Non-Grad Options

Unfortunately, graduation from Elsie Allen does not always happen for our students. This does not mean that the student will never earn a diploma, it just means we have to take a different path to achieve the end goal of that diploma.

If a student is not able to complete all the requirements by June of their fourth year of high school, the counselor and family will meet to discuss other options, which may include (if less than 30 credits are needed) summer school, SRJC courses, or online courses.  The plan may also include taking a test to earn a high school diploma.

Youth Connections: 

Youth Connections (YC) provides academic instruction to help attain a High School diploma, workforce development instruction, and college & career mentoring support to out-of-school youth aged 17 1/2 to 24. Additionally, YC assists students in overcoming personal and emotional barriers, which move them toward sustainable life-long employment. 

• For more information and an application, please go to:

Youth Connections Santa Rosa

1260 N. Dutton Ave., Ste. 275

Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Tel: (707) 578-2034  

Applications should be picked up at the same address

ccnorthbay.org

YouthBuild USA:  earn a high school diploma in a totally different way.  

YouthBuild Santa Rosa provides mentoring, educational and vocational training as well as skill development in leadership, communication, problem-solving, and goal-setting to low-income youth in Sonoma County.

Background: Public Schools in Sonoma County, California, and nationally are under tremendous pressure to produce test score improvements. Due to their limited resources too often this means that youth who do not learn well in traditional classroom environments become disenchanted with school and frequently disengage from society in general.

High School drop-outs present a tremendous challenge to society. They are at much higher risk for prison, poverty, early pregnancy and homelessness. The long-term cost of supporting these youth is borne by each of us. YouthBuild is a unique opportunity to address youth problems with the best methods of human service agencies in a wraparound program which also benefits the community.

Goal: This year YouthBuild Santa Rosa will provide 20-50 youth age 16-24 who are undereducated and unemployed with a chance to complete their diplomas, learn construction skills, and overcome barriers that are keeping them down, while building affordable housing.

The Facility: Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County rents a “storefront” school room in a strip mall on Sebastopol Road between Goodwill and an empty grocery store. In the building, we have a construction lab, a classroom, a computer lab, and several counseling and small group activity areas.

The Population: As of November 2005 YouthBuild Santa Rosa has 17 enrollees. Two are parents, three are young women, and the remainder are young men. All are between 16-24 and have not completed their High School diplomas. Another seven young people half have completed the construction component and are working at finishing their education and holding down jobs in the community.

• For more information email:  info@youthbuild.org

California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE): 

The CHSPE is a test that, if passed, is equivalent to a high school diploma in the state of California.  Students need only be 16 or be in the second half of their sophomore year to register for the test.  The test costs $100.00 and is given three times a year at the Sonoma County Office of Education.  If a student passes the test, and the student and his/her parents approve, the student would be able to drop EAHS as a graduate and no longer attend high school.  Note:  the student is not an EAHS graduate, but a state of CA graduate; therefore, the student will not participate in EAHS graduation. It is recommended that students who take the CHSPE also take the GED when they turn 18.

• chspe.net/ 

General Education Diploma (GED): 

The GED is a test, if passed, is equivalent to a high school diploma anywhere in the United States.  Students must be 18 to enroll for the test which is given regularly at SRJC at Plover Hall.  SRJC also has test practice classes to prepare for the exam.  To enroll in these classes, students cannot be concurrently enrolled in a high school.  Once a student passes the GED, they no longer need to attend high school.  Proof of passing the test must be brought into the counseling office in order to drop a student from high school.  Parent permission is not necessary as the student is an adult.  For more information on the GED and enrolling in the SRJC practice course, please visit the links below.

• SRJC GED Practice Class Enrollment

• GED Testing Services

Grizzly Youth Academy (GYA):

Grizzly Youth Academy (GYA) is a partnership between the California National Guard and the Grizzly Challenge Charter School. For youth between the ages of 16 and 18 who have dropped out of high school, or are at-risk of dropping out, we offer a highly-structured environment that promotes leadership, cooperation, and academic skills, while building self-esteem, pride, and confidence.

Once accepted into the program, cadets are introduced to the military structure, participate in team-building activities, practice making healthy choices, attend school daily, gain organizational and study skills, participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, and receive the support they need to turn their lives around.

The National Guard Youth Challenge program is voluntary. Young men and women who apply must be committed to completing the 22-week residential phase and the 12-month post-residential phase.

Tuition, room and board, and books are provided at no cost to the family. Cadets must bring a few basic essential items (underwear, shoes, sweats, toiletries, grooming essentials, and other personal items). The rest is provided.

Grizzly Youth Academy is funded primarily through the Federal government and State of California. Additional funding is provided by grants and donations.

The National Guard Youth Challenge experience has transformed the lives of over 113,000 youth. The changes are powerful, impacting not only the graduates but rippling out to touch their families and communities.

• Grizzly Youth Academy

Petaluma Adult School

 Petaluma Adult School is the only K-12 adult school in Sonoma County and a member of the Sonoma County Adult Education Consortium. We provide a range of free and low-cost classes, including high school diplomas, GED/HiSET test preparation, parent education, English classes for non-native speakers, citizenship preparation, and career and technical education programs. Adult School classes are open to any person 18 years of age or over who can benefit  from instruction. Most classes have open enrollment and are provided in accessible settings.

Visit Petaluma Adult School for more info: https://www.petalumacityschools.org/Page/35