Since 2016, 39 students have obtained their General Educational Development diploma thanks to the Camp Verde Adult Reading Program.
“It doesn’t sound like that much, but for us, we’re such a small program,” Kelly Roberts, CVARP’s office manager said. “It changes [students’] lives forever.”
“Approximately one-third of our graduates go on to college or earn skilled trade certificates,” she added.
When it comes to helping erase the stigma that many students face after dropping out of high school, Roberts says she is willing to go the extra mile, including answering calls to her cell phone on weekends.
“The majority of our students are probably in their late twenties and early thirties, and they’ve lived with the term “drop out” for many years, so they’re kind of wounded,” she said. “Once they get that piece of paper, their whole confidence changes.”
CVARP Evolution
CVARP was founded in 1988, “because there was a need in the area to help people learn to read,” Roberts said. It has morphed through the years to include English as a Second Language and GED.”
CVARP used to be behind the old high school in a small room, but when Camp Verde Community Library was built, “they wanted to include us in the library,” she said.
Roberts said moving the program into the library has “absolutely” made a difference in terms of exposure.
“People see us when they’re in the library,” she said.
Roberts said the program only employs four staff members, including herself. However, the program serves community members that extend beyond Camp Verde, including Sedona, Prescott Valley, Clarkdale and Rimrock.
Enrollment is open so students can begin at any time of the year.
Additionally, CVARP uses an online program called GED Academy, which allows students to study from home. One-on-one study sessions are available with CVARP staff by appointment multiple times per week.
“That’s one of the nicest things about the program is the flexibility,” Roberts said.
Success Rates
Over the past five years, 300 students have entered the CVARP GED program, with the aforementioned 39 students going on to graduation, amounting to a 13% success rate.
When asked about graduation rates, Roberts said there are multiple factors that can affect outcomes, including the students’ level of determination.
Roberts cited an article from ged.com that states there are four common personas of GED students:
- The determined. “I will get my GED.”
- The family go-to. “These are the ones who put others first.”
- The here-and-now. “I’ll get my GED sometime.”
- The disheartened. “I will try and get my GED.”
“You’ll get a few that are the determined, but the others tend to fall into those other categories, so they really need encouragement …. I try to stay on top of these students, even on weekends, because they really need that extra push,” she said.
Stigma of ‘Drop Out’
Roberts explained that there are many reasons why some people drop out of high school, including difficult family situations and sometimes, boredom.
“Everybody learns differently,” she said.
For those who decide to pursue a GED diploma, the opportunities are almost identical to those available for high school graduates, Roberts explained.
“Ninety-eight percent of colleges accept the GED,” she said. “That includes community colleges, vocational schools and both private and public universities.”
According to Roberts, the GED test is not easy to pass.
“The students feel accomplished by what they’ve done, they know it’s a very hard thing to do. I think it was 30% of [recent high school graduates] that couldn’t pass the GED test.
“I’d read an article, probably about a year ago, that said that there were even college grads that went back and took some of the practice tests and they couldn’t pass it,” she said.
For those that pass the test, there is an option to participate in a graduation ceremony at Yavapai College in Prescott.
This year, three CVARP students participated in the ceremony, which took place on May 21.
“It is very meaningful for them and provides a sense of completion,” Roberts said.
Accessibility
While the test is difficult, students are no longer required to take the entire test at once and have more time to prepare for each portion.
“The test is broken down into five different sections, which include language arts, math, social studies, science and Arizona requires the students to pass a civics test,” Roberts said.
Students can take the tests up to three times, and have one year to complete them all.
“I’d say 90% of the time, they pass,” she said.
When it comes to prices, Roberts said “there is no cost for our services.”
Test prices average $35 per test. However, for those in need, the library offers assistance.
Currently, CVARP is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Evening classes are available from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m.
More information is available on CVARP’s website or by calling (928) 554- 8398.
