“Thank you for believing in me. I will try my best to succeed with all my graduate classes,” writes Angela, a former Excelsior student who earned her BA in Psychology and is now working in California on her MA in Counseling Psychology on an Excelsior Lawton Scholarship. Angela spoke at the May 2004 Excelsior graduation and she also writes: “It was a great privilege to speak and very meaningful to meet the Lawtons and reconnect with Excelsior and all the extraordinary staff who still work there! Thank you.” – Angela, former student

Excelsior Youth Center has an accredited (North Central Association accredited curriculum) middle and high school on its campus with an outstanding teaching staff. The Colorado Department of Education certifies every teacher; most are certified in Special Education.

The primary educational focus at Excelsior is to advance our girls' skills to an appropriate age and grade level. Each girl is required to work toward the completion of her High School Diploma or G.E.D. Providing and ensuring a proper education is essential to the transformation from tragic to fully functioning members of a community.

Graduation occurs in May, August and December each school year. Excelsior High School requires twenty-one credits for graduation. Students may alternatively earn a General Education Diploma by passing their required tests after reaching the age of 17. Summer school is also available to students presenting a need.

Girls participating in Excelsior Youth Center's Residential Treatment Program and Day Treatment Program attend Excelsior High School.

A scholarship program assists graduates who wish to pursue higher education. We prepare our girls in their passage from the tragedy of the past to the triumph of becoming fully functioning members of a larger community.

Day Treatment

Excelsior's Day Treatment program provides a fully developed alternative school program with comprehensive treatment services for female adolescents, ages 12-18, and their families. The goal is to provide services and intervention to prevent or reduce the need for placement outside of the home or community and to improve the students' ability to function within the public school setting.

The Day Treatment Program has the capacity for 20 students and accepts students from the Denver metro area. The school hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and transportation is provided. The campus is located in Aurora, Colorado.

Services include:

• providing an individually tailored treatment plan and academic curriculum with monthly reviews
• family focused interventions and parent empowerment
• weekly treatment goals and assignments
• completion of nightly process journals
• psychiatric and educational consultation as needed
• transportation is provided by trained counselors
• behaviorally structured school setting closely resembling the public school format
• individual consequences are tailored for each student
• daily contact with guardians

For further information about Excelsior's Day Treatment program, please contact Patra Friedly, 303-693-1550 ext, 395.

Listen to what a former client has to say
You must have high-speed internet access to listen to this (.wav file, 3.3 MB).

RETURN TO TOP