Our Insights
What’s Special
Array of career programs and business partnerships
The Downside
Many students struggle academically
The only Career and Technical Education (CTE) school on Staten Island, Ralph R. McKee High School, located on a hill overlooking the harbor, is intended for students who do not intend to go to college as well as those who do.
The website urges students to consider McKee “whether your dream is to someday design the most iconic building on Staten Island, to start your own business, to join Local 20, or to become the very first member of your family to graduate from college.” Longtime principal Sharon Henry has said described the school as being for “the great middle.”
Every student at the school enrolls in one of seven career oriented programs: architectural drafting, automotive technology, carpentry and construction, electrical engineering, graphic design, software engineering and a business program called Virtual Enterprise. To graduate, students must take a full academic program as well as 12 semesters of CTE classes. A number of Staten Island businesses offer paid internships to students.
In the school’s Quality Review students reported that math, English and social students classes were the strongest subjects at the school. McKee offers few Advanced Placement classes and students may also take College Now classes for College credit.
AVID, a growing national college preparatory program, plays a key role in the effort to boost academics at McKee. AVID students take classes together and receive extra support in problem-solving, note-taking and other academic skills.
An educator who visited the school highlighted McKee’ positive learning environment, praising the school for providing students with a variety of paths for forming relationships within the building. The review was less enthusiastic about the quality of some classes, pointing up instances where students didn’t have materials, became confused or lost interest. In a survey, students highlighted similar problems, giving their classmates lower than average marks for classroom behavior and attentiveness.
McKee offers a large number of interscholastic sports teams including cricket, double Dutch, fencing, gulf and rugby as well as the more common athletics.
After experiencing a drop in enrollment in the early teens, the student population at McKee has rebounded. It has far more boys than girls.
The school traces its beginning to the start of what was then called vocational education on Staten Island’s North Shore around 1920. McKee moved into its current building and acquired its current name in 1935.
Special Education: As many as a third of McKee students have special needs. About half of those students spend much of their school day in team teaching classes with a mix of general education and special education students. McKee also has some self-contained special education classes. Special education students may enroll in all of McKee’s career programs and are eligible for internships, according to the Comprehensive Educational Plan
Admissions: When applying to McKee, students must select the program that interests them and may apply to one or more. Most of the programs choose students using the educational option method that admits students with a range of academic backgrounds, however a couple screen students based on their middle school records. Programs generally have some unfilled seats and accept a small number of incoming 10th graders. Set aside seats for students with disabilities do fill up in some programs. The school is open to any New York City student. (Gail Robinson, from DOE material, September 2018)
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School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Advanced Courses
Calculus
Computer Science
Physics
Advanced Foreign Language
Not offered in 2021-21AP/IB Arts, English, History or Social Science
AP/IB Math or Science
Music
College Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryRalph R. Mckee Career and Technical Education High School (R60A)
Program Description:
Students accepted into Ralph R. McKee High School will be enrolled in one of our dynamic Career and Technical Education programs beginning their sophomore year. Informed by an in-depth year-long exploration of all of our CTE programs over the course of their freshmen year, students will indicate their preference of coursework in one of the following programs: Digital Media & Design, Game Design & Coding, Electrical Installation, Architectural Drafting, Carpentry & Building Trades, Audio Engineering, Graphic Design, and Automotive. Each CTE program requires students to complete 12 credits over the course of their sophomore, junior and senior year. Additionally, students will be eligible for area-specific certifications through industry assessments (recognized by all major companies) and 54 hours of Work Based Learning experiences making them top candidates for employment upon graduation. Our focus of offering students multiple pathways upon graduation includes not only preparing students to enter the work force, but simultaneously preparing them for post-secondary opportunities, such as college or university, through Advanced Placement and college level courses.
Mckee Scholars Academy (R60B)
Program Description:
The McKee Scholars Academy (MSA) is an elite screened academic program designed to provide students with an accelerated path focused on college readiness through advanced placement and college level courses throughout multiple disciplines. In addition to rigorous academic coursework, students within the McKee Scholars Academy will complete a full sequence in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of their choosing, be eligible for paid internships as early as their sophomore year and engage in an individualized four year mentorship program.
Ralph McKee CTE High School ASD Nest Program (R60H)
Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High D75 Inclusion Program (R60U)
Ralph R. Mckee Career and Technical Education High School ACES 15:1 Program (R60Y)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryAdvanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Language and Composition, AP United States History, Chemistry (Advanced Science), ELA (College Course [Uncredited]), Physics (Advanced Science)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
Girls PSAL teams
Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Fencing, Golf, Handball, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball
Coed PSAL teams
Golf, Stunt
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
290 St Marks Place
Staten Island
NY
10301
Buses: S40, S42, S44, S46, S48, S51, S52, S61, S62, S66, S74, S76, S78, S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96, S98
Contact
Other Details
This school is in its own building.
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