OMAHA, Neb. -- Teenage inmates are working toward their high school diplomas inside the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility.

The prison school -- known as NCYF Communitiy High -- opened in January and is the first to open inside a Nebraska prison in more than 50 years.

The public school is governed by the Department of Corrections school district and is staffed with fully certified and equipped teachers who know how to handle correctional facility emergencies.

Now, the inmates can earn their diplomas rather than a GED.

"I like a diploma better because with a diploma, I can go anywhere," said 19-year-old Michael Nevels, who is serving five to nine years for armed robbery.

Ricky Turco, 19, who is serving 13 to 20 years for burglary and manslaughter, is focused on a future career and how the diplaoma might help him.

"When it comes to getting a job, employers look on it better than a GED," Turco said.

Mike Boersehig, 19, faces three to four years in the facility for burglarizing a convenience store.

"To me, I'll be the second one in the family that got a high school diploma," Boersehig said.

All three were high school dropouts.

The school costs less than the previous GED program, which was contracted through Metro Community College, said Department of Corrections Education Coordinator Jan Axdahl.

And with its captive audience, students are focused on their studies.

"I used to skip school a lot. Right here I can't really skip school," said 18-year-old Cesar Martinez, laughing. "I can study, too. The teachers help me when I have problems."

Levi McGraw, 18, said the jail staff is supportive of the inmates' efforts.

Everybody here -- the warden, assistant warden, teachers -- are all pushing everybody to get their high school diploma before they leave so they can actually have it and get a better job," McGraw said.

Special elective classes are designed to help inmates curb their anger, better structure their time and ultimately become more productive ccitizens.

"It's starting to change me. I go to more groups, AA, gang prevention, stuff like that. It helps me a lot," Nevels said.

The first graduating class is scheduled for December. Educators said plans are in the works to add more classes in areas like music, art and physical eduation.