Evening Classes Begin at the Baltimore Excel Center with Full Classrooms

The Baltimore Excel Center, a free adult high school operated by Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, is expanding to evening hours this fall. Made possible by a gift from the Linehan Family Foundation, the new evening classes launched last week to a full house — and demand has been so strong that a waitlist is already forming — giving working adults, parents, and caregivers a real path to a diploma without having to choose between school and their daily responsibilities.

Going back to school as an adult is rarely simple. There’s a job to keep, kids to pick up, bills to pay, and a calendar that never seems to have room for one more thing. For years, that reality has kept countless Baltimore adults from finishing what they started: a high school diploma.

The Excel Center, a unique model created by Goodwill Indiana, was built to change that story. It’s a free, public high school designed specifically for adults who want to earn their diploma while receiving the support services, like case management, childcare assistance, and career coaching, that make it possible to actually finish. The Baltimore Excel Center opened its’ doors in September 2023.

This fall, the Excel Center is taking that mission a step further. Thanks to a generous gift from the Linehan Family Foundation, the school is expanding to evening hours, opening the door to a whole new group of adults whose daytime schedules have kept them from enrolling. And if the first week is any indication, that door couldn’t have opened at a better time.

Why Do Evening Classes Matter for Adult Learners?

For adults juggling full-time work, childcare, and family obligations, a 9-to-5 class schedule simply isn’t realistic. Many would-be students have had to put their education on hold, not because they lacked the drive, but because life got in the way.

Evening classes remove that barrier. They let a parent finish their shift, pick up their kids, and still make it to class in time to work toward a diploma. They let someone with a daytime job pursue the credential that could open the door to a better one. For adult learners in Baltimore, this schedule shift isn’t a small convenience. It’s the difference between dreaming about a diploma and actually earning one.

What Happened When Evening Classes Launched at the Excel Center?

The Excel Center Baltimore’s evening program officially launched last week, and the response spoke for itself: the very first evening classes were already at a full house — and a waitlist has formed. Adults from across Baltimore showed up ready to learn, proof that the demand for flexible, accessible education has been there all along, just waiting for the right opportunity.

That immediate turnout reflects something the Excel Center has always believed: when you remove the barriers to education, people rise to meet the opportunity. The evening expansion is already fulfilling its promise of reaching adults who couldn’t attend otherwise.

What Do Excel Center Graduates Say About Their Experience?

Behind every enrollment number is a person rewriting their story. The Excel Center’s graduates are proof of what’s possible when adults are given a real second chance at education.

Shamar Rice dropped out of high school three times as a teenager. This time, he finished what he started — and then kept going. After earning his diploma from the Baltimore Excel Center, Rice went on to attend AMDA College of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, the number one arts college in the country, on more than $64,000 in scholarship money. On October 3, 2026, he crossed another milestone: graduating with his associate’s degree. The first in his family to attend college, Shamar is living proof of what’s possible when someone refuses to give up on themselves.

Danielle Clubb once believed a diploma was out of reach. After leaving school at 17 and spending decades struggling with addiction, she achieved sobriety in July 2023 and made herself a promise: she would get her life back. That promise led her to the Baltimore Excel Center. While balancing recovery, parenting, and the challenge of returning to a classroom after nearly three decades away, she rebuilt family relationships, regained custody of her children, and found a new sense of purpose. This summer, she became the Excel Center’s 100th graduate — and she’s already training to become a Peer Recovery Specialist so she can help others walk the same road she traveled.

Deja Simms once told herself that school simply wasn’t for her. Then she became a mother — and everything changed. With her son Jakari as her motivation, she enrolled at the Excel Center and took full advantage of the school’s free on-site childcare program to attend classes while caring for him. She completed the high school program in less than four months, then kept going, pursuing workforce certifications to become a pharmacy technician. A job is already waiting for her once her licensing is complete. Her next goal is to become an EMT and, eventually, a nurse. For Deja, every step forward is about more than her own future. It’s about the example she’s setting for her son.

These stories aren’t the exception. They’re the point. The Excel Center exists because every adult deserves the chance to finish their education, no matter what stood in the way the first time.

What Programs and Support Does the Excel Center Offer?

The Excel Center Baltimore is built around one core idea: a diploma should be within reach for every adult, regardless of their circumstances. To make that real, our school offers:

• Free high school program designed for adult learners
• On-site childcare for parents to utilize while they are in class.
• Case management support to help students navigate challenges like transportation, housing, and financial barriers
• Career and technical training, including programs like Building Maintenance and Pharmacy Technician certifications
• Flexible scheduling, now including evening classes for adults who work or care for family during the day
• A dedicated community of instructors, case managers, and fellow students invested in each other’s success

This whole-person approach is what makes the Excel Center different from a typical classroom. Students aren’t just handed coursework, they’re given a team. Furthermore, the school is located in the same building as Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center, providing students with an even wider breadth of opportunities and resources.

How Can You Support Adult Learners at the Excel Center?

The evening class expansion is proof of what’s possible when a community invests in adult education. The Linehan Family Foundation’s gift didn’t just fund a new schedule, it funded second chances for dozens of Baltimoreans ready to change their lives.

If you’re inspired by what’s happening at the Excel Center Baltimore, there are a few ways to get involved:

• Prospective students: If you or someone you know has been waiting for the right time to finish a diploma, evening classes are now open. Reach out to the Excel Center Baltimore to learn how to enroll.
• Donors: Gifts like the one from the Linehan Family Foundation make expansions like this possible. Contact jbalog@goodwillches.org if you are interested in supporting the future of Baltimore.
• Volunteers: The Excel Center also welcomes volunteers who want to make a direct difference in the lives of adult learners. If you’re interested in giving your time or skills, reach out to tpaegar@excelcentermd.org to learn more.
• Community supporters: Share these stories. Follow along with the Excel Center’s journey. Sometimes the biggest barrier to education is simply not knowing it’s an option, and spreading the word can change that for someone in your own circle.

Every full classroom, every diploma earned, and every story like Shamar’s, Danielle’s, and Deja’s starts with someone deciding to show up. Now, thanks to evening hours, more adults across Baltimore have the chance to do just that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Excel Center Baltimore?
The Excel Center Baltimore is a free, public high school for adults, operated by Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake. It offers diploma coursework alongside case management and career training support.

When do evening classes start at the Excel Center?

Evening classes launched last week, with the start of Term 2, to a full house, and a waitlist has already formed. Classes will continue to expand this fall, giving adults with daytime work or family obligations a flexible path to their diploma.

Is there a cost to attend the Excel Center?
No. The Excel Center Baltimore is completely free for adult students, including access to case management and support services.

Who is the Excel Center for?
The Excel Center is for adults who did not complete high school and want to earn their diploma, regardless of age, work schedule, or family responsibilities. Individuals must be a Maryland resident to attend.

Where is the Excel Center Baltimore located?

The Excel Center Baltimore is located in Baltimore, Maryland at 222 East Redwood Street and serves adult learners throughout the greater Baltimore area. For specific address and directions, visit excelcentermd.org or reach out directly to the school for more information. Donated goods are not accepted at this location.