The Propel Schools charter school organization plans to open its first high school next fall at the site of the former St. Michael School in Munhall.

The high school also would be the first bricks-and-mortar charter high school for mainstream students in Allegheny County outside of the city. Other existing charter choices include cyber schooling and Spectrum, a school for autistic students.

Jeremy Resnick, Propel's founder and executive director, made the announcement yesterday at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for Propel McKeesport, a K-6 school now located in the former St. Mary Catholic School in McKeesport. Propel recently completed $4.4 million in renovations and an addition to the school.

Propel also operates elementary programs in Homestead, Turtle Creek and Kennedy.

The charter for the Propel high school, as yet unnamed, was approved last week by the Steel Valley School Board at the same time the board renewed, for another five years, the charter of Propel Homestead, a K-8 school.

Mr. Resnick noted the high school approval was the first time a Propel charter was approved without a legal battle.

Steel Valley Solicitor Donald Fetzko said the board did not attempt to fight the high school charter request because "it would have been a fruitless effort since we lost the last time."

Plans for the Propel high school in Munhall call for it to start with 100 students in grades 9 and 10 and to add 11 and 12 in subsequent years. The site of the school is close to the Carnegie Library of Homestead.

Propel's elementary programs in Homestead and McKeesport will be logical feeder schools for the high school, said Bob Crytzer, Propel's manager of external relations. In addition, the charter high school would be open to students of other schools.

Soon, $1.4 million in work will be done on the closed Catholic school that will become the Propel high school.

The curriculum will be based on the EdVisions model, a curriculum that has been developed with funding by Bill and Melinda Gates and used to create 40 secondary schools nationwide, according to its Web site.

At the Propel high school, students will each have workstations much like those in an office and will work independently on projects and as part of a team, Mr. Crytzer said.