Emerson Metro/Outreach
Sherry Kishore - Principal
405-235-5179

Emerson is an urban alternative high school located in the Midtown district of Oklahoma City that offers two distinct programs:  The Outreach program for pregnant or parenting girls who are at extreme risk of becoming dropouts, and the Metro program, open to students having truancy, behavioral, and/or gang problems that preclude success in a traditional program.  Student Circumstances such as homelessness, difficult personal situations, and academic difficulties are some of the challenges faced by the school team.  The 2008 U.S. Census Bureau reports 29.65% of Oklahoma City students are from families living below the poverty line.  Our mission statement compels Emerson staff to model and provide opportunities, encouragement, and motivation by preparing all students to become academically and technologically literate adults and good citizens.  It is our vision to "promote students learning at the highest level of proficiency."  so that "Emerson students are prepared to be responsible, educated informed and productive citizens, ready to meet the challenges of the 21st Centruy."

A demographic snapshot of Emerson students creates this picture:

• 50.51% Black
• 6.06% Native American
• 26.94% Hispanic
• 0.67% Asian
• 15.82% White
• Male students served - 28.62%

Curriculum strategies are defined at Emerson as core, supplemental, and intensive and are designed to serve our diverse student population.
Core strategies include:  Thinking Maps, Learning Styles Assessment, Cooperative learning, group lessons.  Computer Assisted Instruction(CAI), Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model, MAX Teaching, Classroom Instruction that Works, and Building Academic Vocabulary (BAV) in a reading context.
Supplemental strategies include all core strategies with additional scaffolding (differentiated instruction) activities to build foundation skills.
Intensive strategies also include all core strategies, but are focused to assist both students who are performing well below grade level and who lack even basic foundational skills and those who demonstrate grade level mastery or above to build reading skills, improve writing skills and student engagement.  Students in this category also have mentors, tutoring, and additional remediation and enrichment.

Metro Career Academy (MCA)
Barbara Loudermilk - Principal
405-595-4300

Metro Career Academy has three major goals for students:
    1.  Achieve a high school diploma
    2.  Complete career training
    3.. Prepare for college

Only a third of American students will leave high school with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.  MCA is designed to foster academic achievement, career development, community support and health care services for students and their families.  The challenges facing today's families and students in their daily lives often become serious barriers to student success.  MCA uses a holistic approach to serve those students who need assistance beyond the traditional educational environment.

MCA serves at-risk students.  MCA serves students, 15 and older, who face adverse barriers toward achieving a high school diploma and career training.  MCA serves not only students but their families as well.

MCA brings the community to students.  MCA's Parent Resource Center, Mentorship Program and community partners work with students, family and community members.

• Parent Resource Center is a family focused program enabling parents and family members to become more involved with their children's education.
• Mentorship Program connects students and caring individuals.  Mentors provide support, advise and friendship.  They also serve as positive role models.
• Community Partners provide a network of supportive services between the school and the community.