Metropolitan Learning Center (Portland, Oregon)

Metropolitan Learning Center
Address
2033 NW Glisan Street
Portland, Oregon, Multnomah County 97209
United States
Coordinates 45°31′36″N 122°41′36″W / 45.52669°N 122.69332°W / 45.52669; -122.69332Coordinates: 45°31′36″N 122°41′36″W / 45.52669°N 122.69332°W / 45.52669; -122.69332
Information
Type Public
Opened 1915
School district Portland Public Schools
Principal Pamela Joyner
Grades K-12
Number of students 420
Campus Urban
Color(s) Black, White, and Purple    
Athletics conference OSAA
Mascot Underdog
Rival Chapman Elementary School
Website Official school website
Couch School Building
Built 1915
Architect Floyd Naramore
Architectural style Tudor Revival
Part of Alphabet Historic District (#00001293)

The Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) is a public K-12 school in Portland, Oregon, United States.

The Metropolitan Learning Center or simply "MLC" is an alternative public school in Portland, Oregon. [1][2]

Academics

In 2016, 91% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 35 students, 33 graduated, 2 dropped out.[3]

In 2016 testing, the percent meeting or exceeding standards by grade of MLC students vs. STATEWIDE in English was: Grade 3: MLC 85% vs. Statewide 47%, Grade 4: 73% vs 50%, Grade 5: 89% vs. 57%, Grade 6: 49% vs. 53%, Grade 7: 56% vs. 56%, Grade 8: 56% vs. 56%, Grade 11: 77% vs. 69%

In Math: Grade 3: MLC 85% vs. Statewide 48% Grade 4: 80% vs. 44% Grade 5: 50% vs. 40% Grade 6: 34% vs. 39% Grade 7: 54% vs. 44% Grade 8: 57% vs. 42% Grade 11: 14% vs. 33% [4]

MLC has the highest English Proficiency in the District (at 100% compared to the district average of 83%), and a math proficiency of 67% (also the district average). MLC was rated "High" on the State Testing Performance Database. The overall philosophy of the school is not geared towards standardized testing. Portions of the parental community instill an "opt-out" mentality in their students, leaving only a portion of the student body participating in standardized tests. Additionally, the school demographics historically include close to zero percent students who are learning English as a second language.[5] MLC has the highest English Proficiency in the District!

History

Couch School

In 1913 Portland voters were asked to consider a school budget that included new construction to modernize Portland schools. The dilapidated "Couch School," an 1883 structure that had recently closed to contain an outbreak of smallpox,[6][7] would be torn down, and a new Couch School would be built in 1914 at a cost of $177,000.[8]

The architect for the new school was Floyd Naramore, newly employed as architect and superintendent for Portland Public Schools. Naramore was responsible for many Portland school designs including Benson Polytechnic High School and Shattuck School.[9] Reflecting modern standards of the day, Tudor Revival was chosen as the style for Couch School.

Both the 1883 school and the 1914 school were named for Captain John Heard Couch, an early settler whose land became known as the Couch Addition when Northwest Portland was platted.

Metropolitan Learning Center

In 1968, Amasa Gilman convinced Portland Public Schools to begin an experimental study environment at Couch School designated the Metropolitan Learning Center. Starting with 150 students from Couch School and other sites, the center encouraged students to create their own instructional environment. The center worked with Portland State College, later Portland State University, and Reed College to offer student teachers a central role in classroom instruction. The plan resulted in fewer discipline problems and higher attendance.[10]

Later the school building was renamed Metropolitan Learning Center.

Consideration to Close School

In January 2016, parents from the nearby Chapman Elementary introduced a proposition to the School Board to close the school and re-open Couch Elementary School due to Chapman almost overfilling. A week afterward the District and PPS Recommendation Board notified MLC that they will not be closed.

Explosion

See Northwest District Explosion

Changing the "Mascot"

In 2017 a push to change the school mascot re-emerged. The current yin-yang symbol that is used is a religious symbol that many students and staff wish to see changed.[11] There has been a mixture of support and resistance by parents.[12]

Notable Alumni

See also

MLC's front
A hallway inside MLC

References

  1. ↑ School website https://www.pps.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=142&ModuleInstanceID=11509&PageModuleInstanceID=14462&ViewID=ad4d6d9d-7046-48e7-a548-a6a23a68d076&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=73458&PageID=385. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ Oregon Live http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/05/portland_schools_superintenden_5.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ http://schools.oregonlive.com/school/Portland/Metropolitan-Learning-Center/
  4. ↑ http://schools.oregonlive.com/school/Portland/Metropolitan-Learning-Center/
  5. ↑ Oregonlive http://schools.oregonlive.com/school/Portland/Metropolitan-Learning-Center/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "Taxpayers to Decide Tonight". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Media Group. November 25, 1913. p. 10.
  7. ↑ "Couch School House (Portland, Oregon)". University of Oregon Libraries. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Oregon Historic Site Form: Metropolitan Learning Center" (PDF). Oregon State Historic Preservation Office; Portland Public Schools. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  9. ↑ Ritz, Richard Ellison (March 2003). Architects of Oregon. Portland, Oregon: Lair Hill Publishing. p. 293. ISBN 0-9726200-2-8.
  10. ↑ Guernsey, John (October 8, 1968). "Children Come And Go As They Please, Work At Own Pace, Receive No Grades". the Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Media Group. p. 41.
  11. ↑ https://www.pps.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=142&ModuleInstanceID=11509&PageModuleInstanceID=14462&ViewID=ad4d6d9d-7046-48e7-a548-a6a23a68d076&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=73458&PageID=385
  12. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/groups/91129627708/permalink/10154713383072709/
An inscription reading "Couch School" on the building
"CES", standing for Couch Elementary School, above a door at MLC.


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