The Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) is a public K-12 school in Portland, Oregon, United States.
MLC is considered an Alternative school.
Academics
In 2016, 91% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 35 students, 33 graduated, 2 dropped out.
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%
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.
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, would be torn down, and a new Couch School would be built in 1914 at a cost of $177,000.
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. 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.
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
Notable Alumni
- Max Records - Actor, Where the Wild Things Are (film), I Am Not a Serial Killer (film), The Sitter, and others
- Rebecca Skloot - Bestselling Author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and a Writer/Editor for New York Times Magazine, NPR, Popular Science, and others.
- Courtney Love - Singer for Hole (band), wife of Nirvana (band) lead singer Kurt Cobain
- Tanya Barfield - Playwright
See also
- Collegiate Gothic in North America
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Northwest Portland, Oregon
References
External links
- Metropolitan Learning Center
- Couch Addition Map