Metea Valley High School

Metea Valley High School is a high school in Aurora, Illinois that opened in August 2009 in DuPage County.[5] The school is one of four high schools operated by the Indian Prairie School District. Waubonsie Valley High School is also in Aurora, while Neuqua Valley High School and Wheatland Academy are in Naperville. The school follows IPSD's tradition of naming its High Schools after Native American figures with its namesake Metea.[6]

Metea Valley High School
Address
1801 N. Eola Road

Aurora
,
Illinois
60502
Coordinates41°47′28.37″N 88°14′19.71″W
Information
School typepublic secondary
MottoLive with integrity, Inspire passion for learning, Foster positive relationships, and Expect equity and excellence for all.
Opened2009
School districtIndian Prairie SD 204
SuperintendentAdrian Talley[1]
PrincipalDarrell Echols[2]
Teaching staff184.54 (FTE)[3]
Grades9–12
Genderco-ed
Enrollment2,926 (2018–19)[3]
Student to teacher ratio15.86[3]
Campussuburban
Color(s)  black
  gold[4]
Athletics conferenceDuPage Valley Conference
MascotMarty the Mustang
NicknameMustangs[4]
NewspaperThe Stampede
YearbookThe Rein
Websitehttp://mvhs.ipsd.org

Preparations

Serving Indian Prairie School District 204, and opened for the 2009–2010 academic year for freshman and sophomore classes (grades nine and ten), Metea Valley cost $124.7 million to build, and can hold 3,000 students.[7] The school met its full enrollment of students for grades 9-12 during the 2011–2012 academic year. The school began its first Prairie State Achievement Exams (used as a standardized testing measure of academic achievement) during the 2010–2011 academic year, and per Illinois High School Association Policy, the school was not fully recognized for interscholastic sports until that same academic year.

The school's namesake, a chief of the Potawatomi tribe, was selected during 2006. The school's colors are black and gold (maintaining a tradition of '<color> and gold' in all three high schools) and the school's mascot is the 'Mustangs'. The colors were announced in February 2007, and the mascot selection in March 2007.[8] Both were chosen by those middle school students who began attending the school in 2009, as well as the current Neuqua and Waubonsie students in 2007.[9] The School joined the Upstate Eight Conference in the 2010-2011 school year.[10]

Student Body

Demographics

Metea Valley High School is a diverse secondary school. 21% of the student body identifies as Asian-American, compared to the statewide average of 5%. Fewer than 13% of the students attending Metea Valley identify as Hispanic-American, compared to the state average of 26%. Approximately 14% are African-American, compared to the statewide average of 17%. The Caucasian-American population matches the state average at 49%.[11]

Academics

Metea Valley High School's first principal was Jim Schmid, former principal of Waubonsie Valley High School.[12] On January 8, 2014, Principal Schmid announced that Dr. Darrell Echols, Principal at Hill Middle School at the time, had been named the new Metea Valley High School Principal. Echols assumed his position July 1, 2014 following Mr. Schmid's retirement.[13]

During the 2013-2014 school year, Metea Valley was ranked as the 669th best high school in America and the 29th best in Illinois according to U.S. News & World Report.[14] Metea Valley was also ranked the 23rd most challenging high school in Illinois. This ranking is based on standardized test scores and percentage of students on subsidized lunch, among other factors.[15]

Construction

One of the companies contracted for the school's construction was Commercial Mechanical Inc (CMI) from Dunlap, Illinois. The school was designed by the Chicago office of DLR Group. The construction manager was Turner Construction Company.

Construction began on May 7, 2008. It began with an extensive earth moving operation. For months, as the landscape changed, there was no discernible structure, although one could see the flattened "footprint" where the building would be located and massive sewer pipes and basins dotting the land. Then, early in August 2008, steel structural beams started to rise up near the southwest corner of the property.

The musical hallway opened on January 4, 2010. The auditorium was completed in early February 2010.

The campus was ranked #20 in the "Most Amazing High School Campuses in the Nation" in 2014.[16]

Activities

The school sponsors numerous extracurricular clubs and organizations ranging from arts and academic to cultural and special interest. Listed here are the most notable in terms of being chapters of a larger national movement. An entire list can be found here.

Athletics

Metea Valley Gymnasiums

Metea Valley has two gymnasiums: the main gymnasium and the auxiliary gymnasium. The main gymnasium has foldable bleachers and can comfortably hold all 2,871 of the students attending Metea. The auxiliary gymnasium is smaller and does not have bleachers. In addition, the school has an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool in which students on the swim team can practice. Metea also has a weight room, which is known as the MPT, or Mustang Performance Training room. This room has dozens of pieces of muscle-toning equipment and hundreds of weights. In addition, the school has a cycling room located near the dance room.

Varsity History

From the Fall of 2009 through the Spring of 2015, the athletic teams participated in the Upstate Eight Conference. In the Fall of 2015, Metea Valley began participating in the DuPage Valley Conference.

Athletic Boosters

The athletic teams from Metea Valley High School are supported by the Athletic Boosters Club[17] which provides financial support to the athletic program by providing concussion screening for athletes, school wide heart screening, and continual improvement of the athletic facilities.

