Metro-Midtown Alternative High School

Metro-Midtown Alternative High School has unique course offerings with individualized and personalized instruction. It is a school where a variety of teaching strategies are being used and counseling and instruction go hand in hand. Metro Midtown is a place where an environment of acceptance has been created and a practice of respect for differences is being emphasized. It is a school where students are given the freedom to make choices which, in turn, gives them a sense of family and ownership.

Metro Midtown offers courses in English, social studies, math, science, art, family and consumer sciences, business, physical education and technology for high school credit. All classes deal with diversity, conflict management, world and social issues, graduation standards and career guidance. Metro-Midtown also offers a student incentive program entitled Cessna Flying Colors and several intervention programs which are designed to help increase student achievement.

All graduation requirements meet state and district standards.

The staff and faculty have helped many students that could have fallen between the cracks of education to graduate from high school. Each year the school's overall student GPA has increased. In the spring of 2008, the average GPA for nonparticipating Metro students increased by 6%, whereas for all Cessna Flying Colors students, it increased 8%. Of the CFC incentive winners, 57% earned $6,130.00 with a 12% increase in the GPA while logging in 300 community service hours. During the school terms 2005-2007, students have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in math and in 2006-07 in reading as well. During the 2007-08 school term, a number of Metro students received recognition. Of the 40 seniors enrolled last spring, 100% of those seniors graduated.

Northbound traffic on I-135. Exit at 9th Street. Go west on 9th Street to St.Francis. Go south on St.Francis to Pine. Go west on Pine to Emporia, Metro-Midtown is on the south side of the street.

Southbound traffic on I-135. Exit I-135 at 9th Street. Go west on 9th Street to St. Francis. Go south on St. Francis to Pine. Go west on Pine to Emporia. Metro-Midtown is on the south side of the street.

See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Metro-Midtown Alternative High School, where diversity is valued, is to provide all of its students a unique opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to become lifetime learners through personalized instruction that is aligned to meet the district standards. It is their belief that they have the responsibility to help their students to become productive citizens in a global society. To do this, its instructors, as highly qualified instructors, must continue to provide a safe, nurturing and productive learning environment, where every student has worth and dignity, and is entitled to equitable resources and services that allow them to become responsible citizens. The staff and faculty will work with parents, families, the community and businesses to achieve these goals.

The goal of the SIP is to help all students at Metro-Midtown pass the required assessments in the areas of math, reading and writing, at both the district and state levels.

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. 

Meeting Day: First Tuesday of every month
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Metro-Midtown A.H.S., Rm. 205
Chairperson: Mr. Stan Cox, (316) 973-6362

Metro-Midtown has been adopted by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, and has developed The Cessna Flying Colors Program. This incentive program rewards students for academic success, good attendance, community involvement and staying drug-free. Cessna also developed a special tutoring program at Metro-Midtown to help our students in the areas of math, reading and writing. Throughout the years many employees at Cessna have stepped up to the plate in great fashion to help several of our students graduate from high school.

Not only have Cessna volunteers stepped up to the plate but the Metro staff has as well. At the end of the last two school terms teachers have assembled themselves together to develop an all school Skill Enhancement notebook. This notebook has become the backbone of the Advisement time held every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of the week. The notebook covers Problem Solving, Reading and Vocabulary activities that relate to each discipline taught within the school. The goal is to not only enhance student skills in each of those areas but to teach them what strategies would work in those areas of study and how to use the strategy in their everyday lives, especially in their school work. These activities serve as a complement to Advocacy held every Wednesday.

For Advocacy, the Metro counselors came together, determined how best to meet the Assistant Superintendent's mandated topics such as students learning how to read and interpret their own transcripts and how to research careers, to name a few. Again, a notebook was developed; however, with one difference. It was developed for all three Metro campuses. Teachers are then to create and implement a lesson plan that meets the lesson objectives.

Students are also encouraged to participate in an annual all-school prom held in the school's multipurpose room.

The prom is funded through fundraising activities held at the school during the year and private donations. The event is fun-filled in that students dance to music provided by a DJ and eat and drink refreshments prepared by FACS and parents. They experience unique decorations designed and created by the Art students, professional looking publicity by Marketing Ed students and lastly, have pictures taken by Cessna photographers. It is an evening in which students are able to build positive school memories.

Metro-Midtown Alternative High School is housed in the old Webster Elementary School. Webster enrollment had declined to only 154 pupils by 1958, and a second administration building was needed.

The Board of Education decided to close the school for pupil attendance on October 17, 1958 with pupils going to Emerson and Park. When first becoming an administration building, it was known as the Curriculum Services Building. However, in 1971-72 when the Pupil Services Division moved there, the name was changed to Educational Services Building. In 1988, the district purchased buildings at 217-245 N. Water to house all administrative offices and the Educational Services Building was vacated.

In the fall of 1988, the building was remodeled for an attendance center again and was completed for Metro-Midtown to occupy by January 1989. Area One administrative offices were housed in the building until the summer of 1990. In the fall of 1990, remodeling was again underway to add three additional classrooms and a library to the growing Midtown program. In January 1991, the classrooms were completed for occupancy.

The first year Metro-Midtown opened it had approximately 40 students housed at a temporary site at the old Alcott School at 3300 E. Murdock until remodeling was completed at 640 N. Emporia. Student enrollment climbed to 125 by the end of the school year and Midtown graduated its first senior class of six students. Metro-Midtown maintains an enrollment of 200 and graduates between 50-55 seniors each year.

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997