MCAP stands for Muscatine Center for Academic Performance, but for its students, it is known as a second chance. Those who attend this school aren’t badly behaved, troublemakers, or any negative stereotypes people associate them with. These students moved to MCAP due to struggling with the environment at Muscatine High School.
Monday through Thursday are academic days, with students completing the same work assigned at MHS, with help from teachers one-on-one. On Fridays, students volunteer, finding ways to help our community. They can apply skills learned in class to real-world situations.
For junior Emi, MCAP was a good place to step back from all the people at MHS and learn with a smaller group. She shared, “The high school’s just really big, and I wasn’t really doing good with my grades and stuff there.”
Alexavior, another junior, decided to come to MCAP because “It’s a good opportunity to get a better grade.”
Some of the differences between Mcap and MHS are what make it the perfect space for some students to come to learn. Emi shared that she enjoys having more privilege.
“Instead of, like, asking to go to the bathroom, we just get up and go and come back.”
Along with having more freedom, students are also able to receive more one-on-one attention.
Alexavior mentioned, “I think working here is more comfortable.”
Being in a school with over 1,000 students can be overstimulating for many.
Emi struggled with being surrounded by so many people and explained, “I had really bad social anxiety. There were just a lot of people there. It was always really loud, and there was always a lot of drama.”
MCAP provides a safe space for students who need more help and aren’t able to get it with large numbers of students in classes at MHS. Alexavior observed that the high schoolers at Mcap are very close, and said, “It’s a smaller community.”
With fewer students, it’s easier to reach out for help and build a strong connection between the teachers and students. Senior Alan acknowledges this and shared that the assistance at MCAP has been more favorable for him.
“Here, it’s not a one-size-fits-all. It’s all customized to you, so if you need more attention, they can personally give it to you,” he said.
Having the luxury of help readily available the entire school day has progressed the students in their classes and caught them up on their credits.
Senior Brianda explained that though she was nervous about attending the school, her teachers made her feel more comfortable in the new environment.
“The teachers were really nice, Miss Kathy welcomed me and my brother with open arms, and we’re like a family here, you know?”
Alan agrees that having a kind teacher willing to make meaningful connections with students is one of the best parts of attending MCAP.
“It’s just the teachers, honestly. They make it worthwhile.”
Brianda loves her teachers as well and also values that because they have such a strong bond, she and her peers are trusted with more responsibility.
“As long as you just do your work, focus on your studies, then you can work on something else, or be on your phone.”
Though all the students understand their circumstances for attending, not many others do. People assume hurtful things about the high schoolers simply because they don’t know or understand the full story.
Alan says, “It’s not a behavioral school. It’s normal students, but in a different environment.”
Most students have a hard time explaining that their school is actually the opposite of what people presume it to be. Brianda notes that proving that people misjudge the school can be hard from time to time.
“I always get scared to tell them that I go to MCAP, just ’cause they’re like, ‘oh, it’s a stupid school,’ When, in reality, it’s not. This is probably, like, the best thing ever,” she shared.
The school provides students who need help with a second chance. They are given more support with schoolwork, fewer distractions, and are properly able to succeed. Alan has been able to make a turnaround since beginning at MCAP in his junior year.
“At the main high school, my grades weren’t very good, and I actually made the honor roll last year.”
Brianda has been able to continue working hard without other interruptions or being penalized for her attendance. When she had no other option, Miss Kathy helped her in a time of need.
“I reached out to Miss Kathy, and Miss Kathy, like, ‘I really want to graduate. It’s my senior year, and I know I’m behind on a lot of stuff.”
Though others aren’t as willing, Miss Kathy is patient and determined to meet students where they are at.
She said, “I want you guys here. You guys are the best students, and I want you. I want to help you guys as much as I can.”
With this second chance, Brianda was able to begin classes and credit recovery to graduate and walk the stage after senior year.
Other students have been able to make changes academically and even in their personal lives from attending Mcap. Senior Katie observed how the change in her surroundings changed her as an individual.
“I was always being involved with the drama, but, like, here, there’s no drama, and I stopped at the drama, and I got over myself.”
Her priorities in school changed, similar to her classmate Caden, who is also a senior.
He admitted, “I used to just not care about school, like, at all. I didn’t try to get my work done at all. Since I’ve come here, I’ve been doing it. I work. I’m actually trying.”
With the opportunity to start fresh, students have begun setting goals for their future. Katie is thinking of going to school after finishing up at MCAP.
“I’m going to go to MCC for a few years, get a degree in early learning education. And then I’m gonna go up to the University of Iowa to finish it off there.”
During her time at MCAP, Katie has shifted her focus from school drama to what comes afterward, thanks to the help of Miss Kathy. Caden plans on doing something a bit different, with him wanting to find a stable job after school.
“Kathy said she would set up, like, some job opportunities, so I’ll probably do one of those.”
Moving to the school has given each of the students something to be proud of. Katie is pleased with the amount of work she’s been able to catch up on.
“When I started here, I only had four credits last year, and I finished over maybe 12 classes, just by being here, and that’s probably my biggest accomplishment.”
With the same amount of rigor but more resources, Caden has seen similar results and is happy to be passing every class with a grade above a D.
One of the main goals of MCAP is to help students recenter their attention on graduation and nurture their ability to learn. Katie makes note that her teachers ensure her understanding of classwork.
“They sit down with me, and they actually do the work with me, and there are more opportunities for them to do it with me.”
Once again, Caden cherishes the aspect of encouragement and support from Mr. Gehret and Miss Kathy.
“The way they, like, explain stuff is just so easy to understand, and the work isn’t very stressful, because I have a lot of time to do it, and the instructions are super clear.”
At MCAP, Mrs. Kathy recognizes that her students have had other challenges that make it harder for them to go to school at MHS, so she works hard to make sure MCAP is an accessible, safe place for them to be. This includes picking up students when they don’t have a ride, being a trustworthy adult when times get tough, and even allowing pets to be brought to school.
“The main goal is to help increase the graduation rates overall, of course, and that’s the big goal for the district.”
Mr. Gehret works alongside Ms. Kathy to cheer on their students and prepare them for the real world as much as possible.
“When I see kids that, basically, from the get-go, have had 18 things against them that are gonna keep them from graduating, and then they end up graduating, that to me is, like… That’s the end-all be-all, that’s like getting to the top of the mountain.”
Though MCAP is commonly misconceived as the school where “bad” kids go, or a place to be sent to as a form of punishment. It is the complete opposite. It provides an engaging learning environment, with a cozier space and brilliant teachers.
