Mead Education Alternative Department Alternative High School

M.E.A.D. High School
Location
529 W. Hastings Road Spokane, Washington 99218 USA
Information
Type	Public High School
School district	Mead School District
Principal	Bruce Olgard
Staff	11
Grades	9 - 12
Website	http://www.mead354.org/page.cfm?p=109

M.E.A.D. Alternative High School is a learning community of non-traditional students and instructors located in north Spokane, Washington. The progressive institution was designed to accommodate the unique learning needs of its member in a supportive and positive environment.

General

Student admission is mediated by a personal interview, which seeks to establish the willingness of the applicant to challenge themselves and take responsibility in achieving personal and academic growth. Students apply to the school voluntarily, and an admissions wait-list is not uncommon.

A qualified staff of instructors directly administers school operations in a conference-style, consensus building format. Student input is encouraged through the regular participation of student representatives. The campus is a drug, smoke and firearm free environment that features band and choir rooms, as well as a community garden, large group meeting and performance space, private conference and supply rooms, and art and science activity centers. Classes are not held in secluded rooms, but are instead conducted in the stations occupied by each instructor. Students sit at a common table at which they can face and communicate with everyone at the station.

Standardized test scores associated with this school are inherently skewed given state policy requiring the inclusion of "zero" scores for students who could not be reached for testing or could not complete the evaluation process, as well as other equally significant factors.^{[citation needed]}

Programs

CORE

The CORE program is a group learning format involving independent projects and evaluation, group community service and overnight field trips, school and community wide presentations, etc. The CORE class runs 9am to 12pm, Monday through Thursday.

GSL (Guided Student Learning)

The GSL program consists of a weekly, minimum one hour long, one-on-one meeting, between the student and advisor in which assignments are evaluated, proposed, delivered and designed. This option is most popular among students who may have other full or part time obligations such as providing child care to children or siblings, attending college classes, or work opportunities.

Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities include:

• Mt. Rainier Service
• Glacier National Park Service
• Open Mic

External links

• M.E.A.D. Alternative High School website