By a student.
Parents should be aware of a public high school which is run more on the lines of a small private school. Metro is an experiment by the St. Louis Public Schools System in alternative education. Metro is not a magnet school. It has been in existence for six years and is still going strong.
Students are recruited from all over the city, and the central location for classes is a yellow quonset-type structure at [beginning of street number unclear in source]5 Chouteau, in an industrial neighborhood. However, classes are held wherever appropriate. Zoology has been taught at the zoo, and botany at Shaw’s Garden. There is an Outdoor Education class that does climbing, rappelling, caving, and several overnights at places like Greensfelder Park, Cliff Cave, and Rockwoods Reservation. They gym classes are non-competitive. A teacher and some students may go play baseball or football in Lafayette Park — or visit a bowling alley — or play volleyball in the backyard. Sex Education is a required course. Independent studies can be arranged. But
although the curriculum is in many ways more motivating than what the other public high schools offer, the traditional academic courses have their place also.
Enrollment is open to average and above average students, and to those who have been “turned off” by the education they have received so far, and who are not living up to their potential. In the past, Metro accepted only sophomores, juniors, and seniors, but since this year Metro has begun accepting freshmen also.
Enrollment is now open to any high school student in the city who is committed to learning. Possibly because of the stimulating curriculum and some very dedicated teachers, attendance is close to perfect and the percentage of students going on to college is the highest in the city.
Transportation from class to class is up to the individual, but reduced rate BiState bus passes are available. Extra time is allotted between periods so that students can get to class on time. Each period is two hours long and is held only several times a week. This way not much time is lost in travel; what is actually accomplished in one two-hour period more than makes up for the travel time.
The atmosphere at Metro is friendly and close. The present enrollment is 113, and in a school this size it is hard not to know everybody. The student population is 50%/50% black/white, but integration has never been a problem. Instead, there is a great respect for individuality at Metro. The school motto is “Metro—a place to be yourself.” Metro students are usually involved in many different projects. The senior’s graduation in 1977 was held in the schoolyard; the back wall of the building was painted with a mural. Metro tries to cultivate appreciation of the community in its students and each year each student is required to do eighty hours of community service for a non-profit organization. This kind of activity generates social concern, and may lead to a paying job or develop an interest in a student that he never knew he had. Community service can be exciting. In the past, students have worked at greenhouses, libraries, telephone hotlines, and have donated blood.
Presently there are several students from this area attending Metro. Our neighbor Ann Malacek is a 1977 graduate.
Anyone interested further in Metro should feel free to call the director, Betty Wheeler, during school hours at 241- 9272. Applications are now being accepted for the second quarter (beginning in November) and the third quarter (beginning in January).
Originally published in The Paper, November 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: The address is damaged before “5 Chouteau”; an uncertainty marker is retained. The printed “They gym” is retained.
Original source: SD_Times1977_11.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
