Durango & Cortez Adult Education Center

Transforming Lives Through Adult Education

About Us

Your support of the Durango Adult Education Center helps adult learners remove barriers to education and attain living-wage jobs. We provide prep classes for high school equivalency (GED) exams, as well as classes in English as a second language (ESL). Additional support services include job skills and training, career advising, U.S. citizenship prep, and community education classes. Our educational programs are for students aged 17-70 and beyond!

Testimonials and Personal Stories

"The best thing about being here is everybody's friendliness & helpfulness. Everybody's there to just help you achieve goals in your life to make your life better. And that means that they care about me and my children and that's so beneficial to me." 

~ Rhonda Rist, former GED student

"I went through the 9th grade about four times. The last time I had to just withdraw. I couldn't keep kidding myself. I just went to work and paid my bills for a long time. I've been running in the same circle of minimum wage and small unemployment gaps. But I have three kids in my circle so I knew it wouldn't work like this for long. I want to be an example to [my kids]. With education, I want them to know there's no limit." Since attending GED classes, "[my kids and I] can sit down at the dinner table and I'll go over some of my notes. They want to see what I'm doing. And some of what they're doing is close. They are learning fractions. So we help each other. Knowing and feeling inside myself that I'm able to do these things for my children; that I'm able to make sure they're okay, to make sure they're safe, they get to go to school, they get to have these fulfillments...with the GED I believe I can too." 

~ Carlos Sanchez, current GED student

Video Testimonials