Project Pride is alternative education program providing individualized remedial instruction, counseling and referral services to at-risk youth in Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County schools.  The program was launched as a pilot program in 1983 by TAP as an alternative education program designed to prevent high school youth from dropping out of school and to provide a more individualized and structured learning environment for those students unable to function within the traditional school setting. 

Project Pride students benefit from an academic setting with a small student-teacher ratio that provides more individualized instruction.  The students are instructed by teachers who operate out of authentic care and support for each individual.  When students enroll in Project Pride, the staff identifies their particular educational and developmental needs and designs an individualized plan to meet them.  Project Pride offers an alternative atmosphere and teaching methodologies to engage the students and prevent dropping out or assisting them in preparation to pass the state GED exam.  The program motivates youth to continue their education and strive to improve academic performance, emphasizing positive reinforcement, building self-esteem, problem-solving, goal setting, communication, job-finding and job-retention skills, and other human and interpersonal abilities.  This ultimately enables them to become contributing members of the community, enhancing the wider economic base.

Project Pride provides students:

• Regular school credit and the opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma
• Engaging coursework that adheres to the Virginia Standards of Learning
• An individualized service plan based upon the student’s specific educational and developmental needs
• GED preparation
• Small classes in an effort to promote individualized instruction
• Positive reinforcement
• Ability to solve problems, set goals, communicate effectively, and find and keep employment
• Encouragement to continue educational goal-setting and achievements.