A method of scheduling high-priority packets in a metro Ethernet switch is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of determining a maximum queuing delay allowed for at least two high-priority packets in an output queue in the switch; determining which one of the at least two high-priority packets has the smallest maximum queuing delay allowed; and scheduling the one of the at least two high-priority packets determined to have the smallest maximum queuing delay allowed before the remaining ones of the at least two high-priority packets.