Talk to me about McKinley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKinley is NOT trying to be TJ or Bronx school of science and failing. It is trying to be McKinley Tech and succeeding. It is a school accepting of motivated students of varied levels of prior preparation and achievement with a range of opportunities to explore interest in and (for some areas) earn industry certifications in STEM areas. It offers a lot of help landing field specific internships and in engineering very strong extracurricular offerings (I.e. robot and EV car teams that travel nationally and internationally). It is a place that both celebrates the student who through hard work earns a 2 on an AP and the achievement of a stronger student who earns a 5. It also provides exposure to STEM fields that can help both a student going to colllege immediately and a student who isn’t. For example in biotech students prepare for the BACE exam that certified lab techs. This provides a straight out of HS pathway to a decently paying job, exposure to topics that will help in college level lab science classes, and a pathway to a non-scut work college work study job or college internship. It is OK to wish for a TJ style school in DC but please do not fault McKinley for not being what it has no intention of being.

If your student is incredibly lazy and will do a minimum amount of work and not reach their potential if not surrounded by mostly above grade level students then maybe they won’t thrive at McKinley. But if you have a strong student academically that will work hard McKinley will provide challenge for them to excel.

How can McKinley do this? Does it track, with high-level students separated and put it in their own class? I thought that wasn't allowed in DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKinley is NOT trying to be TJ or Bronx school of science and failing. It is trying to be McKinley Tech and succeeding. It is a school accepting of motivated students of varied levels of prior preparation and achievement with a range of opportunities to explore interest in and (for some areas) earn industry certifications in STEM areas. It offers a lot of help landing field specific internships and in engineering very strong extracurricular offerings (I.e. robot and EV car teams that travel nationally and internationally). It is a place that both celebrates the student who through hard work earns a 2 on an AP and the achievement of a stronger student who earns a 5. It also provides exposure to STEM fields that can help both a student going to colllege immediately and a student who isn’t. For example in biotech students prepare for the BACE exam that certified lab techs. This provides a straight out of HS pathway to a decently paying job, exposure to topics that will help in college level lab science classes, and a pathway to a non-scut work college work study job or college internship. It is OK to wish for a TJ style school in DC but please do not fault McKinley for not being what it has no intention of being.

If your student is incredibly lazy and will do a minimum amount of work and not reach their potential if not surrounded by mostly above grade level students then maybe they won’t thrive at McKinley. But if you have a strong student academically that will work hard McKinley will provide challenge for them to excel.

How can McKinley do this? Does it track, with high-level students separated and put it in their own class? I thought that wasn't allowed in DCPS?

Sure looks like they track: https://mckinleytech.org/m/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKinley is NOT trying to be TJ or Bronx school of science and failing. It is trying to be McKinley Tech and succeeding. It is a school accepting of motivated students of varied levels of prior preparation and achievement with a range of opportunities to explore interest in and (for some areas) earn industry certifications in STEM areas. It offers a lot of help landing field specific internships and in engineering very strong extracurricular offerings (I.e. robot and EV car teams that travel nationally and internationally). It is a place that both celebrates the student who through hard work earns a 2 on an AP and the achievement of a stronger student who earns a 5. It also provides exposure to STEM fields that can help both a student going to colllege immediately and a student who isn’t. For example in biotech students prepare for the BACE exam that certified lab techs. This provides a straight out of HS pathway to a decently paying job, exposure to topics that will help in college level lab science classes, and a pathway to a non-scut work college work study job or college internship. It is OK to wish for a TJ style school in DC but please do not fault McKinley for not being what it has no intention of being.

If your student is incredibly lazy and will do a minimum amount of work and not reach their potential if not surrounded by mostly above grade level students then maybe they won’t thrive at McKinley. But if you have a strong student academically that will work hard McKinley will provide challenge for them to excel.

How can McKinley do this? Does it track, with high-level students separated and put it in their own class? I thought that wasn't allowed in DCPS?

