METRO STEAM Academy

METRO High School is the alternative high school serving the Cedar Rapids Community School District. METRO serves a population of roughly 400 at-risk high school students. At-risk means these students are headed down a path towards not completing high school graduation. The METRO Steam Academy is an academic program within our school that embraces project based learning (PBL) and Learner Centered Assessment (LCA). A cross-disciplinary approach is taken to engage students with community members and real world problems.

The STEAM Academy is operated by four METRO teachers; Chuck Tonelli, Science, Shannon Ellis, Social Studies, Matt Secl, Industrial Technologies, and Elizabeth Deutch, Art. These four teachers join forces with mentors, community leaders, non-profit organizations, and business and industry to engage students in real-world projects that integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math while allowing kids the individualized freedom to learn academic content.