Today, Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas (MoKan Goodwill) announced plans to start an adult high school, which will be known as The Excel Center Kansas City. The school will be located in southern Kansas City, Missouri near the intersection of Bannister Rd. and I-435 at 5000 East Bannister Road. It will be easily accessible by car or bus, with a Troost Max Line bus stop just outside.

The first of its kind in the region, the Excel Center is open to any Missourian aged 21 and over who doesn’t have a high school diploma. Free, onsite childcare will be provided to individuals enrolled in the Excel Center and Excel Center students will also have access to life coaches trained to assist students in finding solutions to challenges they may face along the way, including transportation barriers, learning disabilities, and food and housing insecurity. The vision for the Excel Center is to open doors for continued education, good paying jobs and industry certifications through local business partners and post-secondary institutions.

The Excel Center model has operated across the country for ten years. Data shows that this model provides immediate and long-term economic mobility for participants such as:

• $9,330 average annual increase in initial earned income.
• 22% more likely to be employed than their peers.
• 20% more likely to be enrolled in college or certificate programs.
• 35% increase in earned income compared to peers after four years.

Forty seven other Goodwill Excel Centers have been successfully operating since the first one opened 10 years ago, including six in Missouri. The local Excel Center will employ qualified special education instructors to offer individualized assistance for people with disabilities, English language learners, and learners with a range of previous education. All students will be encouraged to earn industry recognized certifications and/or dual college credits along with their diploma. As an institution offering high school diplomas, the Excel Center will be held to all the same state and federal standards as a traditional high school.

The Kansas City Missouri City Council recently formally approved the development plan for the Excel Center and updates to the project, including enrollment and hiring information, can be found here.

“When Kansas Citians have the tools they need to succeed, our entire community benefits. The Excel Center is a critical tool to help Kansas Citians find their unique paths in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “The Excel Center will help change the trajectory of the more than 60,000 Kansas City-area adults without a high school diploma, gain the skills they need for a high-paying career. We’re proud of our continued partnership with Goodwill and thankful for their years of positive impact and investment in Kansas City.”

“This Excel Center will be a beacon of hope and opportunity for many Kansas Citians,” said Mike Sinnett, Goodwill President and CEO. “Our Excel Center will deliver an accredited, tuition-free high school education for eligible Missouri residents who do not already have a high school diploma. The transformative power of a high school diploma is undeniable: the median weekly earnings for a person without a high school diploma is less than 80% of what a person with a high school diploma earns, and less than 72% of what a person with some college or an associate degree earns. It’s our hope that the Excel Center will be the first stop on our students’ journey to success.”

Click here to see a video from Katie, a graduate of an Excel Center operated by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, about her personal success and statistics on why a high school degree, like the degrees earned at Kansas City’s Excel Center, is important.

About Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas

MoKan Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that serves the Greater Kansas City community and surrounding areas, spanning from St Joseph, Missouri to the north, Manhattan, Kansas to the west, Pittsburg, Kansas to the south and Blue Springs, Missouri to the east. The organization’s mission is to empower people to discover their potential and adapt for the future through the power of work. All of Goodwill’s programs and services are available to clients at no cost and the services are provided directly to the client. These programs and services include Digital Skills training, Bridge to Technology, and the Certified Manufacturing Associate Program through the Artemis Institute, the Ability One program for individuals with significant documented disabilities, and Reentry Services for individuals who have been previously incarcerated or who are currently justice involved and are seeking opportunities to build their skills and achieve career success.