Aleasha Brokos, 19, started missing classes at Glen Burnie High School because she was getting into fights, and also because she became stressed to the point of illness after her stepfather walked out.

"I went from being focused with two parents, to stressed with one parent, living paycheck to paycheck, and (my mother) had my little brother," Aleasha said.

At Meade Evening High School, small classes and extra attention from teachers helped her complete her classes, and now she plans to graduate, join the Air Force and likely go to college.

Many of the evening high school students graduating Wednesday fought an uphill...