The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical CenterREPORT CARD: FACTS AND DATA

MissionTo educate and empower youth through relentless commitment to student-centered learning and personal growth.

VisionTo lead vital change in education and impact our community by producing skilled graduates, lifelong learners, and responsible citizens who enjoy their life and work.

Core ValuesCare and safetyRespect ExcellenceEngagementDedication

The Met CenterThe Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center is a state funded public school district that serves 690 high school students in six small schools across three campuses in Rhode Island.

Work and Goals Our work is focused on relationships, relevance and rigor. The tools we use are real world learning, internships, individualized learning plans, a personalized environment, small school setting and advisories.

We achieve our goals through strong relationships with parents, family, community,business, government and other educational institutions, thereby expanding the role of the school in the community and the community in the school.

Contact InformationCo-Director Nancy Diaz Bain (NDiaz@metmail.org) 401-752-2660Co-Director Dennis Littky (DLittky@metmail.org) 401-752-2640http://www.metcenter.org

Revised 10/08

Public Street Campus325 Public Street Providence, RI 02905401-752-2600

Peace Street Campus 362 Dexter StreetProvidence, RI 02907401-752-3400

Paul Crowley CampusOne York Street Newport, RI 02840401-849-7711

LEARNINGPICTURE

The Met is a Big Picture Learning School

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LEARNING AND TEACHING (SALT) SURVEYSSince 1998, The Met has consistently ranked among the state’s top high schools for attendance, graduation rates, parent involvement, school climate, and quality of instruction. This data compares the scores of The Met to the three largest high schools in Providence and the state from 2004-2008.

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School Climate: #1 in the stateMeasures school safety, respect between teachers and students, student behavior in classThe Met average is 83% Providence average is 65% for the city’s three largest high schools. The Rhode Island average is 68%

Parent Involvement: #1 in the stateMeasures how involved parents feel in the school and how comfortable they are with teachers and school environment The Met average is 82%Providence average is 36% for the city’s three largest high schools. The Rhode Island average is 44%

Instruction: #2 in the stateMeasures teachers’ skills and support from school The Met average is 59% Providence average is 42% for the city’s three largest high schools.The Rhode Island average is 37%

Teacher Availability (personal issues): #1 in the state % of students who feel they can talk to a teacher about personal or family problemsThe Met average is 57% Providence average is 13% for the city’s three largest high schools. The Rhode Island average is 17%

Teacher Availability (academic issues): #1 in the state% of students who feel they can talk to a teacher about academic issuesThe Met average is 72% Providence average is 33% for the city’s three largest high schools.The Rhode Island average is 47%

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“My internship, pursuing my interest in transportation, at RIPTA [Rhode Island Public Transit Authority] allowed me to explore many areas I never thought were possible.

I’m working with urban planning officials from all over the state and expanding my skills in mapping, statistics and note taking during meetings.

Being in an atmosphere like that has been a big blessing for me, coming from a family that has never had the opportunity to work in an office.

I want to go to college and pursue an urban planning degree and a degree in aviation.”

Ariel MercedesClass of 2009

LEARNING IN THE REAL WORLDThe Met was founded on the belief that students must be actively engaged in their education. At the core of the curriculum is the Learning Through Interests (LTI) program, which helps students find opportunities to learn in real-world settings and through meaningful projects. We pair students with adult mentors in the community who share their career interests and passions. Two days a week, students intern at these worksites and contribute projects that benefit that organization. Back at school, students work with their advisors to build and reinforce the skills and knowledge needed to complete those projects. Unlike traditional internships which train students for specific jobs, LTIs allow students to apply their academic knowledge and meet their learning goals.

