El Centro

Also known as El Centro de Estudiantes, El Centro is an intentionally small, accelerated school for young adults ages 16–21 who had previously disconnected from their education.

For over 15 years, El Centro has been a welcoming community for young people who weren’t served by traditional forms of education. Whether talking to the inaugural Class of 2012 or the most recent Class of 2024, one word consistently emerges: family.

Across 13 graduating classes, 551 young adults have earned their high school diplomas from El Centro, built professional networks, and started on their career paths. In fact, El Centro graduates account for nearly 10% of all Opportunity Youth in Philadelphia who have earned their diplomas over the past decade.

• Accelerated school—you can graduate in 36 months or less depending on how quickly you accrue credits

• Classes organized by credits not grade levels

• You can earn a workforce certification and your diploma at the same time—all for free!

• The only requirements for enrollment are:

   

  • You MUST be between the ages of 16-21, and

  • Have earned NO MORE than 13.5 high school credits.

• Interested in learning more? Fill out the interest form below and our enrollment team will reach out to you shortly.

El Centro has a permanent home!

El Centro was in the Kensington neighborhood for over thirteen years but never had its own building. After relocating in the area three times, El Centro had to temporarily leave its home neighborhood. In 2022, we started our search for a modern, state-of-the art forever home. This dream is now a reality with the completion of Phase One of construction of a 28,284 square foot education center which opened in August 2024.