Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School

I can't stand this school. It was a bad idea to stay here. They really need to start offering honors classes because it is not fair how we are all taught at the same level. I need to be challenged and can't wait to take AP. Besides academics, which overall are okay-ish, MELS really isn't a high school. I am so bored here and am thinking about transferring for the Fall. This school is so conservative and predictable and any little thing bothers anyone in authority. MELS, get your stuff together.

I attend this school, and am opting out of the 9th grade. The curriculum is not challenging, and certain topics are taught at such a surface level, that my parents felt I needed to have private tutoring to ensure that my academic skills remain on track. They've also admitted some relatively weak students for the 9th grade. I know one who has poor scores on the standardized tests and really bad attendance (he's been late over 25 times this year and absent a lot) - if this was the best applicant the school could admit, I don't feel the need to retun in the fall.
—Submitted by a parent

I love MELS. Mels is the school! It was a brilliant idea to bring uniforms into place. For a school that just begun in 2011, you can see it! However, my friends were upset because of the process of enrollment. It should be upon grades, not a raffle.
—Submitted by a student

As an 8th grade MELS, I've realized that the school has a very caring staff. Teachers understand your needs. MELS is like a big family. Something that worries me about the school is academics and curriculum. Just like any other school, MELS follows the NYS curriculum for every grade. I thing that MELS can make the curriculum more challenging. I was promised a challenge coming into the school and feel that I haven't received a challenging academic experience, yet. The mathematics and 8th grade Integrated Algebra curriculum is perfect, as well as the Science curriculum. I'd recommend changing the US History (8th grade social studies) and English (8th grade) curriculum to be a bit more challenging. One more thing I would change is the emphasis on the Performing Arts. Not turning into a school just for the arts, but having a strong out look on the arts (Music, Theater, Visual/Studio Art, maybe even Dance in the future. Overall, I LOVE MELS, for it takes up a big space in my heart. I enjoy coming to MELS everyday and am proud to be apart of the schools first graduating class. (Go class of 2016 :)
—Submitted by a student

The education here is average, at best. There are no textbooks, yet their book bags are still very heavy. Students have to rely only on their notes for homework, so if a student wrote something wrong in their notebooks, their notes are useless. Math seems below average here and I am so very worried that the students are behind. The bottom line is that if you want your child in the same school for the next 7 years without worrying about whether or not they will go to a specialized HS AND your child is average, this is the school for you. Having kids on all different levels is great for those that are struggling, but do nothing for those that are ahead. This only harms the child since they aren t challenged. The admin is great here and they do care about the students and encourage parents to stay involved. One thing that needs to be addressed is PTC. They call them Student Led Conferences which means your child tells you what is going on in ALL of their subjects instead of teachers telling you what they could do better. Personally, I speak to my children daily about how they are doing in school, so I'd prefer my learn something rather than waste time practicing a speech.

One of the 8th grade math teachers was moved up from 6th grade and is clearly struggling with certain aspects of the curriculum. There is very little homework and they are neither teaching classics nor basic essay writing skills. Overall quality of teaching is very mixed, and the weaker teachers are often unresponsive to inquiries. This being said, the co-foundrs are wondrful, and fully engaged. They need to tweak their approach to the curriculum. There is stil ime to make this school a complete success.
—Submitted by a parent

I love that the principals know the students names however, at the end of the day the school needs to be giving the kids a good education. If you look at the fact that over 85% of the kids graduated our local high school (Forest Hills) but only 37 percent were college ready ( scoring at least a 75 on math regents and 80 on english regents) you realize how important it is to look at what your kids are doing in school, It is no longer enough to send them to school and say the school will educate them. I am very upset that my kid is not getting a good ELA experience. I agree with the poster below about ELA. I also agree with the poster bellow that regarding math. The math is too simple and I do not think it acceptable that my child hardly gets any homework My child scored well on the math assessment but that should not be the bar we hold our kids to because it is a very low bar. Is this what is passing for education in our inner city schools? Do not give up a good education for your child just because everyone at the school is nice! Parents please ask lots of questions because you are the biggest advocate your child has in getting a good education!.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a child at this school and I must say the teachers and administration are very caring. They know your child and make an effort to help with any issues you might have. I do have two issues: there are no text books to date and the math curriculum seems to fall short for some kids. My daughter went to Russell Sage for 6th grade and learned a great deal. When she came here the math she was learning was on par with what she learned in 5th grade. We are concerned.
—Submitted by a parent

Great principals and out of the ordinary activities. They go on field work often and instead of parent teacher conferences, they let the students take charge.
—Submitted by a student