Metro History
In 1974, the Cedar Rapids Community School District established an alternative high school in a red brick firehouse. Metro began, with 3 teachers and 40 students, to provide an alternative high school classroom setting. By 1978, the school expanded to include an additional campus, and in 1982 both locations merged into a newer, more spacious building at 1212 7th Street SE.
Philosophy
Metro’s educational program is designed to provide a variety of learning options to meet the Cedar Rapids School District’s graduation requirements. Our guiding philosophy is contained in our name:
Mastering Educational Tasks Regardless of Obstacles
Frequently, students come to Metro with negative attitudes towards traditional educational settings. Many students were seen as unsuccessful in their past schools. Many students have circumstances in their lives that prevent school from being a top priority. At Metro, we make a conscious effort to provide a supportive and accepting atmosphere, to encourage a successful high school experience.
Goals
- Attention to academic skills by providing students with a variety of experiences through classes, programs and events, to cultivate creativity and to promote a sound basis of skills and knowledge.
- Development of life skills by providing students information about healthy and productive living skills and by promoting skills in problem-solving, decision-making, and goal setting.
- Exploration of career development by assisting students in job seeking, promoting basic job skills training, teaching job success, and by providing opportunities for career decision-making.
- An opportunity for personal enrichment by helping students improve their self-concepts through the assurance of success and the reinforcement of productive behavior, by maintaining an atmosphere of trust, and by helping everyone become a positive member of our community.
Advisors at Metro
The heart of Metro is the advisor/advisee system. Each teacher serves as an advisor for 15 – 20 students. The advisor is an advocate for their student’s educational program. With the exception of 9th graders, students retain the same advisor throughout their enrollment at Metro. The advisor system is designed to provide maximum support to the student and assistance to the parents/guardians.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to call their student’s advisor for information on attendance, behavior and school progress. Contact information is provided here. Contact information can also be obtained by calling the Main Office at 319-558-2193.
In designing our schedule, Metro staff included time set aside for advisors/teachers to meet with advisees/students. Each Wednesday is an early dismissal, with either odd or even classes and an advisor meeting.
As the advisor/advisee system has evolved at Metro, staff realized that certain actions are vital in their role as advisors.
- Maintaining communication with parents or guardians supporting the student’s school success.
- Assisting in problem solving when behaviors interfere with school success.
- Monitoring the classes advisees take to ensure they are progressing toward graduation.
- Assisting in developing career and/or post-secondary education plans.
CR2 at Metro
This year, Metro continues to develop behavior management supports which:
- Increase the opportunities for student learning
- Decrease the amount of time teachers spend dealing with negative behaviors.
Metro students and staff are focusing on CR2, defined as caring, responsible and respectful.