Team State Champions

2012 Lacrosse Combined State Champion - In 2012, Metea Valley students participated on a combined lacrosse team with Waubonsie Valley and won the IHSLA B-division State Championship against Grayslake North High School. 2014 Hockey Combined State Champion - In 2014, Metea Valley students participated on a combined hockey team with Waubonsie Valley students and won the Combined State Championship. 2014 Rugby Combined State Champion - In 2014, Metea Valley students participated on a combined Rugby team with Waubonsie Valley students and won the State Championship.

Teams
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Bowling
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Diving
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Poms
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Wrestling

Music

Awards

In 2016, Metea Valley was presented with one of three GRAMMY Signature Gold Schools[18] award. GRAMMY Signature School awards are given to high school music programs that are keeping music programs alive and well despite budgets and school politics.

Collage Concerts

The music department at Metea Valley hosts an annual concert in December named "Collage". The event comprises four repetitions of the same concert spread over two nights; however, soloists and small ensembles who play during transitions often differ between the concerts. Each concert ends with a finale featuring all music students from Metea Valley. In 2013, the Collage concerts featured a group of tuba and euphonium players going under the name "The Deep Brass Ensemble", that played Frosty the Snowman on sousaphones and euphoniums.

Marching Band

The Metea Valley Marching Mustangs is the school's marching band. They perform during halftime at all of the Metea Valley home football games. Their halftime show changes every year and have general themes such as "The Music of Styx", "BeatleMania" and "Stars and Stripes". The band every year goes on small trips in the Midwest region to competitions and band days at places such as University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, and in 2014, played in the Chicago Columbus Day Parade. The band also hosts an indoor concert each year to show off their halftime show while also featuring a cover band. On November 11, 2014, the Marching Mustangs held a "Tribute to Veterans" concert along with some other groups from the music department.

The Marching Mustangs were one of many bands selected to perform at the 2013 Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida. The band also traveled to Hawaii over the 2014 Thanksgiving week to perform at the Waikiki Holiday Parade and at Pearl Harbor. The band played their show "Stars and Stripes" at this venue.

Fine Arts Festival

Metea Valley also participates in, and partly hosts, the Annual Fine Arts Festival. Metea has participated in this event since its opening in 2009.[19]

Model United Nations

History

Each year, elections are held to determine the Exec Board for the following year. While the positions have changed in the past, currently the board consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The board mainly consists of upperclassmen, juniors and seniors, and work collaboratively with the advisers to keep the club running smoothly. Meetings are usually scheduled to be in the morning at 7:00 am.

Conferences

In 2016, the Metea Valley delegation attended Waubonsie Valley Model United Nations (WVMUN), St. Ignatius United Nations (SIMUN), and Model United Nations at the University of Chicago (MUNUC).

In 2017, the Metea Valley delegation also attended WVMUN, SIMUN, and MUNUC.

In 2018, the Metea Valley delegation attended WVMUN, SIMUN, BUMUN, and MUNUC.

Awards

Every year, members receive various awards mainly ranging from Best Position Paper to Best Delegate, for their efforts during committee.

In 2019, Metea Valley had delegates win awards at the Model United Nations at the University of Chicago —- the second best conference in the country —- for the first time. Zack Cisco, Katie Hausman, and Ashi Gottumukkula all won Outstanding Delegate.

Social Media and Webpages

Metea has numerous social media accounts; almost one for every extracurricular activity. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Note most Metea social media accounts are on Twitter.

Principal and Official Metea Twitter

Athletics

Clubs

Webpages

Official Metea Page

Official Metea Media Page

Official Metea 8 to 18 Page

Official Metea IPSD Page

Official Metea Honors World History Page

Official Metea LMC Page

Official Metea Art Page

References
  1. "IPSD 204: Office of the Superintendent". ipsdweb.ipsd.org.
  2. "Indian Prairie School District: News". ipsdweb.ipsd.org.
  3. "Metea Valley High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  4. "Page Not Found". www.ihsa.org. Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. "Indian Prairie School District :: Home". ipsdweb.ipsd.org. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  6. "Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0669". www.ilga.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  7. "District 204 challengers want backup for Metea", Sara Hooker, Chicago Daily Herald, March 16, 2007
  8. "Metea Valley Colors and Mascot", Indian Prairie School District, February 7, 2007
  9. Metea students to cheer for Mustangs, Britt Carson, The Naperville Sun, March 14, 2007
  10. "Upstate 8". upstate8.8to18.com. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  11. "Metea Valley HS Student Body Demographics". Retrieved 2019-05-18.
  12. Jim Schmid Tapped as New School's 1st Principal, IPSD News Article, March 11, 2008.
  13. Wilson, Marie. "Former actor, 22-year educator hired as Metea principal". Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  14. "U.S. News and World Report, 2014".
  15. "U.S. high school rankings by state — Most challenging schools". Washington Post.
  16. "The 30 Most Amazing High School Campuses In The World". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  17. "Metea Valley Athletic Booster Club". www.meteaboosters.com.
  18. "GRAMMY Signature Schools". The GRAMMYs.
  19. "Metea Valley High School Music Department". Metea Valley High School Music Department. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
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