There are 16 major career clusters that most students fall into: Agriculture, Architecture, Arts, Business Management, Education, Government, Health Science, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology, Law & Public Safety, Manufacturing, Marketing, Science & Technology, and Transportation

Since 1996, Met students have worked with more than 1,500 adults in the community at businesses and organizations such as: AAA Southern New England, ABC 6, The Attorney General’s Office, AIDS Care Ocean State, Amos House, Amtrak, AS220,Audobon Society, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Brown University, The Law Firm of Caprio and Caprio, CVS, The Groden Center, Habitat for Humanity, Haffenreffer Museum, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Institute for Non-Violence, International House of RI, Johnson and Wales, Kaleidoscope Theatre, Gilbane Construction, Narragansett Bay Commission, Kent County Hospital, Lifespan, Mark Roderick: Architect, McCauley House, Meeting Street School, Providence Police, Met Life, Rhode Island College, RIPTA, Rhode Island School of Design, RISPCA, Roger Williams Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Sophia Academy, Salve Regina University, Save The Bay, The Boys and Girls Club, Southside Community Land Trust, The Steel Yard, Swap, Sweat Equity, TF Green Airport, The Gamm Theatre, The Holocaust Education Center, Tides Family Services, and URI Oncology Department.

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“The most valuable experience I had at the Met was Summer Search. In my sophomore year they sent me to North Carolina with Outward Bound. You gain your strength and get to know your weaknesses and I learned how I could push myself. After my junior year I got an opportunity to go to India for six weeks. I learned about the culture, the religion and the language. I even got to go backpacking in the Hi-malayas. It’s something I’ll never forget.”Melissa “Chez” Sanchez, Class of 2009

“The Met community has supported me tremendously. I’m a teenage mother. It’s really hard to be in school and be a parent. I’ve had a lot of support from my advisor, my principal and my classmates. No one looks at me differently and the Met has taught me that I’m not just another statistic. So I’m not just a teenage mother, I’m Penelope and I have a daughter and I’m still going to make it through school.”Penelope Castillo, Class of 2009 and CCRI Dual Enrollment

“My internship is in Boston at the New England Aquarium. It’s incredible. I’ve had the opportunity to take part in national conferences on oceanography, I’ve assisted in surgery on fish and I’ve helped with education programs at the aquarium. Its helped me to get part-time jobs, I’ve improved my communication skills and I know how to work in a professional environment. I want to continue on to college and I’m looking for a pre-veterinary program.”Hope Lafitte, Class of 2009

THE STUDENTS’ VOICE

“I want to go to college and major in business and communications. After I graduate from college I want to travel around the world and help people. The teachers and mentors put us into the mindset of how to make it work. The people at the Met push to make things happen, and most of us wouldn’t have these chances without them.”Jean Merlain, Class of 2009

After multiple years as a Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Board of Regents Commended School for our performance on the state assessment test, we join other high schools in adjusting to the NECAP assessment. The percent of students proficient in math and ELA on the 2007 NECAP assessment was lower than we aspire to--yet on par or exceeding the percent proficient at other urban high schools with high-need populations in Rhode Island.  We have fully implemented a comprehensive digital portfolio review, in which multiple staff members assess student work bi-annually against a common standard of challenging and state-aligned math, reading, writing, and science graduation requirements. In line with The Met philosophy and structure, we are also continuing to improve our math and science programs through a range of burgeoning community partnerships. We have collaborated with educators at Save the Bay, Roger Williams Park and Zoo, and the Museum of Natural History to offer students the opportunity to explore relevant math and science content and to develop skills they can directly apply to their individual learning plan and project work. Met students continue to excel academically, demonstrated by the rigor of their real-world projects, depth of portfolio work, and acceptance to selective colleges and universities, including Brown University and Connecticut College. For more information on our college acceptance data see page 6.

New England Common Assessment Program

STATE REPORT CARD DATA2004-2008 comparative data taken from Rhode Island’s State Report Card, Information Works!

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The Met Graduation Rate is 94.5% (one of the highest in the state)

Providence average is 76.5% for the city’s three largest high schools.

The Rhode Island average is 85.6% .

The Met Attendance Rate is 91.9%Providence average is 83.6%for the city’s three largest high schools. The Rhode Island average is 90%

RHODE ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA SYSTEM

The Met has received preliminary approval for its new diploma program based on the alignment, access and opportunity, literacy and personalization of the educational goals for this system. 

