A free high school for adults seeking their diploma has been approved to operate in Roanoke by the state Department of Education.
The school, called the Excel Center, will be operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. The nonprofit announced the school in March 2023 as part of its Melrose Plaza project. Goodwill is repurposing part of its regional headquarters at the corner of Melrose Avenue and 24th Street Northwest for the community hub, which will also include a bank branch and health clinic. A grocery store is scheduled to open in the plaza in December.
The school will also offer career coaching, child care and transportation help for students.
“Addressing economic disparities, community health, and quality of life concerns must first begin with education,” Goodwill CEO Richmond Vincent Jr. said in a statement Tuesday. “The Excel Center aims to address this concern for residents in the Roanoke Valley.”
The Excel Center is expected to open within the next two years, Goodwill spokesperson Chelsea Moran said. It’s expected to enroll about 100 students initially.