Each year, a cabinet made up of 20-25 high school students—at least one from each high school—meets monthly with Chancellor Rhee. The students share with her their opinions on schools, ways to improve DCPS, and how she can be doing a better job. Since the Chancellor—and all the other adults at DCPS—are working for students, it is important that student voices be heard on an ongoing basis.

And she takes their advice. Over the last two years, the high school cabinet has given the Chancellor advice that she has acted on--about academics, food, school safety, the press, and more.

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A HIGH SCHOOL CABINET MEMBER?

• Have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian
• Commit to attend Cabinet meetings. They are scheduled from 4 to 5 pm for the following Thursdays: December 17th, January 14th, February 11th, March 11th, April 8th, May 13th
• Participate fully!

HOW DO I APPLY?

If you are a tenth or an eleventh grader at a DC public high school, you can apply to be a member of the cabinet. (In past years, each high school principal was asked to choose a senior to join the cabinet. This year, we’re asking tenth and eleventh graders to apply directly.)

Fill out the application and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax it to 202.442.5026, attention: Jonathan Chen. The application has three parts:

• Your name, school, and other contact information
• A signoff from your principal or English teacher
• Two questions. Answer each question in one short paragraph.

McKinley Technology High School
November 12, 2009
6:00-8:00 pm

In 2007, the McKinley community came together to rewrite its Vision and Mission. After months of collaboration the community defined where it wanted to be by 2013.

Our Vision:
The Vision of McKinley Technology High School is to become the highest performing high school in the nation through the integration of a rigorous college preparatory and STEM curricula, taught by master teachers, that prepares students for the challenges of the ever-changing and competitive global market.

Last year we worked diligently in the first year of the Vision to add rigor to the program adding: AVID, SAT Prep, Global Perspectives, Economics, Non-Fiction Reading. Internet courses and Lab Research. We also increased our AP offerings and added Engineering to the program. To move our teachers to master teachers we brought in 4 instructional coaches and established the weekly Pedagogy Messenger.

We redesigned our admissions process and recruited students from more than 45 middle schools around the district. Our results are showing: 

• We have made AYP for 5 straight years and have seen increases on our AP performance and SAT scores
• Our college acceptance rate is among the highest in DCPS
• More than 80% of our seniors are in internships
• Since 2006 DC CAS scores have increased in math by more than 20% and in Reading by 8%

Our focus in 09-10 is to shift our instructional practice, as this year is the year of the Master Teacher! Come support our continued march towards our Vision on Thursday, November 12, 2009 in the library at 6pm. We will have snacks and beverages and great dialogue about how we can support our positive direction!!!!