MANTECA ADULT SCHOOL: HiSET Program

The Manteca Unified School District’s Manteca Adult School hones a specialized program for those who have decided to complete their high school education: The High School Equivalency Test.

The program is the best he’s seen in his fourteen years of academic counseling, expressed Larry Machado, adult school, be.tech, and independent study counselor.

The high school equivalency program differs from the prevalently known GED, but only where curriculum is concerned. Whether a student completes the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or the General Education Development Test (GED), the same certificate is issued from the state of California.

Mr. Machado explained that the GED began in the early 1940’s as a way to help veterans returning from World War II complete their high school education so that they might attend college. From there, the test became widely available as an option, and the only option, for adult learners to finish high school. Until 2014 when the High School Equivalency Test was introduced to the state of California as well as other states.

“Think of it as the iPhone vs. the Samsung, ” illustrated Mr. Machado. “Both exams sanction high school equivalency, but one may be preferred over the other. ”

The Manteca Adult School prefers the HiSET, and for a good reason:

Mr. Machado explained that the population of prospective students entering the adult school were never taught Common Core standards. Common Core is a national educational system newly introduced in 2009, which came with its own methods and standards of learning and teaching. The GED is aligned to Common Core. For those who never experienced English or math in the Common Core era, it may make passing the GED more challenging.

When compared to the HiSET, Mr. Machado stated, “If you have good reading comprehension, you’ll do well in four out of the five tests. And, because you read well, you’ll grasp the math concepts easier, even if you never studied algebra. ”

The school adopted the HiSET in 2017 and has seen an increased number of adult graduates.

Partially due to the HiSET’s comprehensive curriculum that comes with a computer assessment test for new enrollees. The more apt the student’s initial placement is, the more success the student has.

And mostly due to the customer-service oriented environment the adult school takes pride in. They have a passion for educating adults, and it shows in their level of care with each and every student seeking to better themselves.

Mr. Machado expressed that when adults come to earn their high school education, it is a big step for them. "They didn’t finish high school the first time because they faced some kind of personal hardship. It wasn’t possible or doable for them at the time, ” he explained. “And we understand that. ”

This year, the adult school has partnered with the City of Manteca and City of Manteca Police Department to offer the High School Equivalency program to those facing homelessness in the city ’s shelters.

Suffice it to say, the adult school’s team of administration, counselors, and teachers were more than willing to oblige.

"We are thrilled to offer education opportunities for our community, ” stated Brad Harrison, Manteca Adult School Principal. “If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we can adapt to meet the needs of our students. ”

Further, the adult school offers a myriad of career technical education courses with certifications in forklift operation, welding, commercial driving fundamentals, and computer technology to name a few. And, so, when students graduate from the High School Equivalency program, they now have options to enlist in the military, gain employment, apply for college, or enroll in a CTE certification course with Manteca Adult School to become qualified for higher paying jobs.

“Education is so important, ” expressed Mr. Machado. “People don’t realize that who they are on paper often precedes them. ” Meaning, the first thing an employer looks for is one’s qualifications.

Manteca Unified’s Manteca Adult School goes above and beyond for their students— encouraging them every step of the way.

2271 W. Louise Ave. Manteca CA 95336 | www.mantecausd.net/mantecaadultschool