“The Met is commended for providing students with a highly personalized learning environment.  Additionally, commendation is due for the effort to implement a standards-based, rigorous High School Diploma System while maintaining the integrity of the Met School’s philosophy.” 

Letter from Peter McWalters, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of EducationJanuary 2008

42%

27%

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HispanicCaucasianAfrican-AmericanAsian, Native American, or Multi Racial

Ethnicity2007-2008 school year

65%

35%

Free/ReducedFull Price

Federal School Lunch Data 2007-2008 school year

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Student Demographics

COLLEGE DATA

The following data tracks all Met graduates of the past eight years:

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The Met is one of a handful of public schools in the nation to undertake a longitudinal study tracking students’ post-high school experiences. This twelve year study of Met Alumni is being conducted by the Research Department of Boston College.

* Based on 2006 results from The Met School’s Alumni Survey. According to the national average 50% of all college students drop out; only 6% of students from the lowest socioeconomic quartile graduate with a four year degree.

• 98% of Met students are accepted to college

• 75% of Met Students enroll in college compared to 47% nationally

• 75% are the first in their families to go to college

• 75% of students who enrolled in college are still attending or have already graduated*

•For seven of the past eight years, at least one Met graduate has won the

prestigious and highly competitive Gates Millennium Scholarship

“No comprehensive high school in Providence or the state, not even Providence’s exam-entry “college prep” high school, can boast this [The Met’s] universal college acceptance at a comparable array of colleges for all enrolled students.” ~Letter from RIDE to the RI legislature

Academy of Art of San FranciscoAlfred UniversityAlbertus Mangus CollegeAmerican International CollegeAnna Maria CollegeAntioch CollegeBay Path CollegeBay State CollegeBecker CollegeBeloit College Bennington CollegeBlaine Academy of CosmetologyBoston Architectural CenterBrown UniversityBryant UniversityClark Atlanta UniversityClark UniversityClarke CollegeCollege of the AtlanticCollege of the Holy CrossCollege of the RedwoodsColumbia College

Community College of Rhode IslandConcordia CollegeConnecticut CollegeCurry CollegeDean CollegeEastern Connecticut State University Eastern Nazarene CollegeElms CollegeEmerson CollegeEmily Carr Institute of Art + DesignEugene Lang College Franklin Pierce CollegeGreen Mountain CollegeHampshire CollegeHesser CollegeHoward UniversityInternational Yacht Restoration SchoolJohnson and Wales UniversityKingsboro Community CollegeLandmark CollegeLesley UniversityLyndon State University

Manhattanville CollegeMarlboro CollegeMassachusetts College of ArtMassachusetts College of Liberal ArtsMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMorehouse CollegeMount Ida CollegeMt. Holyoke CollegeNEITNewbury CollegeNichols CollegeNortheastern UniversityNorwich UniversityPan American UniversityPhiladelphia University Pine Manor CollegeProvidence CollegeQuinnipiac UniversityRhode Island CollegeRhode Island School of DesignRoger Williams UniversitySaint Petersburg College

Salve Regina UniversitySarah Lawrence CollegeSimmons CollegeSimon’s Rock College of BardSterling CollegeSuffolk CollegeTemple UniversityTrinity CollegeUnity CollegeUniversity of AlaskaUniversity of the ArtsUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of ConnecticutUniversity of New HavenUniversity of Rhode IslandUniversity of Vermont Vaughn College of AeronauticsVermont CollegeWarren Wilson CollegeWheaton CollegeWheelock CollegeWorcester Polytechnic Institute

“My interest in the environment started through an outdoor leadership program, where I gained a greater appreciation for the environment. My passion is to build earth-friendly homes to supply low-income communities with safe and decent housing.”

Cynthia Gallegos, Class of 2007Currently majoring in Project Management and Earth Studies at Temple University

Met students have gone on to attend: