It’s never too late to get your high school diploma. 2 SLO County success stories
When Heriberto Rodriguez dropped out of high school after having his first child, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to get his diploma.
But in early June, Rodriguez — who is now a father of five — joined a group of 37 adults who officially graduated high school, thanks to the Templeton Adult School, one of several adult education programs in San Luis Obispo County.
The adult education programs aim to ensure the door to a high school diploma is never closed, no matter how old or late in their career someone is.
Students complete a typical high school curriculum aligned to state standards and graduate with a high school diploma rather than a GED.
And adult education is becoming more popular in the North County — this year, the Templeton school celebrated its largest class in history, according to principal and teacher Cheryl London.
Just like regular high school graduates, the students are headed down diverse paths. Some are seeking out a higher education, while others are shooting for a job promotion.
“They all have these great plans and dreams,” London said. “It’s so rewarding as a teacher to work here with this population because they’re so kind and they want it.”
Adult education opens doors for students
Rodriguez quit high school at 18 years old while living in Bakersfield. He told The Tribune his life in the Central Valley was “hectic.”
“I ended up being homeless, and I was on drugs for a little while,” he said.
But he persisted through the challenges and over time, landed jobs in warehouse logistics and worked as the operations manager for a pool company.
But at one job, the hiring managers wanted someone with a high school diploma — and Rodriguez didn’t qualify. He tried to get his GED, but the program ultimately wasn’t the right fit, he said.
That’s when he found the Templeton Adult School.
The teachers at the school were encouraging and helped him want to better himself, he said.
That attitude carried Rodriguez into his June 3 graduation ceremony, when he walked across the stage and received his diploma.
Rodriguez, now officially a high school graduate, plans to enroll at Cuesta College to explore his career interests. He hopes his decision to go back to school makes an impact on his family.
“I decided I need to come back and also be a role model and show them that, you know, no matter what happens, it can still get done and that it’s important,” he said. “Education is very important, so I just wanted to be a role model for them.”
“My wife and family were my biggest supporters,” he added. “I couldn’t do it without them.”
Members of Rodriguez’s family attended the graduation ceremony — including his aunt, Lourdes Gurrola, who also received her diploma that night.
Gurrola said she too went back to school to set an example for her family.
It can be scary to start school as an adult, Gurrola said, but she wants others to know it’s never too late to chase their dreams.
“I really encourage everybody, all teenagers, every adult, to come back to school,” she said.
Gurrola has worked at Adventist Health Twin Cities hospital for 20 years.
Now that she has her diploma, she plans to go to Cuesta and pursue an education in social services — specifically, patient advocacy.
Templeton school sees largest class of graduates
London has worked at the Templeton Adult School for over a decade. In that time, she’s heard many reasons why students never finished high school.
“For some of them, they ended up working. Some of them got ill or had a mental health issue right at the end,” she said. Others may have fallen through the cracks or quit for another reason.
“Life happens,” London added.
Overall, SLO County performs better than the state or national averages for percent of adults who didn’t graduate high school, but the number is still significant.
According to Census data from 2019 to 2023, more than 8% of SLO County residents aged 25 or older didn’t get their diplomas. That compares to more than 15% statewide and more than 10% nationally.
But just because someone doesn’t have a high school diploma doesn’t mean they aren’t able to find success.
London said most of the students she sees have held jobs and raised families — their options are just limited by their lack of a diploma.
“A lot of people now are coming back because, in this area, they want a job that offers them more,” she said. “More benefits, more retirement options, that kind of thing.”
The Templeton school offers a typical high school curriculum that aligns with state requirements, London said. It includes English, math, science, history, art and elective courses.
London acknowledged that it can be difficult for adults to make the decision to return to school.
“The hardest part is usually walking through the door the first night,” she said. After that, most students make friends in their class and realize their teachers are there to support them.
London commended this year’s graduates for their drive to get their degrees.
One recent graduate had already gotten a promotion at their job, she said. Others, like Gurrola and Rodriguez, planned to go to college.
London encouraged anyone interested in getting their diploma to contact one of SLO County’s adult education programs, including the Templeton Adult School, Lucia Mar’s adult education program and San Luis Coastal’s Adult School.
“It’s scary,” she acknowledged, “but we’ll help.”
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