STRIVE/Ruggles
150 Forsyth Street (inside Ruggles station)
Roxbury, MA 02115

• Pre-GED Class
• GED Prep Class
• College Prep Class
• College Mentoring Program

We began a small GED preparation program in Dudley Square in 1999, with a volunteer instructor. Over time this program grew to include 3 separate classes with a total of more than 40 students, which is now located at Ruggles. At this site we offer Pre-GED and GED Prep classes, Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 - 9:00. We teach reading/writing skills on Mondays and math skills on Wednesdays. We utilize up to 12 volunteers weekly at this site to help with reading, writing, and math instruction. Students must be at least 18 years old. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on who can enter these classes, other than reading grade level. We offer rolling admissions for these classes.

We also hold our College Prep class at this location. This program is for adults who have passed their GED exam or have a high school diploma, and who plan on attending college, but would like to refresh their academic skills before taking the college placement test. Academics in this class focus on math, writing, and computer skills for college. We also work on developing college study skills, time management, research skills, and other skills to help ensure success in college. This class runs three times a year in 14-week cycles. Next registration is Jan 2007, May 2007, and Sept 2007. Once students complete the college prep class, and they are ready to begin their first semester in college, they are eligible to enroll in our College Mentoring Program, where they will be paired with a mentor who is a current college student or graduate, and usually has also completed our college prep class previously.

Log School/Dorchester
222 Bowdoin Street
Dorchester, MA 02122

• Pre-GED Class
• GED Prep Class

This is currently our largest Pre-GED and GED Prep site. We offer Pre-GED and GED Prep classes at this location to more than 50 students. These classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00pm. On Tuesdays we focus on reading/writing skills and on Thursdays we work on math skills. We utilize up to 10 volunteers weekly at this site to help with reading, writing, and math instruction. Students must be at least 18 years old. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on who can enter these classes, other than reading grade level. We offer rolling admissions for these classes.

Mission Works/Roxbury
39 Smith Street
Roxbury, MA 02120

• Pre-GED Class
• GED Prep Class

This program is a collaboration between X-Cel, MissionWorks, and Roxbury Tenants of Harvard. Classes meet in the community center inside the Mission Main housing development and in a community room in the Mission Park housing development. At this site we offer one class, which includes Pre-GED and GED Prep levels. Classes meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 8:30pm. We focus on math instruction on Wednesdays and reading/writing instruction on Thursdays. We currently utilize three Wentworth work-study students to assist with math instruction. This program also serves adults with a high school diploma who need to raise their reading or math grade levels to meet entry requirements for a job training or academic program. Students must be at least 18 years old. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on who can enter these classes, other than grade level. We offer rolling admissions for these classes.

STRIVE Boston Employment Services/Ruggles
Forsyth St. (inside Ruggles T station)
Boston, MA 02120

• GED Prep Class

This program is a collaboration between STRIVE Employment Services and X-Cel. STRIVE operates a 6-week job readiness program, which runs from Monday to Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm. The program focuses on changing the participants’ behavior and attitude so that they will be successful in securing employment and keeping it. The Ruggles class works with ex-offenders. Integrated into STRIVE’s 9:00-5:00 program, X-Cel comes in twice a week for two hours each day to provide reading and math classes in preparation for the GED exam. At the end of the six-week cycle, STRIVE participants who lack a high-school diploma are then referred to one of X-Cel’s community-based GED prep classes. Our reading and math classes at STRIVE/Ruggles are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 - 4:00pm. Enrollment is limited to STRIVE participants or STRIVE graduates.

STRIVE Boston Employment Services/Codman Square
651 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124

• GED Prep Class