Cape Public Schools recovery high school opens doors for new school year
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Construction is underway for a recovery high school in Cape Girardeau. The school will be 1 of 3 in the state of Missouri and aims to assist students in overcoming substance abuse obstacles.
High school is about preparing for the future, but for some students, the first step is simply just getting back on track.
“So, the overall goal of a recovery high school, of course, is to reduce, substance use abuse in our community and substance use in general” says Mandy Keys. “We know that many of these are generational cycles, and we want to provide an opportunity for our students to be the one who stops that cycle.”
Ascent high school is part of Cape Public Schools and currently being built. The school will start off with students in a smaller building on Cape Public School property with 10 students and eventually take up to 40 students. Mandy Keys is the Assistant Superintendent of Special Services for Cape Public Schools; she shares more on what Ascent will offer.
“The day will be structured into basically four core periods and then in the middle of the day we will have a recovery and wellness class and so that will be a credit bearing class, but it will be focused on learning coping skills, recovery skills, relapse prevention, kind of how to change your people, places and things to do sober living activities” says Keys.
Keys share’s an after-school program called GPS will also be offered along with peer support, and the school was made possible with the help of the Community Counseling Center and grant funding. According to Keys students in grades nine through twelve who struggle with substance abuse can fill out an online application. The school is voluntary, not forced and students can go for one year or all four years depending on the need of the student, applications are available online and being accepted for the 2026 school year.
“Cape Girardeau Public Schools is here for you to feel like we have served you in every capacity so that you can be your best person” says Keys and we know that substance abuse is difficult, especially at this age level and so we are actually here to serve you. It’s not going to be a scary situation. It will probably be one of the safest environments you’ve ever been in and we will provide wrap-around services to support you and to just love on you and help you through this process.”
For Ascent High School application information: ASCENT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS | Cape Central Academy
