Adults across the region who never finished high school, or who want to build new skills, have a resource close to home. Mount Rogers Regional Adult Education Program works with adult learners who are ready to take the next step, whatever that step looks like for them.
A Program Built Around Real Life
Adult learners rarely fit into a single category. Some left school young to support a family. Some are recent transplants working through English language skills. Others already hold a diploma but want to sharpen abilities for a new job or a promotion. Mount Rogers Regional Adult Education Program exists for all of them.
What sets this kind of program apart is not a gimmick or a slogan. It is the simple fact that the door stays open for people who thought their chance at education had closed. Adult learners bring different schedules, different obligations and different starting points. A program built for adults has to account for that reality instead of asking students to fit an old mold.
Mount Rogers Regional Adult Education serves adults in six counties and two cities: Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe counties and the cities of Bristol and Galax. There are evening and daytime classes and even classes on Saturday. Class schedules and locations can be found on their website www.mrraep.com.
There are two paths to completing high school. One is the GED program which tests four subjects: Reading Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math. Students study in class with a teacher and at home with educational software.
The other path is the National External Diploma Program (NEDP) in which students show their competency in areas connected to life skills and experience. Students work independently on this path with frequent visits with an advisor-assessor.
More Than High School
Mount Rogers Regional Adult Education also offers job skills and credentials. One can learn computer skills or job search skills. ServSafe Manager Certification training is offered as is the ParaProfessional Certification for classroom aides. The program can also work with local employers to provide specific training for employees.
Taking the First Step
Returning to education as an adult takes a certain amount of nerve. It means walking back into a role that might feel unfamiliar, surrounded by uncertainty about whether it will pay off. Programs like this one exist specifically to lower that barrier, offering a structure built for adults rather than one borrowed from a traditional high school setting.
For residents thinking about finishing a diploma, building new skills or simply exploring what is available, Mount Rogers Regional Adult Education Program is a local resource worth a phone call. Reach the program at 276-619-4396 or by email at mrraep3@gmail.com to ask questions and learn more about the path forward.
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