William McKinley High School

William McKinley High School for the Performing Arts
Type:	Public School
Location:	Lima, Ohio
Episodes:	Pilot - Dreams Come True
Principal:	Will Schuester (current) Sue Sylvester (former) Principal Figgins (former)

William McKinley High School for the Performing Arts is a fictional school and one of the main settings in the show. The school is named after William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who was born in Niles, Ohio. The school is supposed to be located in the city of Lima, Ohio, however no school in Lima is actually named McKinley. In Ohio, there are McKinley High Schools in Canton and Niles.

Many of the location scenes at McKinley were filmed at Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, California and Helen Bernstein High School in Los Angeles, California, though auditorium scenes were filmed at a replica of the Cabrillo auditorium on the Paramount lot.

The school mascot is the Titans, and the school colors are red and black.

In Dreams Come True, the school becomes arts-oriented after Superintendent Harris made a pitch to the school board following New Directions' victory at the 2015 Nationals competition.

Facilities

The school has many classrooms, a faculty lounge, a music room and an auditorium named The Finn Hudson Auditorium. Sports facilities include a football field and track, a baseball field, a gymnasium, and a weight room.

Staff

Current

Name	Occupation
Brad	Pianist for New Directions
Brenda Castle	Astronomy Teacher Badminton Coach
David Martinez	Spanish Teacher
Donna Denny-Brown	Secretary
Eleanor Doosenbury	Geography Teacher
Emma Pillsbury	Guidance Counselor
Henri St. Pierre	Woodshop Teacher
Librarian	School Librarian
Millie Rose	Lunch Lady
Mr. Clippinger	Study Hall Teacher Geometry Teacher
Mr. Kidney	Custodian
Nancy Bletheim	Geometry Teacher
Penny Owen	Nurse
Sam Evans	Director of New Directions
Sheldon Beiste	Football Coach
Roz Washington	Individual Synchronized Swimming Coach Cheerios Coach
Mr. Figgins	Custodian/Janitor
Will Schuester	Principal

• Numerous other teachers have made uncredited non-speaking appearances in the background.

Former

Name	Occupation	Reason
Ken Tanaka	Football coach	Resigned after suffering a nervous breakdown
Sandy Ryerson	Glee Club director/arts administrator	Fired for disorderly conduct
Terri Del Monico	Nurse	Fired for giving students over-the-counter drugs
Lillian Adler	Glee Club director	Possibly for having deceased
Holly Holliday	Substitute (Spanish, sex ed, English, history, glee club)	Left for a more stable job opportunity
Shelby Corcoran	Troubletones Director Substitute Teacher Geometry Teacher	Quit because Quinn was going to tell Figgins about her affair with Puck.
Mrs. Hagberg	Geography Teacher Math Teacher Home Economics Teacher History Teacher	Retired
Finn Hudson	Assistant New Directions Director	Deceased
Rachel Berry	New Directions Directress	Left to pursue her dreams
Kurt Hummel	New Directions Director	Left to pursue his dreams
Blaine Anderson	New Directions Director	Left to pursue his dreams
Sue Sylvester	Cheerios Coach Principal	Fired after so many lies and evidence got discovered

Current Known Students

Name	Year of Graduation
Bobby Surette	Class of 2013-16
Brett Bukowski	Class of 2013-14
De'wanda Umber	Class of 2013-16
Dottie Kazatori	Class of 2016
Jacob Ben Israel	Class of 2013
Jane Hayward	Class of 2015
Joe Hart	Class of 2014
Josh Coleman	Class of 2014
Madison McCarthy	Class of 2016-18
Mason McCarthy	Class of 2016-18
Phil Lipoff	Class of 2013-16
Skylar	Class of 2015
Sugar Motta	Class of 2014
Spencer Porter	Class of 2016-18
Wes Fahey	Class of 2013-14
Myron Muskovitz	Class of 2018-19
Alistair	Class of 2015-16

Graduate Status Unknown

Name	Possible Years of Graduation
Hank Saunders	Class of 2011-13
Jake Puckerman	Class of 2015*
The Mack	Class of 2012-15
Marley Rose	Class of 2015*
Ronnie	Class of 2012-15
Ryder Lynn	Class of 2015*
Scott Cooper	Class of 2011-13
Sheila	Class of 2012-15
Strando	Class of 2011-14
Unique Adams	Class of 2014*

