After nearly 20 years of lobbying, parents in Forest Hills will finally have a brand new high school for their kids.
Metropolitan Avenue High School, which was built to avoid overcrowding in Districts 24 and 28, will have grades 9-12. The school, in District 28, is slated to open for fall of 2010.
In its first year, Metropolitan Avenue High School will admit 350 ninth graders. Initially the plan was suppose to have only 250 students in the new building but after appeals from parents from both districts, the Department of Education (DOE) increased the incoming class by 100, according to Roman Paprocki of Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi’s staff.
“Department of Education [DOE] feels that when you phase in the grades, it builds a sense of community,” said, Paprocki.
Paprocki explained that the DOE feels its best when all incoming students start at ninth grade and gradually move on to upper levels. However, in fall 2011, they will revert to the original number of 250 incoming ninth graders, making enrollment 600 students in total. The new building has the capacity for 1000 students.
District 24 Community Education Council president Nick Comainni said that he became involved 10 years ago. The Forest Hills community did not want a general high school because they felt it would attract extra outside traffic. However, after much negotiation, DOE decided to make the school locally zoned.
“It feels very good to have a locally zoned school,” said, Comainni. “My child will attend the school from next year.”
Both City Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley and Hevesi campaigned to have the school built to accommodate the students of both districts.
“It is our responsibility as the elected officials representing these communities to make sure that the school serves its intended purpose,” said Hevesi. “After a 17-year process, the Metropolitan High School will be filled with students from our neighborhoods.”
Metropolitan Avenue High School will be headed by first-time principal Marci Levy-Maguire.
“I am excited beyond belief about being a new principal, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” said, Levy-Maguire.
Levy-Maguire also states that the community has been incredibly supportive of her and they will continue to collaborate to provide an excellent, well-rounded education for the children. She also hopes to develop relationships with community members and organizations so the school can benefit from the expertise of the community while it also serves as a cultural and learning center for the community to enjoy.
“With a new school and new principle, it’s an experiment and you don’t know what to expect – but we hope it’s a good thing,” said Comainni.