Sure looks like they track: https://mckinleytech.org/m/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

I don't understand your posting the link. It doesn't indicate they track at all.

Kids can accelerate in Math starting in MS. There are kids that finish Algebra II in 8th grade, and can take Pre-Calc in 9th. That is not McKinley doing anything other than placing them in the appropriate math class based on what they have completed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKinley is NOT trying to be TJ or Bronx school of science and failing. It is trying to be McKinley Tech and succeeding. It is a school accepting of motivated students of varied levels of prior preparation and achievement with a range of opportunities to explore interest in and (for some areas) earn industry certifications in STEM areas. It offers a lot of help landing field specific internships and in engineering very strong extracurricular offerings (I.e. robot and EV car teams that travel nationally and internationally). It is a place that both celebrates the student who through hard work earns a 2 on an AP and the achievement of a stronger student who earns a 5. It also provides exposure to STEM fields that can help both a student going to colllege immediately and a student who isn’t. For example in biotech students prepare for the BACE exam that certified lab techs. This provides a straight out of HS pathway to a decently paying job, exposure to topics that will help in college level lab science classes, and a pathway to a non-scut work college work study job or college internship. It is OK to wish for a TJ style school in DC but please do not fault McKinley for not being what it has no intention of being.

If your student is incredibly lazy and will do a minimum amount of work and not reach their potential if not surrounded by mostly above grade level students then maybe they won’t thrive at McKinley. But if you have a strong student academically that will work hard McKinley will provide challenge for them to excel.

How can McKinley do this? Does it track, with high-level students separated and put it in their own class? I thought that wasn't allowed in DCPS?

Sure looks like they track: https://mckinleytech.org/m/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=417594&type=d

I don't understand your posting the link. It doesn't indicate they track at all.

Kids can accelerate in Math starting in MS. There are kids that finish Algebra II in 8th grade, and can take Pre-Calc in 9th. That is not McKinley doing anything other than placing them in the appropriate math class based on what they have completed.

The link indicates that they offer Algebra I, and also Honors Algebra I, a separate class “designed to challenge gifted math students.” Geometry and also Honors Geometry. And so on.

[Anonymous]

McKinley offers regular and honors level for many 9th grade classes. For example honors and regular bio; honors and regular English. So a student could take: 9th honor’s bio, 9th honor’s Chem, 10th AP bio or AP chem, and 12th AP chem, AP physics or AP bio. A different student could take regular bio, regular chem, regular physics and environmental science, anatomy or forensics.

In history a student could take regular level of all their histories or the AP level of US history, and world history.

[Anonymous]

FWIW I graduated from Tech in 2022 and I could not recommend it enough if your student is interested in engineering. We have an entire building dedicated to the robotics lab and have equipment that I have not even seen much less had access to at my current big 10 college. The sheer depth of hands-on equipment and technology exposure that McKinley has is unrivaled probably at least north to Philly, maybe even NYC. I'm talking laser cutters, waterjets, CNC machines, enterprise manufacturing grade 3D printers, machine shops, the whole works. The engineering department head Kenneth Lesley is the greatest mentor that I have ever had in my entire life. Now this view is fairly narrow to students who already know that they want to do physical engineering (mechanical, electrical, etc) in college, but there is truly no comparison to the tools and resources available to kids who are interested in engineering or making things at McKinley Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I graduated from Tech in 2022 and I could not recommend it enough if your student is interested in engineering. We have an entire building dedicated to the robotics lab and have equipment that I have not even seen much less had access to at my current big 10 college. The sheer depth of hands-on equipment and technology exposure that McKinley has is unrivaled probably at least north to Philly, maybe even NYC. I'm talking laser cutters, waterjets, CNC machines, enterprise manufacturing grade 3D printers, machine shops, the whole works. The engineering department head Kenneth Lesley is the greatest mentor that I have ever had in my entire life. Now this view is fairly narrow to students who already know that they want to do physical engineering (mechanical, electrical, etc) in college, but there is truly no comparison to the tools and resources available to kids who are interested in engineering or making things at McKinley Tech.

