In September of this year, New Heights celebrated its grand opening in the Stop Six Neighborhood of Fort Worth. The event included the presence and public comment from key community leaders, the inaugural incoming class of students, and elected officials, including Fort Worth city officials, state representatives, and Texas governor, Greg Abbott. But why all the fanfare about a high school launch?
This newly established school, which is open to Tarrant County residents and beyond, is the first- ever adult high school in the North Texas region. It will provide adults ages 18- 50 a chance to obtain a high school diploma. Through a partnership with Tarrant County College (TCC), the school also offers certifications in 10 career and technical programs, including welding, office careers and cybersecurity, along with computerized numerical control (CNC) machinist training. Students are expected to obtain a certification with their diploma, which will increase their potential for future earnings and success. All courses and certifications come at no cost to the student.
Students enrolled in New Heights can take courses based on their unique schedules and circumstances, and at their own pace. The school allows students to transfer previously earned high school credits and offers classes during the day and night to accommodate the schedules of working and non-working students. Upon enrollment, students are also assigned a dedicated advisor who answers questions, provides information and updates, and walks alongside them during their educational journey at New Heights.
The need for New Heights stems from a growing state with vast workforce needs, requiring educated and skilled employees to fill these roles. There are currently over 7 million adults across the state who do not possess a high school diploma. Without this important credential, many adults do not have access to opportunities to earn sufficient wages to support their families. Individuals without a high school degree are also more likely to be unemployed. This often results in personal and generational economic challenges for themselves, their families and the community at large. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults without a high school diploma make approximately $9,900 less annually than individuals who possess this credential. Each year’s class of high school students who do not graduate result in over $200 billion during their lifetimes in lost earnings and unrealized tax revenue.1 As one of the fastest-growing regions in America, North Texas needed a solution to address the education, skills, and wage gaps in its adult population—New Heights is designed to meet that need.
New Heights was established after months of strategic planning and community collaboration. There was an unmet need for educational attainment by adults, often from underrepresented and underserved communities. RCF learned about the concept of an adult high school, identified a working model located in Austin, and engaged with the school’s superintendent, Traci Berry, who helped develop and bring the school to Fort Worth. Lawmakers recognized the need for policy change that would allow for public funding and the creation of a partnership between TCC and New Heights through Senate Bill 2032. Local private and public sector leaders from entities ranging from the City of Fort Worth, the United Way of Tarrant County, Fort Worth ISD, and the Mayor’s Council of Education and Workforce, invested their time, ideas, money and support into the concept of New Heights, helping turn what was once a unique idea into a reality.
While New Heights set a target enrollment of 350 students for its inaugural class, more than 1,000 people expressed interest to take classes. These numbers reflect the tremendous demand for high-school education for adults. Opportunities like New Heights will enable them to secure higher paying jobs and promise better economic outcomes for these learners and their families. Students can enroll at the school at the start of each eight-week term and there are currently 500 students actively enrolled for the first term.
New Heights demonstrates the positive impact that community partnerships play in the creation of scalable and transformational education solutions for the community at large. RCF is proud to partner with this innovative school to demonstrate how collaboration can take students, despite their age, to New Heights.
Watch the video below to discover how this program is impacting the community. For more information about New Heights, please visit the school’s official website here.
- Catterall, J. S. (1985). On the social costs of dropping out of schools. (Report No. 86-SEPT-3). Stanford, CA: Stanford University, Center for Educational Research. Source site: https://dropoutprevention.org/resources/statistics/quick-facts/economic-impacts-of-dropouts/ ↩︎
