For many adults across the St. Louis region, the path to a higher-paying career stalls at one checkpoint: a high school diploma.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis aims to remove that barrier through a new initiative offering adults the opportunity to earn a diploma at no cost. The program operates through a partnership with Ancora High School, an accredited, fully online institution.
The effort grew out of patterns Urban League staff observed in workforce development programs.
“The inspiration for this partnership came from seeing the high number of clients who want a high-paying career but do not currently have a high school diploma,” said Tydrell Stevens, regional vice president of the League’s Save Our Sons & Sisters program. “This has created a barrier in how we place them in the career of their choice. If we want to build the economic mobility of our communities, we must solve this issue immediately.”
The diploma pathway is now embedded within the Urban League’s workforce system. Save Our Sons & Sisters operates at seven locations across the metropolitan area and serves roughly 4,000 people each year. Stevens said participants who indicate they need a diploma during intake may enroll as part of their workforce development plan.
The program arrives as many adult learners struggle with traditional alternatives. Stevens said difficulty passing the GED exam remains one of the most persistent obstacles. Others find classroom schedules incompatible with work and family demands.
“One of the biggest barriers we have seen is a person’s ability to pass the GED test, which is why we are offering the high school diploma,” Stevens said. “The other barrier is the ability to be committed to show up at a location for class days. Family and work tend to be the priority, which is why this is 100 percent online at your own pace.”
Through Ancora’s online platform, participants complete coursework on their own schedules. Students may pause without penalty, flexibility Stevens said is essential for adult learners balancing competing responsibilities.
Participants also may use Urban League facilities during designated office hours if they need a quiet workspace or additional academic support.
Because students enroll through Save Our Sons & Sisters, they gain access to wraparound services, including transportation assistance and emergency support. Stevens said those resources often determine whether a participant persists or drops out.
The initiative also addresses hiring challenges Urban League staff encounter with employer partners.
Stevens cited relationships with companies such as Boeing and Spire, which have hired Urban League clients into career-track positions. Still, some candidates are screened out early.
“We have had to deliver the news that you don’t qualify for these jobs because you don’t have a high school diploma,” Stevens said. “Companies love to hire homegrown talent. However, our talent pool of individuals who have their high school diploma needs to grow to meet the demand of the future workforce in St. Louis.”
Stevens said the diploma gap is especially visible in communities facing high unemployment and underemployment, where educational barriers can compound economic hardship.
“We see some of our underserved communities benefiting in amazing ways,” he said. “Individuals landing careers they never saw themselves in.”
Graduates of the Ancora program also may continue their education through a discounted online college pathway with Lindenwood University, extending the pipeline from diploma completion to higher education.
Enrollment is now open to eligible adults across the region. Urban League leaders describe the initiative as both an education effort and a workforce strategy aimed at expanding economic opportunity.