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McKinley Senior Magnet principal reports rising outcomes, dropout work and expanded career programs
Summary
Principal Webb told the board McKinley Senior Magnet High School has improved several academic indicators, expanded career and magnet programs, and reduced the number of students the school could not locate; he outlined dropout‑reduction and dual‑enrollment efforts and invited board members to visit.
Principal Michael (Dr.) Webb presented McKinley Senior Magnet High School’s academic and program updates to the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, describing gains in several measures and outlining work to address dropout and college‑and‑career transitions.
Webb opened by describing school culture with the line used by staff and students: “we expect greatness at 212 degrees,” an image the principal used to describe the school’s push for stronger results. Webb said McKinley — established in 1907 and described by the principal as a generational institution in Baton Rouge — added magnet status and that ninth‑grade enrollment grew as magnet students chose McKinley for arts, gifted and talented programs.
Key statistics Webb reported included changes in the district accountability (SPS) index and other indicators: the transcript shows SPS increasing from 26.7 to 29.6 year‑to‑year with mixed changes in progress and diploma strength; Webb also highlighted growth in WorkKeys results, noting silver or better rose from about 28% last year to over 40% currently. Webb said the school had tracked delinquent dropout leads: when he arrived the school was looking for 132 missing students; the number was reduced to 70 and staff now know where those students are and can provide targeted outreach.
Program highlights: McKinley offers arts pathways (dance, theater, music, visual art), automotive internships, a LA Pre‑Educator pathway enabling students to earn postsecondary credit and partnerships tied to dual enrollment and workforce opportunities. Webb said students have internship offers (for example in New Orleans) and that the school added a GED program on campus to support older students.
Board discussion included questions about dropout‑reduction methods — Webb described outreach that included social‑media searches, family and community contacts and house visits — and about the school’s move to a temporary site at Kenilworth while the McKinley campus is renovated. Board members praised McKinley’s culture shift and instructional focus; several noted they have visited the school and commended Webb’s team.
Webb invited board members and the public to visit McKinley and distributed McKinley shirts to the board at the end of the presentation.
