For many in Okmulgee County, the chance to earn a high school diploma once seemed out of reach. At Schulter Public Schools, that is no longer the case. Thanks to a flexible diploma program, students of all ages – whether a current high school senior or an adult looking for a fresh start – can complete their credits and walk away with a diploma, not a GED.

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Meeting Students Where They Are

School counselor Christina Nevills explained that the program was born out of heartbreak. “We’d see kids get to their senior year, ready to graduate and realize they were missing half a credit – or they had failed Algebra I as a freshman. Telling them they couldn’t graduate after all that time in school was devastating,” she said.

Now, Schulter offers an online, self-paced program that follows Oklahoma’s full academic standards. Students can finish missing credits quickly, even mid-year. For example, a student who discovers in January that they’re short a credit can still graduate with their class in May.

— Opportunities Beyond High School Age What makes this program unique is its reach. Policy changes now allow enrollment up to a student’s 31st birthday. That means adults who left school years ago – even as early as middle school – can start fresh, working through the full 23 credits required for graduation.

“It is 100% up to them how fast they finish,” Nevills emphasized. “When they complete it, I print a high school diploma. It’s never too late.” She shared the story of a recent graduate who dropped out in 11th grade but was able to return and graduate the year he was originally supposed to.

For adults balancing jobs and families, the program is fully virtual. Schulter also provides loaner computers for those who need them, making access even easier.

— Free & Accessible

Unlike GED classes that often come with a price tag, Schulter’s program is completely free. “I spoke with Green Country Tech, and they said people still come looking for GED classes they don’t even offer anymore. Our program costs nothing, and it gives you an actual diploma,” Nevills said.

The school has even extended this opportunity in unique cases – like honoring a Vietnam veteran who had been drafted before graduation. Schulter held a full ceremony and presented him with his diploma, demonstrating that this initiative is about more than academics. It’s about restoring dignity and opportunity.

— Transportation & Support

For current students, Schulter has also expanded access by adding transportation routes from Okmulgee and Henryetta. “It was so simple, I don’t know why we didn’t do it before,” Nevills laughed. The buses pick up at set locations, like Taco Bell in Okmulgee, making it possible for families who once struggled with transportation to attend school at Schulter.

— ‘Never Too Late’

Nevills speaks from personal experience. Once a high school dropout herself, she later earned her GED, pursued higher education, and now holds a master’s degree in psychology. “I tell my students it’s never too late. You can do this. I’m proof of that,” she said.

Enrollment is simple: call the school, visit the office, or schedule a meeting with Nevills. “It only takes about ten minutes to get someone set up,” she noted.

Schulter is breaking down barriers that once kept people from finishing high school. Whether you’re 19 and ready to re-enroll or nearing 30 and finally ready to complete your education, this diploma program offers a second chance – without cost, without judgment and with the full support of the school.