Thank you! And how do you feel about your other teachers? Were they supportive? And the other students? Basically, I am wondering if the school felt like a nice place to be everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I graduated from Tech in 2022 and I could not recommend it enough if your student is interested in engineering. We have an entire building dedicated to the robotics lab and have equipment that I have not even seen much less had access to at my current big 10 college. The sheer depth of hands-on equipment and technology exposure that McKinley has is unrivaled probably at least north to Philly, maybe even NYC. I'm talking laser cutters, waterjets, CNC machines, enterprise manufacturing grade 3D printers, machine shops, the whole works. The engineering department head Kenneth Lesley is the greatest mentor that I have ever had in my entire life. Now this view is fairly narrow to students who already know that they want to do physical engineering (mechanical, electrical, etc) in college, but there is truly no comparison to the tools and resources available to kids who are interested in engineering or making things at McKinley Tech.

Thank you! And how do you feel about your other teachers? Were they supportive? And the other students? Basically, I am wondering if the school felt like a nice place to be everyday.

Nice? I mean…it’s high school. Manage your expectations.
—mom of three in high school

[Anonymous]

Nice? I mean…it’s high school. Manage your expectations.
—mom of three in high school

You are a troll. I used to be a high school teacher, and this question is a great question. Some schools have a better culture than others, some schools have a lot of bullying, etc. Some kids report loving their school culture, and some hate it. Also, this question was posed to the person who actually went to McKinley, so why are you answering? You have three kids--you have nothing better to do?

[Anonymous]

Dude 2022 graduate let me just tell you that your message alone raised my sense of what McKinley can do. My kid is in 8th and still writing up applications. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anyone attend and can give impressions from the McKinley STEMfest open house today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone attend and can give impressions from the McKinley STEMfest open house today?

I did. The kids pretty much ran it, and they were informed, enthusiastic, and did a great job. This is the second McKinley event I’ve been to, and those kids seriously impress. Of course, the best of the best are probably chosen to represent the school, as all schools do that at open houses, BUT McKinley consistently has more kids at these events than I’ve seen at any other open house. There are A LOT of kids, and they run show. The projects they produce are clearly rigorous and demand high creativity, ingenuity, intellect, and time. The teachers I spoke to were clearly invested and enthusiastic as well. The facilities, while not new, are sparkling (I didn’t pop into bathrooms, so can’t speak to those). The lab rooms I saw seemed well stocked with equipment—they had a professional vibe. The classrooms have a lot of light, but the hallways don’t. The facilities are massive. The vibe I get from McKinley is that it’s a fantastic place for a kid if they want to do the kind of work required—every student has to pick a track. My impression is that it’s a school for serious, capable students who want to be involved in projects and work closely with other students and teachers. Oh, and there is a dress code, so if your kid doesn’t like that, they should think about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone attend and can give impressions from the McKinley STEMfest open house today?

I did. The kids pretty much ran it, and they were informed, enthusiastic, and did a great job. This is the second McKinley event I’ve been to, and those kids seriously impress. Of course, the best of the best are probably chosen to represent the school, as all schools do that at open houses, BUT McKinley consistently has more kids at these events than I’ve seen at any other open house. There are A LOT of kids, and they run show. The projects they produce are clearly rigorous and demand high creativity, ingenuity, intellect, and time. The teachers I spoke to were clearly invested and enthusiastic as well. The facilities, while not new, are sparkling (I didn’t pop into bathrooms, so can’t speak to those). The lab rooms I saw seemed well stocked with equipment—they had a professional vibe. The classrooms have a lot of light, but the hallways don’t. The facilities are massive. The vibe I get from McKinley is that it’s a fantastic place for a kid if they want to do the kind of work required—every student has to pick a track. My impression is that it’s a school for serious, capable students who want to be involved in projects and work closely with other students and teachers. Oh, and there is a dress code, so if your kid doesn’t like that, they should think about that.

