Metro Early College High School will be open to all students in Ohio starting this fall when it becomes an independent STEM high school for the first time since it was founded in 2006.
Until now, students at Metro were enrolled in their Franklin County home district high school, the only county eligible for admission, and attended Metro after their district agreed to pay a portion of the Metro tuition. With budget cutbacks, it became increasingly difficult for county school districts to cover those costs.
Starting this fall, students will apply directly to Metro just as they would any other public high school. The school is eligible for state per pupil funding just like other public schools, and it is also open to seek federal grants and private funding.
“All of the great things about Metro will not change,” says Aimee Kennedy, principal of Metro. “We’ll still be a public high school focused on STEM, and we’ll still be providing an early college opportunity at The Ohio State University. Our admission will remain non-competitive and extra curricular activities will still be available to students at their home high school.”
Metro will continue to be supported by Battelle and The Ohio State University, who each cover a portion of the per pupil expenses. Some differences are that students who graduate from Metro will now receive diplomas from Metro, rather than their home district high school. Also, the school will be recognized more directly for student success as test scores will be reported as Metro test scores, rather than be credited to a student’s home district school.
For more information about Metro, go to
themetroschool.org.