Metro High School — A Unique Philosophy and Opportunity

• Students participate an integrated curriculum that fosters critical thinking, creativity and communication.

• Academics emphasize how math, science and technology shape our world

• Students learn in a community that honors democracy, diversity and ethical leadership

• Faculty and mentors focus on the talents of the whole student

• Faculty and students work on projects that benefit the greater community

• The school is a focal point of professional development, educational research and innovation.

Educational Philosophy
Metro High School is guided by the Ten Common Principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools.  These ten principles are inspiring high school redesign across the nation.  The Ten Common Principles are:

1. The school’s central intellectual purpose is helping students to use their minds well.
2. An essential body of knowledge, skills and dispositions will be identified for student mastery.
3. The school’s goals apply to all students.
4. The school will be highly personalized.
5. A governing practical metaphor will be “student-as-worker, teacher-as-coach”. 
6. Teaching and learning will be documented by student performance on real tasks. 
7. The tone of the school will be one of trust and decency.
8. The principal and teachers will act as generalists first and specialists second.
9. Resources will be modest and therefore positioned toward teaching and learning.
10. The school will emphasize democratic, fair and equitable practices.

Organization
The learning experience is divided into two distinct developmental phases:  Core Preparation and College Readiness. 
Core Prep:  During the Core Preparation phase, the 9th and 10th grade student experience focuses on learning that promotes performance and mastery.  To exit Core Preparation, students demonstrate performances in mathematics, science, social studies and language arts.  This performance demonstration includes the successful passage of the Ohio Graduation Tests as well as performance tasks including a showcase of the student’s ability to work both independently and in collaborative environments, and capacity to investigate solutions to real world problems. 
College Readiness:  Upon successful mastery of Core Prep, the 11th and 12th grade students learn from a curriculum that is focused on “learning outside of the school walls” and the development of the student’s capacity for successful college work.  The design of the curriculum includes a series of learning centers located in settings across the central Ohio community.  For example, a student may choose to further their talents and capacities for scientific inquiry through a math/science focused apprenticeship where they work with a scientist at Battelle.  These experiences will go beyond traditional internships and will include problem solving, critical thinking and creative innovation.   

Personalization

• Long blocks of time in integrated courses of study allow for deep inquiry and the development of strong student/teacher relationships. 
• Students are provided extensive feedback about what the student is doing well, where the student needs to improve, and suggestions on how to improve. 
• The advisory program assures that each student has an adult who serves as a student advocate.
• Learning centers across the community during the junior and senior year are selected by the student and are interest driven.

Grades and Accountability
The Metro High School is standards driven and performance based.  Each student –with their family or adult advocate and a Metro advisor—formulates a personalized learning plan targeted at successful performance on the OGT and specific graduation requirements for their “home school”.  The Metro staff will work with the home district to ensure credit transfer and attainment of graduation requirements.