2026 Guide · San Antonio
Adults 18–50 can earn a free, TEA-recognized high school diploma at Restore TECH Academy — San Antonio’s first free adult charter high school.
Adults in San Antonio can finish high school and earn a TEA-recognized diploma, completely free, at Restore TECH Academy, the city’s first adult charter high school, opening August 17, 2026 for adults ages 18 to 50. Students earn a high school diploma while also earning industry certifications and college credit. Enrollment is free and open to anyone who never finished high school. The process has four steps: submit an interest form, complete an application with documents, attend orientation and a placement assessment, and start with a personal graduation plan. Classes are bilingual with flexible hours (Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.). This guide covers who qualifies, the exact enrollment steps, what it costs (nothing), and what to expect once you start.
Can you really finish high school as an adult in San Antonio?
Yes. Adults who never earned a high school diploma can go back and finish in San Antonio, for free, at Restore TECH Academy (RTA), an adult charter high school on the city’s Eastside. RTA was founded by Restore Education, a San Antonio nonprofit that has served adult learners for 18 years and received more than 6,000 program applications in the past year alone.
The need is significant. For many, life simply got in the way the first time: work, family, finances, or circumstances. RTA is built for exactly that situation, with flexible hours, bilingual instruction, and one-on-one support so adults can finish on their own terms.
About 1 in 6 adults in Bexar County — roughly 16% — do not have a high school diploma.
Source: U.S. Census BureauDo you earn a diploma or a GED?
Restore TECH Academy awards a TEA-recognized high school diploma, the credential earned by completing high school coursework. A GED is a separate path: an equivalency certificate earned by passing a test. Both are valid ways to move forward, and which one fits depends on your goals and situation. RTA’s program is built around earning the diploma, and students earn industry certifications and college credit through dual-credit courses along the way, so they graduate ready for work or college.
Workers with a high school diploma earned a median of $946 per week in 2024 — about $200 more per week than workers without one.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsFinishing high school pays. It’s never too late to finish what you started.
Who qualifies to enroll?
Restore TECH Academy is open to San Antonio adults ages 18 to 50 who have not yet completed high school. There is no cost to attend and no entrance exam to get in. The school is designed to meet students wherever they are academically, and it provides emergent bilingual education, special education, Section 504 accommodations, and dyslexia services so more adults can succeed.
If you already have a GED, you may still be able to apply, though students who never completed high school are prioritized. The simplest way to check your eligibility is to submit a free interest form and let the RTA enrollment team follow up.
How do you enroll? A step-by-step guide
Enrollment at Restore TECH Academy follows four straightforward steps:
- Submit an interest form. Start your free application online in a few minutes. This is the only step you need to take today.
- Complete your application and documents. The enrollment team will help you finish the full application and gather what you need (such as ID and any prior school records).
- Attend orientation and a placement assessment. A short online orientation plus an in-person assessment helps the school understand where you are and what you need.
- Start with your individual graduation plan. You’ll receive a personal plan mapping your fastest path to your diploma, certifications, and college credit.
Classes are held at the Eastside Center for Excellence, 4603 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78220. You can also call the enrollment team at (210) 660-3373 with any questions.
What does it cost?
$0 — Completely Free
Restore TECH Academy is a tuition-free public charter school. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no cost for your diploma, certifications, or dual-credit college courses. The goal is to remove cost as a barrier entirely.
What to expect once you start
RTA is built around adult lives, not a traditional school day. Hours run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, so you can attend around work and family. Every student gets career and life coaching, and the program stacks industry certifications and dual-credit college courses on top of the diploma. In practice, that means you can leave with a diploma, a job-ready certification, and college credit at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old to finish high school?
No. Restore TECH Academy is built specifically for adults ages 18 to 50 who never finished. It’s never too late. The school’s entire model is designed around adults returning to school with jobs, families, and busy lives.
How long does it take to earn the diploma?
It depends on how many credits you already have. After your placement assessment, RTA builds an individual graduation plan showing your fastest realistic path, and you can move at a pace that fits your schedule.
Is it really free?
Yes. Restore TECH Academy is a tuition-free public charter school. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no cost for the certifications or dual-credit courses.
Do I need my old transcripts to apply?
You don’t need them to submit the interest form. The enrollment team will help you gather any records, like prior transcripts or ID, during the application step.
Can I take classes in Spanish?
Yes. RTA provides emergent bilingual education and bilingual support, so Spanish-dominant adults can enroll and succeed. Puedes inscribirte y estudiar con apoyo en español.
Ready to start? It’s never too late.
Finish what you started — free, on your schedule, with support every step of the way.
Submit Your Free Interest Form →or call the enrollment team at (210) 660-3373