes and flexible coursework, helping adults complete their schooling within the parameters of their busy lives. In addition, all of our high schools offer a range of wraparound services to students that directly address challenges outside the classroom. 

How Are Goodwill Schools Different?

• Flexible scheduling
• Individualized support
• Life coaching
• College & career planning
• Onsite child care
• Transportation assistance
• Housing support
• Food support
• Mental health support
• Substance abuse support
• Family empowerment coaching

Although The Excel Center and Indianapolis Met are built to serve the needs of specific populations, all of Goodwill’s high schools provide students with opportunities that prepare them for the skills they will need to be successful in today’s job market and access further education. Each is also a critical resource for our communities,” said Delgado. 

To learn more or to enroll, visit excelcenter.org (for adults) or indianapolismet.org (for traditional-age students.)