Description of themes/programs:  Students who are accepted into McKinley participate in a Comprehensive High School which offers a trade certificate in one of nine shop areas. These diverse shop areas lead to opportunities for the development of a specific goal-oriented career path.  All students should attend a school that will enable them to be both successful and enjoy their educational program. Because of this, it is extremely important that all applicants to McKinley H.S should have a real interest in the vocational choices offered.

It has been found that students who have little or no interest in vocational education are generally not successful in completing the course work of study offered. In order to receive a shop certificate, students must take a career sequence that is four years in length in addition to the regular course work required in all academic schools. The following are the list of technology areas: Advertising Art, Aquatic Ecology, Horticulture, Machine Tool Technology, Printing, and four Building Trades: Electrical Technology, Carpentry, Plumbing, and Sheet Metal Technology.

Dress code:  McKinley High School follows the Buffalo School District’s dress code policy in addition to a dress code for vocational schools.  Students are expected to dress in an appropriate manner.  In a vocational high school setting, shops have requirements which are based on safety and practicality.  Clothing that may be appropriate for casual beachwear and picnics are not permitted.  No tank tops, mini skirts, shorts or any other clothing considered to be distractive.  Jackets and outerwear should be placed in individual lockers upon entrance to the building. Appropriate footwear is critical to shop safety and practicality.  Footwear must be closed and cover the entire foot. Any violation will result in a change of clothing or parent contact will be made. 

Admission requirements: While in eighth grade, students apply to McKinley.  Typically 1500 students apply each year for specific trades and approximately 350 (23%) are accepted.  Each year a handful of students are accepted into McKinley under the Comprehensive Choice Program in which students are not exposed to a vocational trade rather take a strictly academic program.  Acceptance decisions are based on three factors (four if applying to Advertising Arts) 7^th grade final averages (core subject areas); 8^th grade 1^st ten week averages (core subject), teacher evaluation (numerical evaluation on students effort, attitude, study skills, initiative, and cooperation.  Prospective Advertising Art students are also required to submit a portfolio of their work, participate in an interview conducted by the instructors of the program, and take an Art Skills test. 

Graduation requirements:  Each student is required to earn at least 22 units for graduation from McKinley High School.  This is in accordance with the New York State Department of Education.  (1 unit is equivalent to 1 year of study)

4 units = English, Social Studies

3 units = Mathematics, Science

2 units = Physical Education (0.5 units per year)

1 unit = Foreign Language, Art / Music

½ unit = Health, Career and Finance Management

3 units = Elective Credits

(This requirement is usually met via a sequence in Career and Technical coursework.)

Advanced Placement: In addition to receiving career and technical training, students are able to prepare for college by taking a standard college entrance program.  Students may begin earning high school credits in middle school through an accelerated program in mathematics, science, and/or foreign language.  Students who advance in these disciplines do so at the appropriate academic level.  At present McKinley offers six Advanced Placement Courses across curriculum areas; English Language, English Literature, US Government and Politics, US History, Studio in Art, and Environmental Science.