Alternative Education Options

In order to graduate from Clarke Central High School, students must earn 24 credits. Graduation requirements can be found at http://bit.ly/CCHSGraduation. Students have 8 credit opportunities each year during the regular school day, a total of 32 opportunities over 4 years. They can recover credits in courses they failed during summer school, by enrolling in Credit Recovery courses before or after school, or by attending Foothills Charter School in the evening. Those who are unable to earn 24 credits within 4 years should consider the following alternatives to earn a high school degree or a General Education Diploma (GED). Questions about these programs should be directed to CCHS Graduation Coach Tonia Jones at jonesto@clarke.k12.ga.us or 706-357-5200, ext. 17291.


Local Programs

  • Foothills Education Charter High School (www.foothillscharter.org/) is an evening, self-paced, public high school that grants regular Georgia High School Diplomas. Credit recovery is available for a fee for juniors and seniors who have failed a course at their regular daytime school. Making up failed courses permits students to stay on academic track and graduate with their class.


  • Classic City (www.clarke.k12.ga.us/classiccity) is a school designed to re-engage disengaged students, enabling them to develop marketable skills and become productive citizens. The Performance Learning Center (PLC) model serves high school students who have dropped out of school, are at least 16 years or have attempted a year of high school, want a non-traditional school setting, and/or need a flexible scheduling option.


Online Programs


  • Georgia Cyber Academy (www.georgiacyber.org) is a public, tuition-free, online school. Students work from home to complete courses in order to recover credits, advance to the next grade level, or graduate with a high school diploma.



GED Programs

  • Casa de Amistad (athensamistad.com/clases-ged-esp) provides free GED classes in Spanish. Interested students should complete the GED interest form on their website, call 706 621-5464, or send an email to athensamistad@gmail.com.


  • Athens Technical College (https://www.athenstech.edu/adultEd/ged.cfm) provides free GED classes and resources. They also offer free job training and placement as well as free computer literacy courses.


  • Eckerd Connects’ Paxen (www.eckerd.org/workforce-development/paxen/) provides fundamental life, education, and workforce skills that form the building blocks for better lives. Paxen specializes in developing and delivering outcome-based programs that build academic, employment and life skills. A 5-week GED program is offered. Students must be 18-24 years of age.



Out-of-Town Programs

  • Youth Challenge (www.georgiayouthchallenge.org/) is a preventative rather than a remedial youth-at-risk program. The Academies target participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free, high school dropouts, 16-18 years of age. Core components of the program are citizenship, academic excellence, life-coping skills, community service, health and hygiene, skills training, leadership, and physical training. Participants work towards obtaining a GED. The five-month Residential Phase, which includes the Pre-ChalleNGe Phase, requires participants to relocate to Hinesville, Milledgeville, or Augusta. The program concludes with a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth’s community.


  • Job Corps (www.jobcorps.gov/) is a free education and training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find a good job. The program provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and life. Participants must be at least 16 years of age, qualify as low income, and be willing to relocate.