Earn Your High School Diploma

This self-paced, flexible format is designed for adults 18 years of age and older to continue their academic career by earning their accredited high school diploma (not GED) in 6 - 24 months. Students who meet the enrollment criteria will receive a scholarship to cover the cost of the program. If selected for the program, students can expect to dedicate 8-10 hours per week to their coursework.

About the Program

Through these programs, each student will get support from academic success coaches, classes led by certified instructors, as well as career guidance and resources. Courses cover topics like English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health, and other elective topics. Some courses for college credit may be available, but are not guaranteed. Adults can transfer previously earned high school credits and credits earned from the GED.

In addition to an accredited high school diploma, successful graduates will also earn a certificate in one of ten high-demand career fields, such as Child Care and Education, Security Professional, Food and Hospitality, Office Management, Introduction to Manufacturing, and Retail Customer Service.

Who Is Eligible?

Baltimore City residents 18 years of age and older who have successfully completed grade 8 are eligible. Program applicants must have or be willing to apply for a Pratt Library card.

Choosing a Program

The Library offers two programs for adults seeking their high school diplomas: Excel Adult High School and Career Online High School (COHS). After application, students can select the program that is the best fit for their needs.

Excel Adult High School

This program is a good fit for adults who:

• Are self-motivated
• Are career-driven
• Are tech savvy
• Discontinued traditional high school in the 11th or 12th grades

Career Online High School

This program is a good fit for adults who:

• Are seeking curated support
• Are job-oriented
• May need technical resources
• Discontinued traditional high school in the 9th or 10th grades

How to Apply

Applications are currently closed and will reopen July 1, 2025. Please refer to the application schedule below for deadline information.

Interested students should complete the application below to receive more information. A schedule with program terms is below.

After application, there is an orientation process that all students must complete before proceeding with the program.

Next, after orientation, students will enroll in and complete the prerequisite course in two weeks or less. A link to the prerequisite course will be emailed to you. After the prerequisite course has been completed a Pratt Library staff member will contact you to discuss next steps and scholarship details.

Please note there are a limited number of scholarships available.

If you have questions or concerns about the application process, email cohs@prattlibrary.org.

Application Schedule

Graduation

If you've completed the online high school program, congratulations! We look forward to celebrating with you.

We offer two graduation ceremonies per year. Signups for the spring application to graduate are now closed. Please check back for the link to apply for fall graduation beginning June 15.

If you have questions about graduation, please contact highschool@prattlibrary.org. 

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Our online high school diploma programs are made possible with the generous support of the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation.