Interview with Metropolitan Preparatory Academy PARENT, Wei Su

My son had previously gone to a Montessori school, with a focus on hands-on learning, communication skills, and teamwork. And we're looking for a middle school, high school that can continue him down the same path. We visited quite a few schools looking for small class sizes, a close-knit community of teachers, students, and staff, and above all, academic excellence. Metro Prep fits the bill.

My son is an introvert, but he hit the ground running on day one at Metro Prep, which was a big surprise to us. Usually, he would settle in a new environment gradually, but at Metro Prep, the transition was swift and smooth. We think his comfort with Metro Prep was because of the culture. 

It really felt like a large family, where from the principal to teachers to staff and students, everybody comes together and knows each other. I cannot overstate my appreciation for the open communication at Metro Prep. We can talk to the principal, the teacher, the staff at any time. Each one of them is extremely approachable and always waiting to make time to discuss anything. 

The class sizes are small, so new students get to know everybody quickly and the teachers have the resources and the time to look after each student with a personalized approach. 

We were surprised by how down-to-earth and approachable the leadership at Metro Prep is. The principal and vice principals are willing to talk to parents at any time. They also know my child really well, not only because they teach classes, but also they get actively involved in students' extracurricular activities. There were no bureaucracies, things get done promptly, and I’ve always felt comfortable talking to the leadership, sharing my thoughts, getting feedback, and asking for advice.

The teachers at Metro Prep are the heart and soul of the school. I asked my son about what he liked the most at Metro Prep. His reply was, ‘The teachers made all the difference,’ and we cannot agree more. They embody the culture and their value day in, day out, kindness, generosity, dedication to students' group development, and focus on academic excellence and teamwork. They are great people who often went above and beyond the call of duty to set great examples for students.

We're really grateful that my son got the opportunity to experience multiculturalism at such a young age, which will benefit him for years to come. Metro Prep values academic excellence, teamwork, and diversity. The school draws students from a wide range of demographics, so students experience embracing multiculturalism and diversity. When my son applied for university, he wrote in his application essays about his friends from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures, and how multiculturalism shaped his values and who he is. 

From my observations, there's no typical family at Metro Prep families, because it feels like a mini United Nations. But, at the end of the day, they are families that care about students' learning, particularly academic excellence. 

My son got accepted to his dream university program, thanks to his teachers' hard work and the school's focus on academic excellence and the school's guidance counselor,  who really helped my son prepare his application. 

The school has monthly honor roll rankings across all grades, so parents are kept on top of students' academic performance.

If your family wants your child to be in small class sizes with a focus on academic excellence and in a close-knit community with principals, teachers, and staff working on your team, check out Metro Prep. I’d suggest visiting the schools, and taking your child with you. Talk to teachers, talk to current students, talk to alumni, and talk to the principals, and have your child ask questions too.