The Penn Foster Blog

Many colleges are consistently turning away students who want to attend their school but lack the credentials and already have a steady stream of candidates. Position your school as an on-ramp to higher education. As your admissions or enrollment teams discover a candidate does not meet your enrollment requirements (HS diploma or GED), offer them the chance to enroll in the high school diploma program and keep the conversation going. Students who are serious about getting started in a career program will be eager to get their high school diploma to start their journey towards the career of their dreams.

Late last year, we announced our goal of graduating an unprecedented 20,000 high school students in 2014. This stretch goal at times seemed like an impossible goal, given we "only" graduated a still impressive 13,000 high school students in 2013. We are pleased to announce that over 20,000 students graduated from Penn Foster High School last year, a nearly 54% increase year over year. 

A successful high school completion program will generate inspired students who are eager to continue learning. Many of the students who did not succeed in a traditional high school classroom, took a hit to their self-confidence during the process of dropping out of high school. With an adult diploma program designed to meet the unique needs of these students, they emerge from the program confident and inspired, and often times looking to immediately enroll in a college program. Here are some key attributes of what a successful program looks like:

In 2014, we graduated nearly 20,000 high school students, in addition to over 12,000 career and college students who received certificates and degrees in over 127 different programs. As we reflect on the record-breaking year, we can't help but focus on the amazing students who found success with Penn Foster in 2014. Here are ten amazing stories:

Many career colleges are beginning to offer a high school completion program on their campuses. A high school completion program is an option for adult learners to earn an actual high school diploma " accredited and licensed " which builds confidence, knowledge and skills on their path to pursue post-secondary education.

Our colleges, job markets and communities rely on high schools to prepare students for higher education, careers and citizenship. The traditional high school curriculum aims to develop a well-rounded student, but oftentimes, this standard educational approach lacks job-specific training. Many young people move through high school without acquiring the necessary skill sets that prepare them for employment. High schools should consider equipping young people with the skills and job-specific knowledge to be career-ready.

According to a 2012 survey of college freshmen conducted by the University of California-Los Angeles,1 getting a better job and the ability to make more money are the top two reasons behind their decision to go to college. When it comes to why the students chose the particular college they did, students cited the college's academic reputation as the number one reason, followed by:2

College campuses today are catering to a growing number of nontraditional adult students. According to The National Center for Education Statistics, a nontraditional undergraduate is defined as someone who:

The term "dropout" is marked by negative undertones drawn from stigmas that characterize this group. What we don't hear are the stories that prove these non-completers want to make a change but are often faced with limited options to get a high school diploma. "With the advent of ATB students not being allowed to attend career colleges and schools, it puts them in a void and really difficult position. Realizing that we thought we could put a high school program into our school and help these students," says Patricia Fischer, CEO Dorsey. Today's non-traditional learners require more than the slim options currently provided by the traditional educational landscape. Through our post-secondary partnerships, Penn Foster is helping students obtain their high school diploma by offering programs tailored for nontraditional learners-because everyone deserves a second chance.

Penn Foster wishes you, your team and your family a very happy holiday season and we hope you have the opportunity to enjoy time with your loved ones.