“Let the choices you make today be choices you can live with tomorrow." Those words can be found on a wall of Kenmare Alternative High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, founded in 1981 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace to help young women ages 17-35 who have dropped out of high school; provide them with an academic education; and offer job skills training. Many Kenmare students have children and family responsibilities which would otherwise prevent them from attending school. Sister Joan Repka of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth is the principal.

An exceptional teaching staff, a social worker, and volunteers work to ensure that the women receive not only a diploma but also the skills and confidence they will need throughout life.

Women who have completed their stay at Kenmare come back to say that the lessons in discipline and self-respect at the school have enabled them to begin new lives, which may include technical training or earning their GED and going to college.