ORANGE PARK — Adult and Community Education assists nearly 1,000 students a year and offers GED and numerous certification opportunities through the Clay County School District.

The ACE program is the sole provider for the GED program and GED prep classes in the county. The minimum age limit is 16 if the person is no longer enrolled in a traditional school and there no maximum age. The program also offers English as a second language courses and certificates for nursing, 911 dispatch or phlebotomy.

ACE Transitional Specialist Rachel Walker said ACE usually gets about 900 students a year over its three semesters, in-person and online. Classes run about $30 and more information is available by calling (904) 336-4457. ACE’s office is located at 2306 Kingsley Ave.

“I would say we have a pretty large impact. When people think about education, they forget there are people that didn’t get to finish,” Walker said. “We get them back in the workforce and give them the missing piece of whatever they wanted to do.”

Walker said most jobs ask for a high school diploma. She added the GED can be used the enter community colleges or the military. A week ago, a class of 26 students graduated, which Walker called inspirational.

“We see these students find a way to get here, because this is all voluntary,” Walker said. “Graduation is always a great time where all that hard work pays off.”

The graduation went great, and staff was proud of the students’ accomplishments, Program Supervisor Kristen Rousseau said.

“They’re amazing people that make this a great place to work and go to class,” Rousseau said. “[Graduation] is moving. When they walk across that stage, it’s a big deal.”

She said ACE is for people who want a degree early and are ready to move on, if a person moves from another country, or if someone deals with life issues and for whatever reason can’t finish.

“This becomes life changing,” Rousseau said. “We have the mindset of offering a community service.”

From companies needing to train their workforce, to students wanting a leg up with a certification, ACE has to be flexible in what it offers, Rousseau said. Community-based classes, such as yoga and Zumba, are in the works for the new year, too.

“We’re able to get people who may not have been able to come in,” Rousseau said. “We’re able to reach a broader audience.”

GED and English as a second language courses begin Jan. 11, with most certification courses beginning in late January.