HCS Adult Education & GED Programs

Hampton City Schools is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for everyone—young and old! For school aged students having difficulty in a traditional school environment, high school GED programs are available. For adult residents of Hampton who wish to obtain their high school credential or build job skills, there are programs available through Adult Education.

Education is the key to success—come get yours now!

General Educational Development (GED)

GED Assessment: The GED assessment (pretest of skills, not GED exam) is given on Mondays at 8:45 a.m. and Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. September -April at the Adult Education Center, 1300 Thomas Street. The assessment is required for class placement. No appointment is necessary.

GED Classes: All levels of GED classes are offered to help prepare for the GED test. Most classes meet twice a week during the day from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon or at night from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m. Class placement is based on skill level at assessment. Limited classes during the summer.

A REDUCED PRICE GED test will be offered for a limited time for anyone who takes and passes the Official Practice Test given:
Mondays at 12:45 p.m.
Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.

GED Test: Because the GED exam is almost 8 hours long, each test is spread over two days. Registration for the GED test is taken Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. and Fridays 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and must be made no later than one week prior to the first date of the testing session. Applicants must have a valid picture ID, and social security card to register and $58.00 in cash or money order at the time of application. You may fill out the application in advance on line at GED123.org, print it and bring it when you come in to register.

The GED testing schedule is:

Day Test 8:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Night Test 5:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Directions to Adult Education:

From I-664 or Newport News/Richmond area:
Take I-64 East to Exit 265C. Make a right turn at the traffic light (Rip Rap Road). Make a right turn at the next light (Armistead Avenue) and another right turn at the next light (Thomas Street). As you get into the right turn lane, you must yield to traffic coming off the interstate. The office is located in the two story building located at the end of Thomas Street next to the Child Development Center. Use the left front entrance marked Hampton Adult Education.

Directions coming from the Phoebus/Norfolk area:
Take I-64 West to Exit 265B. At the first light make a right turn onto Thomas Street. The office is located in the two story building at the end of Thomas Street next to the Child Development Center. Use the left front entrance marked Hampton Adult Education.

Directions coming from Northern Neck/Gloucester area:
Take Route 17 S, crossing the Coleman Bridge. Remain on Route 17. Take a right exit marked “To Hampton” (Magruder Blvd). Take left exit off Magruder onto Hampton Roads Center Parkway. Hampton Roads Center Parkway ends at Armistead Avenue. Take a right onto Armistead Ave. Go approximately 2 miles and make a left onto Thomas Street. There is a Super 8 motel on Thomas Street near that intersection. Go past the Super 8 to the curve in the road. The office is located in the two story building at the end of Thomas Street next to the Child Development Center. Use the left front entrance marked Hampton Adult Education.

Please Read...

HOURS OF TESTING – The five GED tests require approximately 8 hours of testing (maximum). All tests start promptly and are separately timed. Applicants may complete the tests in a shorter time; therefore, please be sure your transportation arrangements can be changed to an earlier time if necessary.

FACT SHEET

1. To register for the GED test, go to GED123.org and follow the on-screen instructions. Print out the proof of registration at the end. To complete the registration process and secure a seat in the next available testing, you must bring the proof of registration in to our office along with your current state or government issued photo ID AND your social security card as well as $58.00 in cash or money order. Re-tests are $10.00 per subject. If you do not have Internet access contact our office so we can assist you.

2. There are NO refunds for the GED test.

3. If it is impossible for you to be present for the assigned testing date(s), You will be rescheduled to the next available testing session. You must confirm the rescheduled date with the registrar at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of the testing session. We will only reschedule one time.

4. If you fail to report on the assigned dates without giving the registrar the 24 hours notice, your application will be cancelled and you will forfeit the fee paid or the free test opportunity.

