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MIDDLETOWN — Toshia Hymer hasn't been in a classroom in eight years.

But last week, Hymer entered a Middletown school and took the first step toward earning her high school diploma.

She is among the rising number of people seeking their General Education Development degree.

Local programs report they are nearing capacity, amid a rising unemployment rate among those without a high school diploma that jumped to 12.6 percent in February, the highest rate among any educational attainment level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"With the number of layoffs that are going on in the economy today, there are a lot of people that know they need their GED," said Tom Harris, director of the Warren County Adult Education program.

Hymer, 24, wants her diploma so she can go back to school to be a Licensed Practical Nurse.

The mother of five dropped out of high school as a teen to have her first son.

"I ended up getting two jobs to take care of him, so school was put on the back burner," said Hymer of Middletown. "I don't ever want him to be 24 years old and going back to high school."

"I want to be at the point where I can say, 'Yes, I finished high school,'" she said. "I'm on the first part of the rest of my life."

Middletown City Schools' Adult Education program saw 505 people earn their GED last year. With three months still left in this academic year, about 400 people have earned their GED so far.

"We are getting more people," said Principal Rose Marie Stiehl.

The Warren County program is nearing capacity, as it also faces a decrease in funding, said coordinator Margie Pursell.

"Space is an issue," she said.

Pursell said not only are more people enrolling in the program, they are staying longer and fewer are dropping out.

"They know they have to have it because the job market is tight," said Pursell, who said people also are coming in for classes just to brush up on their math and English skills.

Andrea Brown recently earned her diploma through Middletown's program after originally failing the math portion of the test.

Brown said she also is looking forward to nursing school and entering the job market after years of feeling that she couldn't find a job.

"I thought I wasn't smart enough to fill out the application," said Brown, of Middletown.

"I'm not going to waste time. I'm going to move forward and do better things with my GED," she said.

For more information on Middletown's adult education program, call (513) 420-4520. For Warren County's program, call (513) 695-2987.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mengle@coxohio.com.