Memphis News: Goodwill Opens Third Free Excel Center in Memphis, Helping Adults Earn Diplomas and Job Certifications
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 1 day 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 location at 3830 Austin Peay Highway into Memphis’s third Excel Center campus. The tuition-free school gives adults age 18 and older a pathway to an accredited high school diploma, workforce certifications, college-credit opportunities, and college application support.
Classes began August 10, 2026. The Austin Peay campus also offers on-site childcare, transportation assistance, flexible scheduling, licensed teachers, and life-coaching support. More than 1,700 adults have graduated from Memphis Excel Center campuses since the first location opened in 2015.
For adults who left high school because of work, parenting, financial pressure, transportation challenges, or other circumstances, this new campus represents a practical opportunity to begin again.
A Second-Chance School in a Familiar Memphis Location
The Austin Peay campus is located inside the former Goodwill store at 3830 Austin Peay Highway, Memphis, TN 38128. Rather than allowing the building to sit unused, Goodwill has given the location a new mission: helping adults complete an education they may once have been unable to finish.
The Excel Center is a public contract school governed by Shelby County Schools and operated by Goodwill Excel Center Mid-South. According to the official Excel Center FAQ, Shelby County residents who are at least 18 years old and do not have a high school diploma may apply.
This is not simply a GED preparation program. Students work toward an accredited high school diploma while also receiving access to career and college pathways.
That distinction matters because a diploma can open doors to jobs, training programs, military opportunities, community college, and other forms of higher education. It can also restore confidence for someone who has carried the weight of leaving school early.
“A second chance can change a family.”
The Program Removes Practical Barriers
Returning to school as an adult is rarely only an academic decision. Many prospective students are also parents, employees, caregivers, or heads of household.
The Excel Center’s support services are designed to address some of the practical barriers that often prevent adults from completing school.
Free Childcare for Student Parents
The Excel Drop-in Center provides free on-site childcare for up to four hours per day while student parents are on campus. This can make a significant difference for adults who want to study but cannot afford private childcare.
Families should understand the program’s limitations. Parents are responsible for providing their children’s meals, snacks, drinks, diapers, and wipes. Prospective students should confirm current childcare procedures and availability before enrolling.
Transportation Assistance
Enrolled students who need transportation help may receive free MATA bus passes. Transportation assistance does not solve every commuting challenge, but it can help remove one of the largest obstacles for adults without reliable access to a vehicle.
Flexible Classes and Life Coaches
Classes are held Monday through Friday, with class periods lasting approximately one hour and 20 minutes. Morning and afternoon options are designed to help students balance school with work and family responsibilities.
Each student is assigned a life coach who can help address academic, personal, college, and career concerns. The goal is not simply to place students in classrooms but to help them remain connected to the resources needed to finish.
The official Goodwill Memphis Excel Center page also lists accelerated courses, licensed teachers, college and career pathways, free college-credit opportunities, and industry-recognized certification courses.
What Students May Earn
Students enrolled in the diploma pathway may have access to several opportunities:
An accredited high school diploma
Industry-recognized workforce certifications
College-credit opportunities
Career and college advising
Support from certified life coaches
Flexible morning and afternoon classes
Free books and learning materials
On-site childcare
Transportation assistance through MATA bus passes
The program’s website notes that certifications and college-credit opportunities are available to students pursuing their high school diploma. That qualification is important: not every service operates as a stand-alone certification program.
Students who completed some high school coursework may be able to transfer credits. Those with few or no credits may be able to complete the program in roughly two years, depending on their academic record, pace, attendance, and progress.
New terms begin every eight weeks, and applications are accepted year-round. Enrollment is space-available, so interested adults should contact the school rather than assume that a seat is immediately guaranteed.
Memphis Results Since 2015
Goodwill reports that more than 1,700 adults have graduated from its Memphis Excel Center campuses since the first local campus opened in 2015.
That number offers meaningful context for the Austin Peay expansion. The new location is not an untested idea. It builds on a local model that has already helped adults earn diplomas and pursue new career directions.
