Memphis News: Goodwill Excel Center Opens Third Memphis Campus on Austin Peay Highway : Free High School Diplomas and Second Chances
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
By Dr. Layne McDonald, Founder of Memphis News with a Purpose Beat: Education
Direct Answer
Goodwill has transformed its former thrift store at 3830 Austin Peay Highway into Memphis’s third Excel Center campus. Classes began August 10, 2026, giving adults in Shelby County an opportunity to earn an accredited high school diploma, workforce certifications, and college credit at no cost: with support that includes free on-site childcare and transportation assistance.
Since the first Memphis Excel Center opened in 2015, more than 1,700 adults have graduated through the program. The Austin Peay campus expands access to a proven second-chance education model, especially for parents and working adults who face practical barriers to returning to school.
Rebuilding Hope Through Education
The opening was first reported by Action News 5, which described the renovation of the former Goodwill store into a space designed to help adults continue their education.
This is more than a change in building use. It is a reminder that a closed chapter does not have to become the final chapter.
Many adults leave high school because of responsibilities or circumstances that can quickly become overwhelming: pregnancy, transportation problems, financial pressure, family caregiving, housing instability, or the need to work. Years later, the absence of a diploma can continue to limit employment, income, college access, and confidence.
The Excel Center addresses those realities directly. According to the Excel Center’s official FAQs, the school serves Shelby County residents age 18 and older who do not have a high school diploma. Students work toward a diploma: not simply a GED: while receiving academic and personal support.
That distinction matters. A diploma can represent not only educational progress but also a restored sense of identity: “I can finish what I once had to leave unfinished.”
A Proven Model for Upward Mobility
The Excel Center’s local record gives this expansion a meaningful foundation. More than 1,700 Memphis-area adults have already graduated since Goodwill opened its first local campus in 2015.
The program combines classroom instruction with practical services intended to help students persist. The Goodwill Memphis Excel Center page lists several key features:
Morning and afternoon class options
Licensed teachers
Accelerated and flexible coursework
Certified life coaches
College and career pathways
Free college credit opportunities for eligible students
Industry-recognized certification courses
On-site childcare
Transportation assistance through free MATA bus passes for enrolled students who need them
New terms begin every eight weeks, and applications are accepted year-round. Students with previous high school credits may be able to transfer those credits, potentially shortening the time required to graduate.
The model is built around a simple principle: education is more effective when people are supported as whole persons. A student cannot always focus on algebra, writing, or career planning while worrying about whether a child is safe or how to get home after class.
Removing the Barriers That Keep Adults Out of School
For many adult learners, the biggest obstacle is not a lack of desire. It is the cost of participation.
Childcare can consume a paycheck. A daily commute can become impossible when a vehicle breaks down or gas prices rise. Work schedules may not fit a traditional school day. Even the cost of books and learning materials can discourage someone who is already managing a tight household budget.
The Excel Center’s support structure is designed to reduce those pressures.
The on-site Excel Drop-in Center provides free childcare for up to four hours per day while student parents are on campus. Enrolled students who need transportation help may receive free MATA bus passes. Each student is also assigned a life coach who can help address personal, academic, college, and career concerns.
These services do not eliminate every challenge. The school’s FAQ explains that families are responsible for providing children’s meals, snacks, drinks, diapers, and wipes during childcare. Certification and college-credit opportunities are connected to students who are pursuing their high school diploma. Enrollment is also handled on a space-available basis, and applicants should review the required documentation before beginning the process.
That balanced view is important. A second chance is real, but it still requires commitment, attendance, paperwork, and perseverance. The good news is that students do not have to face those steps alone.
What Students and Families Can Expect
Classes are held Monday through Friday, with individual class periods lasting approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Friday hours are listed as 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., allowing students to meet individually with teachers and staff.
Prospective students should be prepared to provide documents such as:
A sealed official high school transcript, when available
A state-issued identification card
A Social Security card
Proof of residency
Immunization records
Completed enrollment forms
The official Austin Peay location page lists the new campus at 3830 Austin Peay Highway, Memphis, TN 38128, along with the Thousand Oaks location and the program’s contact number, (901) 726-3100.
Applicants should confirm current enrollment procedures, available class times, documentation requirements, and childcare arrangements directly with the Excel Center before making plans.
Why This Matters for Memphis
Educational attainment affects more than one person. When a parent earns a diploma, children see perseverance in action. When a worker gains a certification, a household may gain new options. When a graduate enters college or a better career pathway, the benefit can extend to an entire neighborhood.
This is why adult education belongs in the broader conversation about Memphis’s future. The city’s schools, churches, businesses, nonprofits, and families all have a role to play in building pathways toward stability.
Our recent coverage of MSCS facility improvements and Operation Memphis 901’s back-to-school shoe drive highlighted another part of the same principle: communities become stronger when people use their resources to remove obstacles for students.
Goodwill’s Austin Peay campus is not a complete answer to every educational or economic challenge facing Memphis. It is, however, a tangible answer for adults who need a place to begin again.
Christian Takeaway
Scripture repeatedly presents God as the One who restores, redeems, and opens new paths.
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” : Galatians 6:9
The Excel Center’s mission reflects a truth Christians should understand deeply: people are not defined forever by their past failures, interruptions, or disappointments.
A diploma does not determine a person’s value: that value comes from being made in the image of God. But education can help a person steward their gifts, provide for their family, serve their neighbors, and pursue work that reflects their calling.
The memorable lesson is simple: A second chance can change a family.
How to Pray and Engage
Peacemaker’s Perspective
A peacemaker looks honestly at both the opportunity and the obstacles.
The Austin Peay Excel Center offers free services, but students may still face work demands, transportation delays, family responsibilities, documentation problems, or discouragement. We should celebrate the campus without pretending that one program can solve every barrier.
The constructive response is partnership. Employers can encourage workers to pursue diplomas. Churches can provide mentorship and prayer. Families can protect study time. Community leaders can help residents understand how to enroll. Graduates can share their stories so others know that returning to school is possible.
Peacemaking is not merely calming conflict. It is helping people move from instability toward hope, one practical step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Goodwill Excel Center campus located?
The new campus is located at 3830 Austin Peay Highway, Memphis, Tennessee 38128, in the former Goodwill thrift store space.
Who can attend the Excel Center?
The Excel Center’s official FAQ says Shelby County residents age 18 and older who do not have a high school diploma may apply. Prospective students should confirm current eligibility and enrollment availability with the school.
Is the program really free?
Yes. Classes, books, learning materials, support services, and on-site childcare are provided at no cost. Enrolled students who need transportation assistance may also receive free MATA bus passes.
Does the Excel Center provide a diploma or a GED?
Students work toward an accredited high school diploma. The program also offers career certifications and college-credit opportunities for students enrolled in the diploma pathway.
How long does it take to graduate?
A student with few or no high school credits may complete the program in approximately two years. Students with transferable credits may finish sooner. The exact timeline depends on each student’s academic record and progress.
How can someone enroll?
Visit excelcentermemphis.org, review the location information, or call (901) 726-3100 to ask about enrollment at the Austin Peay campus.
A Specific Next Step
If you or someone you love left high school without a diploma, visit excelcentermemphis.org today and ask about enrolling at the Austin Peay campus. Then share this article with one Memphis adult who may be ready for a fresh start.
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