How to Get Your Diploma Faster

Get your diploma faster with an accelerated graduation program.

You have several options to get your diploma quickly. High school credits may be creditable toward getting a high school diploma. Getting your GED is another option that does not take long to complete.

Instructions

1. Contact an accredited correspondence high school. Some operate online and others may require you to send your work in through the regular mail. The department of education in the state where the school is located and the Better Business Bureau are two organizations to contact to find out of a school is accredited.

2. Get a transcript of any completed high school credits you have from the school you attended. Go over the transcript with an adviser from the correspondence school to see if any of your credits will transfer. Transferred credits can help you graduate faster.

3. Enroll in an accelerated high school completion program in your school district. Many districts offer an alternative school (brick and mortar or online) for students who want to complete their high school educations early. You typically will not do many, if any, extracurricular activities, and you will learn much of the material at your own pace. The faster you can complete your work, the faster you can graduate.

4. Contact your school district's adult education center. Many adult education centers will accept students who are at least 17. You can typically study for a GED at one of these centers, but some centers may also offer you the opportunity to earn a high school diploma as well. The St. Vrain Valley Adult Education Center in Longmont, Colo., is one such center offering high school diplomas to adult learners. You must take classes that you need to graduate or GED classes to help you pass certain subject exams, making your time to graduate shorter than the typical four years.

5. Take the GED test if you feel comfortable that you have the knowledge required to pass all parts of the exam. You can earn a high school equivalency diploma faster by taking the test than by taking high school courses at an adult education center or through a correspondence school.

References

• St. Vrain Valley Adult Education