Action News 5 reported that the Austin Peay campus was created by converting the former Goodwill thrift-store space. The station also quoted Goodwill Regional Executive Director of Academics Candis Dawson, who described the work as an opportunity to witness people move from limited hope and opportunity toward greater possibilities.
Still, graduation statistics should be viewed honestly. A free program does not mean an easy program. Students must attend classes, complete assignments, provide required documentation, manage family responsibilities, and continue through academic challenges.
That balanced perspective is essential. The Excel Center can remove barriers, but students still have to walk through the open door.
Why Adult Education Matters to Memphis Families
When one adult earns a diploma, the impact can extend beyond one individual.
A parent may become a stronger example of perseverance for a child. A worker may qualify for employment that offers greater stability. A student may move from an unfinished high school experience toward community college or technical training.
Adult education is therefore connected to family stability, workforce development, and neighborhood health. Churches, employers, nonprofits, schools, and families can all help by sharing accurate information and encouraging adults without shame.
Our previous coverage of Goodwill’s third Memphis Excel Center campus examined the same development, while our broader Memphis News archive continues to follow education and community initiatives across the city.
Christian Takeaway
Scripture reminds us that perseverance is part of faithful living:
“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 work points to a truth Christians should recognize: a person’s past interruption does not have to become their permanent identity.
A diploma does not determine a person’s value. Every person is already made in the image of God and worthy of dignity. But education can help someone steward their abilities, provide for their family, serve their neighbors, and pursue meaningful work.
The Christian takeaway is not to label people by what they did not finish. It is to encourage them toward what they can still do.
How to Pray/Engage
Pray for adults returning to school after years away from the classroom.
Pray for teachers, life coaches, childcare workers, and administrators serving at the Austin Peay campus.
Share the Excel Center’s enrollment information with a Memphis adult who may qualify.
Encourage student parents who are balancing classes, work, and family responsibilities.
Ask local churches and employers how they can provide mentorship, transportation help, prayer, or flexible scheduling.
Celebrate graduates publicly so others can see that completing school as an adult is possible.
To learn more, visit the Excel Center Memphis website or review the official campus locations.
Peacemaker’s Perspective
A peacemaker celebrates new opportunities while remaining honest about the work required to use them.
Goodwill’s Austin Peay Excel Center does not solve every challenge facing Memphis adults. Students may still encounter transportation delays, work conflicts, childcare limits, documentation issues, financial stress, or discouragement. A responsible community response avoids both cynicism and exaggeration.
We can say both things clearly: the opportunity is real, and the obstacles are real.
Peacemaking means helping people take the next constructive step. Employers can encourage workers to enroll. Churches can offer prayer and practical support. Families can protect study time. Graduates can share their stories. Community leaders can make sure residents know where to find accurate information.
Sometimes peacemaking looks like resolving a public dispute. Sometimes it looks like helping a neighbor find a bus route to class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Excel Center located?
The Austin Peay Excel Center is located at 3830 Austin Peay Highway, Memphis, TN 38128, inside the former Goodwill thrift-store location.
Who is eligible to apply?
According to the official Excel Center FAQ, Shelby County residents age 18 and older who do not have a high school diploma may apply. Applicants should confirm current enrollment requirements and availability directly with the school.
Is the Excel Center 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.
Do students earn a diploma or a GED?
Students work toward an accredited high school diploma. The program may also provide access to industry-recognized certifications and college-credit opportunities for students enrolled in the diploma pathway.
How long can it take to graduate?
Students with few or no high school credits may be able to graduate in roughly two years. Those with transferable credits may finish sooner. The timeline depends on each student’s academic record and progress.
How can someone enroll?
Visit excelcentermemphis.org, review the Austin Peay location information, or call (901) 726-3100.
A Specific Next Step
If you or someone you know left high school without a diploma, visit excelcentermemphis.org today and ask about enrollment at the Austin Peay campus. Then share this article with one Memphis adult who may be ready for a fresh start.
Comments