It just got easier to find transfer schools and programs for older teens who have been unsuccessful at regular high schools.

The Department of Education has been opening programs for struggling older students at a faster pace over the past few years, and now it has produced a directory listing 43 transfer schools, 23  Young Adult Borough Centers (which offer afternoon and evening classes to students 17 or older who can't attend typical day schools),  as well as GED programs, and LYFE childcare centers.

This is the first time there has been one comprehensive listing of such schools and programs, making the task of finding alternatives much easier for  students, parents, youth advocates, and guidance counselors. The 43 transfer schools serve 11,500 students, while the YABC programs enroll about 5700. The majority of the schools and programs are in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan.

Admissions criteria varies from school to school but most alternative schools target students 15-years or older who have completed at least one year of high school but have not earned enough credits to move up to the next grade, or have otherwise had problems succeeding in regular high schools. The idea is that they will do better in smaller settings, getting personalized attention, or programs. A few transfer schools, such as Humanities Prep or Urban Academy in Manhattan,  accept incoming 9th graders as well as transfer students, but they are the exception.<!--more-->

Many students get paid internships, career and college counseling, and  job readiness skills as part of their school day in a program called Learning to Work.

"Students who are overage and under-credited often don't know what their options are; this directory should help consolidate information for them," said Kim Sweet, head of the non-profit Advocates for Children.  "We'd like to see the DOE create more of these programs to meet the tremendous need, particularly among students with disabilities and English Language Learners. But the directory at least lets people know what's already out there."

Insideschools would like to hear from parents and students who attend alternative schools and programs. What works and what doesn't? Share your thoughts in comments below.