Metro Prep High School Program Descriptions

To provide students with a safe, supportive, and therapeutic setting that will allow them to better understand their own strengths and needs, enabling them to develop adaptive coping skills, stronger connections with others, and greater academic success.

Metro Prep offers a full core curriculum in Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and Physical Education. In addition, a variety of electives are offered each semester. Classes are taught with small group instruction and individual tutoring utilizing conventional instructional materials, computer-assisted learning, hands on experiences and field trips.

Curriculum is individualized to the student’s abilities. Given a review of previous test scores and evaluation of current academic functioning, courses are offered at the level of curriculum that best enables the student to progress toward high school proficiency. In a two track system, each subject area will be individually reviewed and designed to be taught on either a mastery or non-mastery basis. Accordingly, assignments will either be evaluated by a conventional due date on a semester system or at an 80% mastery goal with more flexible time expectations. In either case, the requirements for each class will be consistent from student to student.

In order to meet the needs of students who are transitioning either through graduation or return to their home school, the teachers and therapists coordinate to explore graduation or return to their home schools, vocational interests, college/trade school opportunities, and independent living skill development. Field trips and guest speakers are used to gather information and promote interest.

The 8th and 9th graders are taught in a self-contained classroom and are provided an enriched individualized instruction with in the classroom setting. As they develop increasing maturity and self-confidence they are afforded increasingly more independence and responsibility.

In grades 10 through 12, mastery learning allows students to work at their own pace. They progress only upon 80% successful mastery of each chapter or section of their work. This allows some students to work behind the pace of the class while permitting others to work ahead. The value of the natural consequence is clear. Students who choose a slower pace afford themselves more individualized academic attention and the opportunity to focus on the resolution of any non-academic issues that might be interfering with their learning. The student who accelerates their pace creates the opportunity to catch up if credit deficient, move ahead if caught up and, in doing so, enhances the chance for a return to their home school or expedited graduation.

Report cards are issued four times per school year, and one for summer school.

The Clinical program addresses the range of emotional difficulties that interfere with the student’s ability to progress academically through an array of traditional clinical models. Students are evaluated at the outset of their placement to determine the optimal clinical style and theoretical orientation. Case assignments are designed to be flexible so that we can best match the student’s therapeutic needs with the available resources of the clinical program. Specific treatment goals are reflected in the Individualized Educational Plan (I.E.P.). Metropolitan Preparatory utilizes a combination of individual, family, and group counseling in and effort to address the range of emotional issues that may interfere with the learning process. Each student is assigned an individual counselor that best matches his/her needs. The counselor meets with each student on a weekly basis. Family counseling is available at your request. Finally, groups are available each day to address peer socialization issues and to foster the growth and development of the overall Metro Prep community. Each student participates in five groups each week.

The school-based substance abuse programming provides a continuum of care to best address the individual needs of each participant. The certified addictions counselor addresses a variety of issues, including cognitive, psychological, legal, social, cultural, lifestyle, vocational and behavioral changes in clinically appropriate settings such as group counseling, individual counseling, family counseling, client specific education, and early intervention. Through integrated and comprehensive services, including continuous assessment, participants are able to access levels of care and specific services to create an individualized treatment approach.

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