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Our Insights

What’s Special

Camping and field trips; progressive approach

The Downside

May not appeal to those seeking a traditional curriculum

Launched in 2010, Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School (MELS) is a progressive school that sends its students out across the city and beyond, and brings in experts to give science, history and other subjects real-life relevance.

The school is the brainchild of co-principals Pat Finley and Damon McCord, who wanted to provide Queens middle and high school students with an education that’s not focused on textbooks. MELS is one of a dozen schools in New York City run in partnership with NYC Outward Bound.

Projects are interdisciplinary. For example, 6th-graders collected pollution data (building math skills) and studied different types of engines (using science) as part of a project on how to build a better taxicab. They then designed engines, with help from Cooper Union students. In a project entitled Invaders, children learned about Genghis Khan in social studies and invasive species in science. As part of their work, students mapped and trapped the invasive Asian longhorn beetle in parks.

MELS is a 6th-to-12th-grade school, Finley stressed. Teachers have time to aim for depth over breadth. “We try to structure everything in our curriculum with a long-term view of learning,” he said.

Fieldwork is a given in many classes. Students may visit Wall Street as part of Algebra II & Trigonometry, or Google to study workspace design. An English class prepared interviews they would conduct with immigrants before visiting an immigration center.

The school focuses on character development. Every student is a member of a “crew” that meets daily, consisting of about 16 classmates and a teacher. One of the most anticipated crew events is a four-day backpacking trip for 6th-graders that includes ropes courses and an overnight hike.

The school is proud of its mix of Asian, black, Hispanic and white students from all walks of life. “I don’t think there’s an unscreened school that is more diverse,” Finley said. “We keep our kids and have high rates of success moving them out of high school and beyond.” More than 90 percent of 8th-graders stay for high school, including one who was admitted to Stuyvesant but chose to stay at MELS.

Some parents may worry that the field experiences could come at the expense of more traditional work. One indication of this may be the low-average scores on the state math exam in middle school. Finley believes this type of learning works well with all students but said, “It may not be the choice for all families,” such as those looking for a “more traditional model that focuses on test scores.”

By the time kids graduate, most are ready for college-level work. The co-principals think this is due to the school's emphasis on literacy and delving deeper into subjects, including science and history. “In middle school we’re not doubling up English and math [periods] because that’s where testing is,” Finley said. “We want our kids thinking as historians and scientists too.”

The school grapples with how to mesh Regents requirements and Advanced Placement classes with field experiences. “AP has a very different view of kids and learning,” Finley said, “but we do think it’s important to try.” High school students do a bit less fieldwork than middle school students.

MELS has a healthy selection of sports and arts, and an award-winning high school speech and debate team that has gone to state and national competitions.

The Queens Metropolitan campus in Forest Hills is bright and inviting. MELS shares the building with Queens Metropolitan High School and a District 75 school for students with disabilities.

Graduates have been admitted to a wide variety of colleges that reflect the range of academic strengths of students. “We have a child who got a full ride to Rensselaer, and an early admit to Yale, learning alongside students who are not scoring as high on standardized tests,” Finley said. “We do work to serve all types of students.”

SPECIAL EDUCATION: MELS offers team teaching classes and services for special education students in regular classes. Students in self-contained classes participate in crew, art and physical education with the general education students, and do some expeditions with them.

 (Lydie Raschka, interview and web reports, June 2018)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average
Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
75%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
59%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
96%
78% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
2% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
76%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
12.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
46%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
47%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
56%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
98%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
831
Asian
24%
Black
11%
Hispanic
44%
White
13%
Other
9%
Free or reduced priced lunch
66%
Students with disabilities
19%
English language learners
5%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
89%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
37%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
100%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
6%
7% Citywide Average
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School (Q49A)

Admissions Method: Open

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP United States Government and Politics, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Volleyball

Coed PSAL teams

Stunt

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

91-30 Metropolitan Avenue
Queens NY 11375

Buses: BM5, Q11, Q21, Q23, Q52-SBS, Q53-SBS, Q54, Q55, QM12, QM15, QM42


Contact

Principal: Damon Mccord

Parent Coordinator: Ashley Barcia

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Metropolitan Educational Campus with two other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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