Opportunity Academy will be moving to the Metcalf School building for the 2025-26 school year, vacating the classroom spaces that the program has occupied in downtown Holyoke since its launch in 2015. A pilot Alternative Program for students in grades 9-10 who are significantly struggling behaviorally, academically, socially, and/or emotionally will also be based at Metcalf in the new school year.
Students, families, and community members are invited to attend to learn more about these changes during an informational meeting set for 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28 in the Metcalf cafeteria, 2019 Northampton Street.
With Metcalf no longer needed as a middle school now that the new Peck Middle School is scheduled to be completed this summer, school and city officials had been considering a number of new uses for the building. With a recommendation from the members of the Future Use of Metcalf Working Group, school and city officials agreed that Metcalf would be an excellent location for Opportunity Academy. Metcalf will also be home to the new pilot Alternative Program, which will provide a supportive, flexible, and individualized learning environment initially for 15-30 students in grades 9-10 during the pilot phase. Long-term, the goal is for the Alternative Program to serve 40-60 students in grades 7-10.
The Metcalf building was constructed in 1911 and opened as a junior high school in September 1912. The building has seen a number of program changes since it opened its doors almost 113 years ago. Now, a new chapter is about to begin.
“There are a number of benefits for basing our OA students in a building that is specifically designed for educational purposes,” said Principal Phelipe Johnson. “The rented space that OA occupied for 10 years provided classrooms and office spaces for our students and staff. But it lacked amenities that a school location can offer, such as a gymnasium, cafeteria, dedicated parking, and outdoor spaces that can be used for both learning and recreation. Moving to Metcalf will significantly expand our students’ learning environment.”
Opportunity Academy offers a set of alternative high school pathways that allow students to continue or restart on a pathway to a diploma if they are not succeeding in a more traditional high school setting. These pathways include:
The HPS Success Center, a small personalized progressive education center for high school students of any age;
The Gateway to College dual-enrollment program at Holyoke Community College for students age 16+ who seek an early college experience; and
LightHouse Holyoke, a project-based and competency-based high school program for students who are more than one year off-track.