One of the program\u2019s most impactful initiatives within the ACCS\u2019 Adult Education Division is its High School Diploma Option (HSDO) Program. This program offers former Alabama high school students the opportunity to receive their original diploma from the same high school they once attended\u2013no matter how many years have passed. It provides Alabamians with a second chance to complete what they started, empowering them with new opportunities for personal and professional growth.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe High School Diploma Option program offers a true second chance\u2014providing an alternative to the GED and a pathway to an actual high school diploma,\u201d says ACCS Vice Chancellor David Walters. \u201cBy allowing students who have withdrawn to earn the necessary credits from their last school attended, this program restores opportunities, unlocks potential, and opens doors to education, skills training, careers, and lifelong success. It\u2019s more than just a diploma\u2014it\u2019s a bridge to a brighter future.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The High School Diploma Option (HSDO) is an alternative to the GED high school equivalency, designed for students who have completed all of the required credits for graduation but didn\u2019t pass the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE), or students who have left the traditional high school setting before graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n The key distinction between the High School Diploma Option (HSDO) and the General Educational Development (GED) credential lies in their foundational approach. The HSDO program enables students to complete the high school diploma they originally began, often providing a sense of personal fulfillment and connection to their educational journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For many, earning their diploma from the high school they attended signifies the completion of a goal they once set, allowing them to proudly check \u201chigh school graduate\u201d on applications\u2014a milestone that holds significant personal and professional value.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis achievement has brought me so much joy, and I\u2019m proud to share it with my children\u2014two of whom are already college graduates, with my third set to graduate in May.\u201d Davenport said. \u201cNow, I\u2019m planning to move to Huntsville, Alabama, and join my children by enrolling at Alabama A&M University to pursue my college degree. The HSDO Program has given me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. People once told me that having children would mean the end of my future, but they were wrong\u2014it was just the beginning.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While attending Trenholm State, Davenport was honored with induction into the Adult Education National Honor Society, a testament to her dedication and perseverance. Now, Davenport beams with delight as she reflects on the journey to become a high school graduate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the most incredible feeling in the world,\u201d she said, after receiving her high school diploma. \u201cKnowing that when I attend Alumni Weekend and football games, I can proudly say that I am an official alumna of George Washington Carver Senior High School\u2014it means everything to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhy choose the High School Diploma Option instead of the GED?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Alison Davenport received her high school diploma through the HSDO in December of 2024 from Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery. While she would have graduated from Carver Senior High School in 1997, she always promised herself that if she was given the opportunity to receive her high school diploma, she would.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n