Metropolitan Arts Institute

The Metropolitan Arts Institute (Metro Arts) is an arts-focused independent charter school, including both a junior high and high school. It is located in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Metropolitan Arts Institute was established in 1997.

History

Metro Arts is an independent, chartered college prep arts school located in downtown Phoenix AZ. Providing a balanced program of college preparatory academics and arts courses for students in grades 7-12, Metro emphasizes excellence, authenticity, integrity, and tolerance.[1] Founded in 1997 by Matthew Baker, the school was created as a high school. In 2011 the school added a middle school to the program. As of today Metro Arts serves students at full capacity and has a waiting list yearly. Metro Arts serves grades 7-12, there is one 7th grade class and one 8th grade class with about 25 students for each middle school grade, all other high school grades are filled by capacity.

Academics

As a college preparatory school, Metro Arts offers a broad academic curriculum including humanities, mathematics, science, and foreign language. The curriculum is structured to establish connections across disciplines, and encourage freedom of purposeful expression. The curriculum both challenges and supports students as they develop their own strengths.[2]

Middle School

Middle school students take the same academic classes daily including Math, Language Arts, Life Skills, and Science. Middle school students are required to take PE/Health as part of their curriculum, and at the end of the day they take their art course.

High School

The high school operates on a block schedule, they take different 4 classes daily three times a week for an hour and a half and classes switch daily. High school students can pick more than one art to focus on. All high school students have the opportunity to take honors classes throughout their high school career.

Arts

As the last class of the day middle school students take their arts. High school students take their arts 3 times a week for an hour and a half depending on their schedule, high school students may have an art class first thing or it may be the last class they take.

The Metropolitan Arts Institute offers a large array of art courses students can take. Ranging from the Visual Arts, Theatre, Film, Dance, and Music. However, due to Metro being a small school, classes may or may not be offered on any given year based on student requests and/or faculty availability.

Campus

Metro Arts has a very small and intimate campus. The building was purchased by the founder in 1997, originally being an office building. In 2003 the school went under renovation and was completed just in time for the new school year. One of the most notable things about the Metro building is the main stair entrance and the elevator tower with the school signage. Metro has three levels, underground parking is the buildings lowest level and the first floor is where all student classes are held, on the second floor there is a large dance studio where some students take Aerial dance. The interior halls of the schools visual art wing is set up to look like an art gallery, with ambient ceiling lighting and long halls opening into large spaces. The exterior of the school is lined with large trees that provide shade to the students as the walk along the bridges that overlook the parking below. The performing arts wing is home to the "Theatre" , which is where many of Metro's small student performances are put on.

Metro's campus is used by many community organizations, including the Scorpius Dance Theatre, and the Now and then Creative Company

gollark: I pay so little attention that I missed missing the gold you missed!
gollark: *to-the-second would be better*
gollark: Then there's a 20-day gap until a november release and then a 25-day gap until christmas.
gollark: Well, yes, by 10 days or so.
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References
  1. "Metropolitan Arts Institute". www.metro-arts.org. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  2. "Metropolitan Arts Institute". www.metro-arts.org. Retrieved 2020-06-29.


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