In addition to the high school diploma program, Brito said they have seen more people enrolled in the HiSET program, a high school equivalency certification. “They’re coming in (at) 8 in the morning with Red Bull, happy as can be to get their classwork now,” he said. In his experience, Buccheri said students who often skipped class or rarely did their classwork at Leavitt are far more engaged in adult education classes. The three are enrolled in the adult education diploma program. Payton Buccheri, right, photobombs a shot Thursday morning set up by Nate Walker, left, with his friend Nate Clifford in the hall at Maine School Administrative 52 offices in Turner. The program, which usually serves high school age students, has seen the greatest rise in the number of 16-year-olds, he said. It takes about half the time for students in adult education to earn course credits.

He is one of a record number of students enrolled in MSAD 52’s adult education high school diploma program this year.īefore the pandemic, about 17 to 20 students were in the program each year, according to Adult and Community Education Director Bryan Brito.īut as of last week, there were 28, a number he expects to rise in the next couple of months as some credit-deficient seniors move to adult education in an effort to graduate on time. With smaller class sizes, more flexibility and curriculums pared down to the essential concepts, Buccheri said he’s on track to graduate in 2024.

When Buccheri started his junior year at Leavitt Area High School last fall, he had four high school credits, far less than many of his peers.

Bryan Brito, director of Adult and Community Education at Maine School Administrative District 52 in Turner, poses a question Thursday morning to a class.

Classwork folder