100%. I've also been really impressed with the open houses at McKinley. It was well-organized, the kids were friendly and helpful, the panelists reflected exactly what a previous poster said in terms of student body: several Ivy League students, but also students who started in STEM and moved into the arts, and a student who graduated as a lab tech and works at a company where she had an internship during HS. It's not a one-size-fits-all pressure-cooker. I'm impressed with the opportunities the kids seem to have through corporate partnerships, facilities, etc. and I've heard lots of good feedback from current families I know.

You don't necessarily get a sense from an open house what day to day life is really like in a school, but you can tell a lot about the culture of the place—and McKinley knows who they are, what they can offer, and what they expect of students. I'd be thrilled if my kid gets in and wants to go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW I graduated from Tech in 2022 and I could not recommend it enough if your student is interested in engineering. We have an entire building dedicated to the robotics lab and have equipment that I have not even seen much less had access to at my current big 10 college. The sheer depth of hands-on equipment and technology exposure that McKinley has is unrivaled probably at least north to Philly, maybe even NYC. I'm talking laser cutters, waterjets, CNC machines, enterprise manufacturing grade 3D printers, machine shops, the whole works. The engineering department head Kenneth Lesley is the greatest mentor that I have ever had in my entire life. Now this view is fairly narrow to students who already know that they want to do physical engineering (mechanical, electrical, etc) in college, but there is truly no comparison to the tools and resources available to kids who are interested in engineering or making things at McKinley Tech.

Good to hear this. Didn’t Ken Lesley retire? I hope the robotics program does not fall apart after he left. He has been talking about retiring for many years now but I am not sure if he is still there or not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone attend and can give impressions from the McKinley STEMfest open house today?

I did. The kids pretty much ran it, and they were informed, enthusiastic, and did a great job. This is the second McKinley event I’ve been to, and those kids seriously impress. Of course, the best of the best are probably chosen to represent the school, as all schools do that at open houses, BUT McKinley consistently has more kids at these events than I’ve seen at any other open house. There are A LOT of kids, and they run show. The projects they produce are clearly rigorous and demand high creativity, ingenuity, intellect, and time. The teachers I spoke to were clearly invested and enthusiastic as well. The facilities, while not new, are sparkling (I didn’t pop into bathrooms, so can’t speak to those). The lab rooms I saw seemed well stocked with equipment—they had a professional vibe. The classrooms have a lot of light, but the hallways don’t. The facilities are massive. The vibe I get from McKinley is that it’s a fantastic place for a kid if they want to do the kind of work required—every student has to pick a track. My impression is that it’s a school for serious, capable students who want to be involved in projects and work closely with other students and teachers. Oh, and there is a dress code, so if your kid doesn’t like that, they should think about that.

100%. I've also been really impressed with the open houses at McKinley. It was well-organized, the kids were friendly and helpful, the panelists reflected exactly what a previous poster said in terms of student body: several Ivy League students, but also students who started in STEM and moved into the arts, and a student who graduated as a lab tech and works at a company where she had an internship during HS. It's not a one-size-fits-all pressure-cooker. I'm impressed with the opportunities the kids seem to have through corporate partnerships, facilities, etc. and I've heard lots of good feedback from current families I know.

You don't necessarily get a sense from an open house what day to day life is really like in a school, but you can tell a lot about the culture of the place—and McKinley knows who they are, what they can offer, and what they expect of students. I'd be thrilled if my kid gets in and wants to go!

I agree with your take, and I like how you point out that it’s “not a one size fits all pressure cooker.” McKinley has A LOT to offer kids who want to do more/achieve high, but some students who are good students but just want a unique high school experience and are not necessarily looking to go to med school or MIT can also find their place there. At least, that’s my impression.