Metro-Meridian Alternative High School

Metro-Meridian is a school of choice that offers students an educational alternative to the comprehensive high school setting. Metro-Meridian prepares students for the benchmark assessments in all classes, from art to psychology and from biology to world cultures. Courses are individualized through cooperative student/teacher planning and designed to meet the outcome standards established by the district. Students are given the opportunity to work on personal development through interpersonal skill workshops, career presentations and support groups. Students’ creative writing and artwork are featured in the student newspaper, The Voice.

• Metro Meridian supports students academically in a small classroom setting, with a self-paced program. Each course incorporates activities to improve reading, writing and math skills.
• Student incentive programs recognize student successes in the classroom and within our Meridian community.
• Career, college and vocational information are readily available through the counselor. ACT test preparation workshops are offered to students during the fall semester. A workshop on college financial aid for students and parents is provided in partnership with Newman University during the spring semester.
• Metro-Meridian continues to patronize community members for support with student learning and success.

Exit west Kellogg at Meridian. Go north on Meridian to Maple. Metro-Meridian is on southwest corner. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Metro-Meridian Alternative High School is to ensure all students learn the skills and acquire the knowledge necessary for success at continuing stages of their lives.

• MATH
  Goal 1: Students will improve performance in the areas of algebraic concepts and geometric applications.
  
• COMMUNICATION
  Goal 1: Students will improve their reading level across the curriculum.
  Goal 2: Students will improve the quality of writing across the curriculum as measured by the ARG.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Site Council members are selected from the Meridian community. Parents are encouraged to become involved in our Site Council.

Meeting Day: Determined by committee at first meeting in September.
Time: Determined by committee at first meeting in September.
Location: Multipurpose Room
Chairperson: Wardell Bell, (316) 973-0550

The Meridian Program is available to students grades 9-12 who have attended a comprehensive high school and believe a change in environment and/or methodology of instruction would be beneficial to their learning. Courses are designed to meet the outcome standards established by the district. Self-paced learning allows the student to accelerate the earning of course credit by completing a 90-hour course in 60 hours, or allows for additional instruction if necessary and completion of the course in 90+ hours.

Student incentive programs recognize student success and attendance in the classroom and within the Meridian community. Our recognition breakfast recognizes students who have completed a course credit within that month.

Students participate in a fall and spring blood drive, adopt a family for the holidays, Lights on St. Paul - a fundraiser for the ARC of Sedgwick County, Kids Voting Kansas, United Way and the Student Round Table.

Opportunities are available for students to register to vote, and to volunteer in school and the food drive. Student support groups for various needs are also available.

Metro-Meridian Alternative High School opened in January 1979 in the building which formerly housed Meridian Elementary School. The decision to expand the alternative school concept was made by the Board of Education in light of the waiting list of students seeking to enter Metro-Boulevard and the difficulties in transportation for students living in the west Wichita area. Four professional staff members were assigned to the new west location, and approximately 75 students were in attendance during the first semester. Both alternative school campuses operated under the direction of a single principal.

In the fall of 1979, the Metro-Meridian staff was expanded to six and one-half teacher positions and a counselor/lead teacher, plus support staff of a librarian, nurse, psychologist and social worker who were shared with the Boulevard campus. The current population averages 200 students with a certificated stafaf of 16 (both full- and part-time) with assistance from five classified staff members. The building houses 11 classrooms with two rooms utilized as a Child Development Center. The one portable located on campus is used as a classroom and small multipurpose room.

Although the program has expanded to meet the needs of a diverse student population, its philosophy remains the same to provide a positive educational environment that offers the student self-paced individualized instruction.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997