Downey Adult School graduates largest class ever

Downey Adult School's 2017 graduating class. 

Downey Adult School graduated 154 students on June 8, the largest number of adult numbers in the school’s history to receive diplomas. 

Of the 154 students who walked across the stage that evening, 103 received their high school diploma and 51 earned their GED (General Education Diploma). 
This is the second consecutive year that DAS has exceeded its student graduation count; last year, 78 students graduated from DAS, which was the highest at the time.

DUSD officials attributed the increase in graduates to the implementation of an online high school diploma program in 2014, which allows students to complete courses at their own convenience. Similarly, the GED program offers a study-at-home program. 

“With the help of an exceptional group of instructors, mentors and an outstanding group of students, the high school diploma program has exceeded all of our expectations,” said DAS principal Blanca Rochin. “I heartily congratulate all DAS high school diploma and GED recipients for their success and choosing to continue their education here at DAS.”
 
DAS has partnered with Cerritos College on the Bridge Program, which helps prepare adult learners for the transition to further education or career programs. Students are directly contacted and receive assistance with assessment tests, financial aid and enrollment. This year, there are over 30 adult learners enrolled in the program.
 
The high school diploma program offers students online courses either on campus in the Learning Center or at home. Through the accelerated Transitional Fast Track Program, students can complete one course at a time within five to 10 weeks. All of the a-g courses meet the University of California and California State University requirements and align with the California Common Core Standards that were implemented within Downey Unified in 2014. 

Courses that are offered include English, Math, Biology, Economics and Career Explorations. Students must register at DAS and are required to pay a $49 registration fee upon enrollment.
 
In addition, the online GED program offers adult students online test prep courses in English and Spanish at the DAS Learning Center or at home to prepare students for the GED, HiSet and TASC exams. Students who choose to complete their test prep at home must enroll in the Edgenuity software program where online teachers guide the learner through the courses. 
Students must register at DAS and pay a nominal registration fee upon enrollment that includes four free official GED Ready Practice Tests.

For more information about DAS and its variety of programs, visit the adult school website at www.das.edu/.