The Met Sacramento one student at a time

www.bigpicture.org

“The purpose of this school is to learn, to really learn, not just

memorize a bunch of random math problems, or notes from
a history book that we will forget as soon as summer vacation
comes.”

Lea Andrew
Met Sacramento student

t he first Big Picture School in the California capi-

tol, The Met Sacramento High School opened its
doors in the fall of 2003, with sixty incoming
ninth graders. Being forced to relocate three times in
as many years, Met Sacramento has made its name
as one of Big Picture’s most resilient schools, proving
that rigorous, real-world learning takes place regard-
less of the school’s location. Under the tireless leader-
ship of founding Principal Beth Kay, the school will
graduate its first class in the summer of 2007.
On the College Track
Met Sacramento has become known for its college
partnership. Forty percent of students have taken at
least one college class at Sacramento City Community
College.
Highly Qualified Advisors
More than half of Met Sacramento faculty members
have master’s degrees and two or more academic spe-
cialties.
Dedicated Mentors
More than 85% of mentors say they would take anoth-
er Met Sacramento intern, and 75% attend student
exhibitions. Every 10th grade student had a summer
plan in 2005, and every entering 11th grader had an
internship walking in the door.
Rigor in the Real World
Students have interned at the Sacramento Zoo, KFBK
Radio, Foothill Farms Veterinary Hospital, Elk Grove
Citizen newspaper, DLR Group, Vitiello Architects,
and many other places.
Student project work:
• Researched and designed a cell phone tour for the
Sacramento Zoo
• Researched and wrote a column on teen issues pub-
lished by the Elk Grove Citizen newspaper for over
a year
• Researched mental health issues and counseling on
The Suicide Hotline
• Researched learning disabilities and made recom-
mendations for teachers
• Studied feline anatomy and recreated bone structure
• Reported and edited stories for the Sacramento
News and Review
At the Same Cost
A charter school within the Sacramento City Uni-
fied School District, Met Sacramento operates at the
same cost per pupil as any other SCUSD school.
 “I love that my students are learning what they are passionate about. The
students here build adult relationships that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Grace Palmer
Advisor

Making Headlines
The school’s success has garnered considerable press
attention. It was featured on the local news five times
in two years and in a London Times article, which
was syndicated in The Times of India. Met Sacra-
mento students won a grant from What Kids Can Do
for their project work.

Success by the Numbers 2005

• Total Enrollment: 130 students, grades 9-11

• Attendance Rate: 94%

• Dropout Rate: 0%

• College Classes:
40% of sophomores and juniors have taken at least
one college class at Sacramento City Community
College 100

80
• Parent Involvement:
98% attendance at student exhibitions 60

40
• Student Surveys:
89% of students agree or strongly agree that their 20

teachers believe that all students can do well;

0
90% of students agree/strongly agree that their
teachers respect them;
89% of students agree or strongly agree that the
teachers at their school care about their opinions

“Here I am treated like an adult so it motivates me to act like one.”

Contact Information
Naomi Elliot, Project Work: prepping animals and Beth Kay, Principal
Met Sac ‘07 surgical instruments for surgery; de- The Met Sacramento
Interests: veterinary veloping a database on all types 810 V Street
medicine of operations performed Sacramento, CA 95818
LTI site: Sacramento College classes: US History, Ameri- (916) 264-4700
Veterinary Surgical can Sign Language I & II
Center