Frequently Asked Questions

About Adult Online High School is offered in partnership with Excel High School.

Excel Adult High School is an accredited high school that offers a fully online high school diploma program, available through Goodwill Industries of Northeast Texas. This program offers free enrollment to a limited number of qualified adult students.

The program cost is free to adult learners who qualify for this program. Learn how to get started.

Adults who have successfully completed 8th grade and wish to earn their high school diploma. The age requirement is 18 years old or older. Minors under age 18 should pursue their high school education through existing high school programs.

No, this is not a GED® program. Successful graduates will earn an official high school diploma through an accredited, state-recognized high school.

If you passed any part of the GED, HiSET®, or TASC, you can request that your high school equivalency transcripts be evaluated and applied toward your accredited high school diploma through Excel High School.

You can request official high school equivalency transcripts at GED transcript, HiSET transcript, or TASC transcript websites.

Yes, Excel High School accepts transfer credits for courses completed at other accredited high schools, home schools, colleges, or successfully passed portions of the GED®, HiSET®, or TASC. To receive transfer credit, Excel High School requires an official transcript.

After you complete the two-week prerequisite course and enroll in the full Excel High School program, you should request transcripts from your high school and/or GED, HiSET, or TASC exams are sent to the office of the registrar for evaluation. The registrar’s office will audit your transcripts and apply credits for any coursework you’ve previously completed that fulfills credit transfer requirements.

You can transfer up to 16 credits.

A minimum of six courses (6.0 credits) must be completed with Excel High School to meet graduation requirements and earn the high school diploma.

Download a transcript request form.

To request credit for standardized exams, go to the GED website to request your GED transcript, HiSET transcript, or TASC transcript.

If your state doesn’t issue a transcript for GED, HiSET, or TASC test results, please contact the Excel High School enrollment team at infocontact@excelhighschool.com.

While the GED, HiSET, or TASC, and the high school diploma are important, there are several differences between them. The most significant is the fact that some colleges, institutions, and organizations require a high school diploma and may not accept the GED, HiSET, or TASC. In addition to providing a high school diploma, Excel High School gives students the benefit of career-ready and college courses to help them progress in the job market and college.

Absolutely! Excel High School graduates will earn a state-recognized, accredited high school diploma that is accepted by employers, colleges, and the military. Graduates from Excel High School are well prepared for the next stage in life.

A successful online learner must be a motivated self-starter and committed to the success of their education. While Excel High School offers a world-class education, it is ultimately up to the student to succeed. That can only be achieved by putting forth a lot of effort. Like anything, the more you put into your education the greater the benefit.

Excel High School employs highly qualified instructional and support staff. Support services are available to all Excel High School students during normal school hours via phone, online chat, or by submitting a support ticket through the learning management system. We’re here to support your learning. Excel High School offers students unlimited, online live, one-on-one tutoring through Train the Brain.

Yes, students appreciate the flexibility of online learning. Courses are available anytime, 24/7, according to your schedule and pace. Excel High School courses are offered 100 percent online. All you need is a computer and the desire to succeed in the high school program.

A working desktop computer or laptop. Whether you’re a Mac user or prefer a PC, it’s essential to have a reliable computer. Smart devices are useful for some schoolwork, but many assignments and all final exams must be taken using a computer or laptop.

Yes, Excel High School has English language learner tools built into each course that provide side-by-side translation to many major languages, as well as an audio reader to help students who need help with comprehension.

Great news! Excel High School uses digital textbooks for all online courses; however, the language arts classes may require novels, which you can access online or check out of the library.

Students will be given up to 48 months to complete the online high school program, which will consist of 21.5 credits. Students accepted into the program may transfer up to 16 credits from previous accredited high school, home school, or state equivalency exams.

Depending on how many credits the student can transfer, the program can be completed in as few as three to six months. The average time to complete it is 12 months. Online courses are self-paced. On average, it takes about three to six months for adult students to complete a grade level.

For example, if the student:

Completed through 11th grade or higher: 3–6 months
Completed through 10th grade: 5–9 months
Completed through 9th grade: 6–12 months
Completed no high school credits: 12–18+ months

Yes, Excel High School offers adult students up to seven ACE (American Council on Education) courses, which equals 21 college credits (three credits per course). Students can take an ACE course and receive both high school and college credit. For example, a student could take ACE American Government or ACE Biology to satisfy the Excel High School core social studies or science credit, respectively. Once the student is enrolled and courses are assigned, the student can send a direct message via the ticketing system or call the school to have an ACE course replace the core high school course. A student must complete the ACE course with a passing grade of 70 percent or higher.

Learn more about transferring ACE courses to a college or university. We recommend you check with the college advisor or registrar at the school you intend to enroll to verify that your ACE courses will transfer for credit.

Excel High School, part of Excel Education Systems was founded in 2005 and is the first fully online, accredited school district in the state of Minnesota. Excel High School has a long history of providing adult high school programs for learners in need of an accredited high school diploma. Excel’s main campus is located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and has staff and instructors in 40 states. Excel serves students in all 50 states and many nations across the world. Excel is an award-winning school designed to offer flexible, online learning.

Excel High School is accredited by Cognia, the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC). View their accreditation profile.

Cognia is a nationally recognized accrediting agency dedicated to advancing excellence in education worldwide. Cognia provides accreditation, research, and professional services to 34,000 schools and school systems—employing more than 4 million educators and enrolling more than 20 million students—across the United States and 70 other nations.

Excel High School has accreditation status with Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. See MSA-CESS for more details.

Excel High School is committed to the success of its graduates as they advance in the workplace or post-secondary education and training. Alumni of the Excel High School program who have questions regarding their transcripts or meeting college admissions requirements may call 800.620.3844 or email success@excelhighschool.com for support. We’re always here to help!

Yes, all Excel High School instructors are highly qualified, with many years of teaching experience in their field. Many of Excel’s success coaches and academic support staff are located in Minnesota. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT; however, success coaches have evening hours twice a week. Excel also offers a 24/7 ticketing system for after-hours support. Staff is not exclusively assigned to a specific library. The Excel High School success coaches will welcome students initially and reach out to students at least once every two weeks—and more often for students needing additional assistance.

Excel High School is committed to helping people meet their education and job preparation needs. We encourage you to visit our website and speak to the school staff to help you find a local agency or resource that will best fit your needs. Our success coaches are dedicated to helping students discover the next stages in life.

Visit the HOW TO GET STARTED PAGE to learn more about the program and how it works.