Metropolitan Learning Center (Portland, Oregon)

The Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) is an alternative public school serving K–12 students in Portland, Oregon, United States.[2][3][4]

This article is about the school in Portland, Oregon. For the school in Bloomfield, Connecticut, see Metropolitan Learning Center (Bloomfield, Connecticut).

Metropolitan Learning Center
Address
2033 NW Glisan Street

Portland
,
Multnomah County
,
Oregon
97209

United States
Coordinates45.52669°N 122.69332°W / 45.52669; -122.69332
Information
TypePublic
Opened1968[1]
School districtPortland Public Schools
PrincipalSuezann Kitchens
GradesK–12
Number of students396 (2017 enrollment)
Athletics conferenceOSAA
WebsiteOfficial school website
Couch School Building
Built1915
ArchitectFloyd Naramore
Architectural styleTudor Revival
Part ofAlphabet Historic District (ID00001293)

The school is located adjacent to Couch Park. The playground at Couch Park doubles as the playground for the school.

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,[5][6] would be torn down, and a new Couch School would be built in 1914 at a cost of $177,000.[7]

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.[8] 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, Portland Public Schools began 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—students were free to pursue subjects that interested them rather than following a strict curriculum set by teachers. Moreover, students were not grouped by age and did not receive grades. The center worked with Portland State College, later Portland State University, and Reed College to offer student teachers a central role in classroom instruction.[1]

Couch School and MLC shared the same principal, Amasa Gilman. According to Gilman, the plan resulted in fewer discipline problems and higher attendance than at the conventional Couch School.[1] Gilman continued as principal of MLC until 1975, when Portland Public Schools transferred him to a new location. His removal sparked protests among MLC students and staff.[9][10]

A couple years after 1968, the distinction between the conventional Couch School and the experimental learning center it was hosting was dropped, and the entire school came to be known as the Metropolitan Learning Center.

In 2016, the Northwest District gas explosion occurred two and a half blocks away from MLC while many 10th grade students were taking their PSAT/NMSQT tests. Students were evacuated to the school district headquarters.[11]

On September 15, 2018, MLC celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a celebration attended by current and former students, faculty, and community members. The event featured various exhibits on the school and neighborhood's history as well as a panel discussion and Q&A with Oregon State Senator Lew Frederick as well as a few former students and the children of the school's founders.[12]

In 2019, the playground at the adjacent Couch Park, which is used as the school's playground, was re-designed and replaced with an inclusive playground. The playground was designed in part by MLC students.[13]

Student profile

In 2016, 91% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 35 students, 33 graduated and 2 dropped out.[14] The student population during the same year was 79.9% White, 9.1% Hispanic, 2.1% Asian, 1.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 7% mixed race.[15] As of 2017, less than five percent of MLC students are learning English as a second language.[16]

In 2022, 20 out of 21 students graduated, and 1 dropped out.[17]

Academics

According to MLC's 2017–2018 school profile, the school began "as a challenge to the notion that educational rewards must be extrinsic and maintains the belief that personal relationships between staff and students are paramount."[18] Accordingly, MLC does not issue letter grades, instead using a four category rating system ("Exceeds", "Proficient", "Developing", or "Does Not Meet") to evaluate students. Each category is assigned a grade point average range to show how the ratings can be translated onto a 4.0 scale.[18]

Athletics and Extra-curriculars

MLC had a short-lived high school basketball team called the Underdogs. Elementary and Middle schoolers often have their own rec sports teams through Portland Parks & Recreation.

Elementary and Middle school students sign up for electives which take place two or three times a week in the afternoon. Each term brings new elective choices which are taught by teachers, parents, older students, and other volunteers on a variety of subjects.

The High School has multiple clubs including a yearbook club.

The beginning of the 1993 made-for-TV short film Without Warning: Terror in the Towers with James Avery, George Clooney, and Andre Braugher was filmed on the blacktop of MLC.

In Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, MLC is used as the interior of Jamie's school.

A scene in Drugstore Cowboy showed the characters escaping and passing MLC.

Some interior shots of Mr. Holland's Opus starring Richard Dreyfuss were filmed at MLC.

Notable alumni and faculty

Alumni

Faculty
  • A hallway in the basement
    A hallway in the basement
  • The Outside of the Library
    The Outside of the Library
  • The door to the Main Office
    The door to the Main Office
  • "Couch School" engraving
    "Couch School" engraving
  • "C. E. S." engraving
    "C. E. S." engraving

See also

References
  1. Guernsey, John (October 8, 1968). "Children Come And Go As They Please, Work At Own Pace, Receive No Grades". The Oregonian. p. 41.
  2. Jennifer Anderson (July 18, 2013). "School leadership stumbles over race". Portland Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2017. [MLC is] in a category of its own as Portland Public Schools' only K-12 alternative school...
  3. "Metropolitan Learning Center: About Us". Portland Public Schools. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Metropolitan Learning Center is a K-12 alternative school in Portland, Oregon...
  4. Nicole Dungca (May 7, 2014). "Portland schools superintendent criticizes Metropolitan Learning Center parents over complaints about principal". OregonLive.
  5. "Taxpayers to Decide Tonight". The Oregonian. November 25, 1913. p. 10.
  6. "Couch School House (Portland, Oregon)". University of Oregon Libraries. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  7. "Oregon Historic Site Form: Metropolitan Learning Center" (PDF). Oregon State Historic Preservation Office; Portland Public Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  8. Ritz, Richard Ellison (March 2003). Architects of Oregon. Portland, Oregon: Lair Hill Publishing. p. 293. ISBN 0-9726200-2-8.
  9. Danny Moran (February 1, 2013). "Amasa Gilman, 90, an eccentric educator and artist was founding principal of Metropolitan Learning Center". OregonLive. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  10. Casey Parks (May 9, 2014). "Metropolitan Learning Center controversy reflects administrators' 'incredible lack of understanding' about school's roots, Rep. Lew Frederick says". OregonLive. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  11. "Portland firm says subcontractor hit gas line in NW Portland gas blast". kgw.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  12. Sparling, Zane (September 16, 2018). "MLC relives 50 years of offbeat education in Portland". PortlandTribune.com. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  13. "Couch Park | Portland.gov". www.portland.gov. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  14. "Metropolitan Learning Center: Schools Guide". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017.
  15. "School Profiles & Enrollment Data 2016-2017" (PDF). Portland Public Schools. p. 249. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  16. "Metropolitan Learning Center: Schools Guide". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  17. "Metropolitan Learning Center :: Schools Guide - The Oregonian". The Oregonian - OregonLive.com. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  18. "Metropolitan Learning Center 2017-2018 School Profile" (PDF). Portland Public Schools. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2017.
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