High School, Alternative School, or GED

by Christa March

According to national statistics, "Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school than girls who delay childbearing. Only 40 percent of teenagers who have children before age 18 go on to graduate from high school..."
(Reference: March of Dimes, http://www.marchofdimes.com/)

And, "In 1999, average annual earnings ranged from $18,900 for high school dropouts to $25,900 for high school graduates..."
(Reference: About.com, http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa072602a.htm)

With those statistics you can see how difficult it is for teen moms to finish high school and yet, how is she supposed to take care of herself and her child if she doesn't have a high school education?

Teen Mother Choices seeks to help the teen moms we work with finish at least their high school education.  We realize that for some teen moms returning to traditional high school is not possible so some choose to continue their education in different ways.  Some choose to attend an Alternative School:

"Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education
or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education……
Educational alternatives, which include charter schools, alternative schools,
 independent schools, and home-based learning vary widely,
but often emphasize the value of small class size, close relationships between students and teachers, and a sense of community."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_school)

Others choose to work towards obtaining their GED (General Education Development Test):

"The General Educational Development (GED) Test is designed for people who, for various reasons, did not graduate from high school but want a certificate equivalent to the traditional high school diploma. The examination tests knowledge in five subject areas: Language Arts, Writing; Language Arts, Reading; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies."
(http://www.ccsf.edu/Services/GED/ged.htm)

As you can see, here in the United States, there are several options available to you to finish your high school education.  Research which of the three school options works best for your particular situation and get back to school so you can provide a better future for yourself as well as your child.