Metro Prep Grade School Program Descriptions

To provide a structured, trauma-responsive, learning environment for special education students unable to be served in a mainstream setting, using highly individualized educational and behavioral interventions to support the whole child and maximize social-emotional functioning and academic success.

In keeping with our philosophy of the development of the whole child, the educational program at Metro Prep operates in a highly individualized manner. Thus, our approach is multidisciplinary and is composed of both academic and social/emotional instruction.

Metro Prep Grade School follows the Common Core State Standards to develop a traditional curriculum that is individualized according to the students’ grade levels as well as their ability levels. Teachers prepare lessons to accommodate the different learning styles of the students. This ensures that the students will be working on specific areas of need as dictated by their IEPs. Students in the same classroom may be working at different academic levels. If students need individualized or tutorial attention, the teachers are able to structure their lessons in order to accommodate the students’ needs. Some of our teachers use a structure teaching method to meet the needs of the students in their classrooms. Group instruction usually takes place during science, social studies, physical education, art and music.

Students attend school Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The instruction schedule breaks the morning into three academic periods. The afternoon begins with a lunch/recess break, followed by three additional academic periods. During the course of the day, one academic period will be devoted to group therapy. Field trips are planned each month in order to incorporate social skills practice in a community setting as well as augmenting the educational experience. Students’ attendance and participation in field trips are based on the individual student’s behavior and the staffs’ discretion.

Students at Metro Prep frequently experience emotional issues, which interfere with their education progress. In order to address these issues, our staff utilizes a combination of individual, group and family counseling. Each student is assigned an individual counselor upon enrollment. The abilities and experiences of our counselors are considered when they are matched to new students. Students in k-8 meet individually with their counselor at least twice per week for a total of at least 60mpw.

Students participate in daily group counseling sessions with their peers. In this safe, confidential setting, students may discuss topics which are relevant to their personal growth and development. Counselors will also address socialization, social skills and peer relationships. In the past, group topics have included: weekend events, music, health and hygiene, problem solving, anger management, social skills and self-esteem. While focusing on the individual and emotional health of our students, we believe that they will become functioning and productive members of our community at large.

Family counseling is available on a weekly basis. This optional aspect of our program is encouraged in order to promote communication between the school and home. Metro Prep believes that strong parental involvement helps to promote both educational and therapeutic success. Metro Prep also has a consulting psychiatrist on staff to provide consultation for medication or further medical evaluation and treatment.

Metro Prep offers a year-round program to all of its students and anticipates each student’s participation in the summer session, unless otherwise stated in the student’s IEP. The extended school year session is broken into two segments, one focusing on retention/remediation of academic skills and one focusing on application of social/emotional skills learned through experiential field trips. Counseling, OT, and speech/language services continue uninterrupted during the summer.

During the summer session, students attend school on a shortened-day schedule:

Monday – Friday 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M