Education at Edgecombe YDC: School Courses, GED, Vocational and Special Education

Education at Edgecombe Youth Center runs through North Carolina's Youth Development Center (YDC) system. The Juvenile Justice section operates as a local education agency - meaning schooling happens inside the facility, not as an afterthought. Most youth here take standard public school courses. They're working on the same kinds of classes they'd take at a typical school, just delivered within the center's structure.

School is just one piece of the puzzle. Youth also receive mentoring and therapeutic treatment, all aimed at building skills and stability that carry over when they return home.

Older students have options beyond standard coursework. Youth 16 and older can enroll in GED study - a practical path if finishing a traditional diploma doesn't make sense. They may also take post-secondary vocational courses or online college classes through partnerships with local community colleges. This includes job-focused training and college-level coursework.

• ✓ GED study (for youth age 16 and older)
• ✓ Post-secondary vocational courses (for youth age 16 and older, in cooperation with local community colleges)
• ✓ Online college courses (for youth age 16 and older, in cooperation with local community colleges)

Special education doesn't stop because a child is in a YDC. Required services continue throughout the system.

Education at Edgecombe Youth Center focuses on what comes next - not just what happens during commitment. The YDC model combines mentoring, education, and therapeutic treatment to help youth prepare for re-entry and a more stable return to school, training, or work.