Located in every borough, Referral Centers for High School Alternatives are one-stop guidance centers where high school aged students can be connected to academic options and wrap-around supports. Additional information on the programs and services described in this list can be obtained at any Referral Center.
More information is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Urdu.
GED Plus is a citywide program that provides full time and part time GED services as well s support in transitioning to a college and/or career at no cost to students in New York City who are aged 18-21. Students who are 17 may enroll if there are extenuating circumstances and with parent/guardian permission. ACCESS offers full time GED preparation with a work internship component called Learning to Work (LTW) which helps students stay engaged, or re-engage, in school through work readiness. Age requirements are the same as GED Plus.
Co-Op Tech offers half-day career and technical training courses for students who are enrolled in academic courses in another Department of Education school or program including GED Plus and ACCESS.School Website
The Living for the Young Family through Education (LYFE) program supports pregnant and parenting students enrolled in a NYC Department of Education school by providing childcare and referral services. Social Workers assigned to each of the 38 LYFE centers provide social and emotional support for young parents to enable their academic progress as well as their progress as parents. Services for Students with Families | LYFE Directory
The Office of Adult and Continuing Education (OACE), the largest adult education provider in New York State, offers Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), High School Equivalency, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes to adults age 21 and older. More Information
College Bridge will no longer accept new students. If you or someone you know has graduated from high school or a GED program and are looking for help preparing for college, please reach out to any of the organizations listed here. Two years ago, District 79 launched College Bridge to provide students with the opportunity to be better prepared for college success. Our goal was to help high school and GED graduates avoid having to take or pay for non-credit bearing remedial classes and earn their college degree. College Bridge taught us a lot about preparing students to succeed in college and reinforced our belief that we must prepare students for life beyond a high school or GED diploma. To ensure that students leave all programs across District 79 ready to succeed in college and career, we will focus on strengthening the College and Career Coaching model, Resource Centers, and Career and Technical Education programming across our portfolio.
Schools and programs for students who are court-involved, incarcerated, or recently released. This includes Passages Academy in Department of Youth and Family Justice sites for students 15 years old and younger and East River Academy on Rikers Island primarily for 16 – 24 year old students.
Phoenix Academy is a residential substance abuse intervention program for NYC high school students. Although some students are court-referred, this is a voluntary program for high school students struggling with substance abuse. Phoenix Academy is a diploma granting program that also offers the GED option for eligible students.
Re-Start provides educational services for students in drug treatment programs or other involuntary and/or temporary settings.