“Middle College is a superb program because it exposes the students to the community college atmosphere … Employers are having an increasingly hard time hiring educated workers who can grasp the many complexities of today’s jobs and Middle College is doing a great job of filling this gap. I have been very pleased with the positive results of this program and strongly recommend its renewal.” - Peter W. Mocarski, Manager, Virginia Employment Commission.
"Middle College is my second family." Read about Middle College from a student's perspective.
Middle College is an important element of Virginia’s workforce and economic development strategy. The need is especially acute because of demographic and economic changes facing Virginia businesses and because of the number of high school dropouts who face a lifetime of living on the sidelines.
Middle College allows individuals without a high school degree to increase their income and employability by simultaneously pursuing a GED, community college education, and a workforce certification in a college environment. The program offers targeted remedial courses, access to workforce readiness courses, enrollment in community college courses applicable to a degree or industry-based certificate, and comprehensive support services.
While business leaders in almost every industry sector scramble to adjust to the growing shortage of skilled workers, thousands of students in middle school and high school are giving up and dropping out. According to the Department of Education, in 2004-05, over 10,000 students left school without completing a diploma program. Middle College helps these young adults earn credentials that better prepare them for the workforce and further education.
Currently, five pilot programs exist (J. Sargeant Reynolds, Danville, Germanna, New River, and Southside). These programs have demonstrated that the model works:
- Over 70% of active students have received a GED
- Over 50% of GED completers are enrolled in a post-secondary education program
- Nearly 60% of the GED completers earned a Career Readiness Certificate
Program Contact:
Gloria Westerman
Director, Educational Career Transitional Programs
Virginia Community College System
Workforce Development Services
(804) 819-4950