5. There are drink and snack machines available. However, we cannot make change, so come prepared.

6. The GED test will be rescheduled if the Hampton City School System is closed for inclement weather.

7. Reasonable testing accommodations are available upon request to those who qualify.

While Hampton City Schools (HCS) would like to see all students graduate with a standard diploma, we realize that some face challenges that make it difficult to meet that goal. As students become older and encounter circumstances that put them behind in their studies, they may begin to see graduation as an unreachable goal. Many think about dropping out, however, HCS would like these students to consider other options for gaining a high school credential.

If a standard diploma is no longer a realistic goal for you, please consider the GED (General Educational Development) test. The test is recognized by over 90% of employers and accepted by a majority of colleges and universities. It is considered the equivalent of a high school diploma in many states and it is available to Hampton City Schools students through two unique programs.

Program Option I
Y. H. Thomas ISAEP GED Program

· This program is designed for highly motivated students with strong skills in reading and mathematics as well as core knowledge in the basic subject areas.
· Students must make certain minimum entry test scores to be eligible to participate. These regulations come from the Department of Education and are referred to as ISAEP (Individual Student Alternative Education Plan) regulations.
· Students normally receive the GED credential within one school year.
· Students attend classes 6 – 9 hours weekly at the Y. H. Thomas Learning Center located on Thomas Street.
· Classes are scheduled to meet students' needs, either 2 or 3 days per week, mornings or afternoons.
· Students are expected to be employed or eligible for employment.
· Before taking the GED test, students must have completed a vocational program component, which includes an employment experience (paid or volunteer).

Program Option II
Y.H. Thomas ISAEP Prep Program

· This program is designed for students to master basic skills in reading, writing, and math.
· Successful mastery of these foundational skills prepares students to participate in the ISAEP Program.
· Students can take up to two years to receive the GED credential.
· Students attend classes 6-12 hours weekly at the Y.H. Thomas Learning Center located on Thomas Street.

If you are interested in looking at other options for successfully completing high school, your first point of contact is your guidance counselor.
If you have questions about either program, please call the Department of Adult Education at 727-1327.

Did you know that over 14,000 adult residents of the City of Hampton don't have a high school diploma or a GED? The staff at the Hampton Adult Education Center would like to see that changed. If you still need to get that high school credential, get started now by calling us at 727-1327!

We will get you started on the path that's right for you.

• We offer training for the GED at all skill levels.
• We offer credit classes to adults who may need only a few credits to complete the requirements for a high school diploma.
• We offer an "External Diploma" which is a competency based program for learners over 21 who want to work toward a high school diploma. There is tuition for this program.

In addition to high school credential programs,
we offer classes for:
• Professional Food Manager certification
• ESL/ English as a Second Language

Organized by the same people who do the GED Program: The American Council on Education. Like independent study-you do most of the work at home so you will need plenty of time to devote to the program. The average time to complete EDP is six months. There is no teaching in EDP, but you can get all the help you need from family, friends, tutors, etc. You must receive a score of 100% on each topic covered in the EDP program, but you get unlimited chances to re-do lessons and nothing is ever timed. Upon completion you will receive an adult high school diploma from Hampton City Schools. You must be at least 21 years old to participate in EDP.
If you are interested in the program the first step is to take an assessment test.

The assessment is given from September – March on:
Mondays at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m.

From September through March the assessment is given on a walk-in basis; no need to make an appointment. Please let the person giving the test know that you are interested in EDP. From April through August contact the office at 727-1049 for testing information.

For more information or if you have additional questions, please contact 727-1049

Extended Services...

Homebound Instruction for students who are ill, special education students who need a more restrictive environment, and students on long-term suspension for whom another placement is unavailable. Applications for extended services are available in the home school or may be downloaded here. Requests for home instruction for medical reasons must be made in conjunction with a physician and based on a documented medical condition. For more information, please contact the office at 727-1337. Program Director: Kathy Wallner

English as a Second Language (ESL)

ESL Assessment: The ESL assessment is given on the first day of class in September and then on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 11:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. October through March. The assessment is required for enrollment. The assessment is free.

ESL Classes: Classes are held twice a week. Classes meet during the day from 8:30-11:00 a.m and in the evenings from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m.