*Transferred; most likely not graduated yet

Known Alumni

Name	Year
April Rhodes	Class of 1990*
Azimio Adams	Class of 2012
Artie Abrams	Class of 2013
Becky Jackson	Class of 2013
Blaine Anderson	Class of 2013
Brittany Pierce	Class of 2013
Bryan Ryan	Class of 1993
David Karofsky	Class of 2012**
Finn Hudson	Class of 2012
Jacob Ben Israel	Class of 2013
Kendra Del Monico	Class of 1992
Kitty Wilde	Class of 2015
Kurt Hummel	Class of 2012
Lauren Zizes	Class of 2013
Roderick Meeks	Class of 2015
Sam Evans	Class of 2013
Shane Tinsley	Class of 2012
Tina Cohen-Chang	Class of 2013
Terri Del Monico	Class of 1994
Will Schuester	Class of 1994
Marley Rose	Class of 2015**
Mercedes Jones	Class of 2012
Mike Chang	Class of 2012
Missy Gunderson	Class of 2012
Noah Puckerman	Class of 2012
Quinn Fabray	Class of 2012
Rachel Berry	Class of 2012
Rick Nelson	Class of 2012
Santana Lopez	Class of 2012
Suzy Pepper	Class of 2010-11
Unique Adams	Class of 2014**
Bassist	Class of 2013
Drummer	Class of 2013
Guitarist	Class of 2013

*Didn't graduate; dropped out **Transferred; graduated from a different school

Extracurricular Activities

The school's Glee Club was called New Directions, and ran for four years (from 2009 to 2013, 2014 - present) and in their first year, they won Sectionals but lost Regionals to Vocal Adrenaline. The next year they tied with The Warblers at Sectionals and beat them and Aural Intensity at Regionals, but failed to place at Nationals. For there third year, they blazed through Sectionals and Regionals, and also prevailed in defeating Vocal Adrenaline for first place. For their final year, they lost Sectionals, but, due to a technicality, they were allowed to advance to Regionals, which they won, and at the 2013 Nationals, they lost to Throat Explosion. Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel, two graduated members, rebooted the glee club (with the same name) the next year (which is 2014). It was later seen in the second part of the series finale (Dreams Come True) that the New Directions won the 2015 Nationals, their second victory ever. This victory assured New Directions' permanent status in the school and even changed the school's main orientation: the Arts, as said by Superintendent Harris. In consequence, three more glee clubs were created (which includes the revival of The Troubletones), Will becomes the new Principal, and Sam is appointed as the new director of the club, which now has more than thirty members.

The cheerleading squad are called the Cheerios and are very successful, having won Nationals seven times in a row. Unlike the cheerleaders, the football team wasn't successful, until Coach Shannon Beiste came and taught the team about winning. The school also has a basketball and hockey team but there is little known about them. We do know that Dave Karofsky was on the hockey team and Finn, Matt, Puck, Ryder, and Jake are/were on the basketball team.

Active
Name	Current Leader/s	Description
McKinley Titans	Coach: Sheldon Beiste	Football Team
Cheerios	Coach: Roz Washington Captain: Bree	Cheerleading Squad; Perennial National Contenders.
A/V Club	Former Leader: Lauren Zizes	A club for background designs and props
Jazz Band		Often provides accompaniment for glee club performances
Basketball Team		Jake and Ryder joined this club after the disbandment of New Directions following the loss at the 2012 Sectionals.
Rugby Team	Josh Coleman
New Directions	Director: Sam Evans Former Directors: Will Schuester, Rachel Berry, Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel Former Assistant Director: Finn Hudson	Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel rebooted the glee club after being disbanded for more than a year, following the loss at the 2013 Nationals.
Wrestling Team		Lauren was a member of this club.
Thunderclap		The school yearbook.
The Muckraker		The school newspaper.
Synchronized Swim Team	Coach: Roz Washington	Sam was a member of this club.
80's Club
The Secret Society of Superheroes Club	Adviser: Sheldon Beiste Former Leader: Blaine Anderson	A club that wears costumes and have aliases, which main purpose is to fight injustice.
Superhero Sidekicks Appreciation Club		A club started to show appreciation for sidekicks. Blaine was a member.
Floor Hockey		Unique joins in Swan Song.
Interfaith Paintball		Paintball team. A club where people of different religions can shoot at each other safely. Probably started as a safe way to deal with anger or discrimination between different religious groups at the school. Joe joins in Swan Song.
McKinley High Student Council	Former President: Blaine Anderson Brittany Pierce Former Vice President: Sam Evans	Tina and Sugar were members of the Student Council, until Sugar left it without explanation, and Blaine, Sam and Tina graduated in the fifth season.
Animal Husbandry Club		Holly gives them a lesson in New Directions.
Tea Party Patriot Club	President: Gabriel	Claimed to be the most popular club of the school.
The Troubletones	Former Director: Shelby Corcoran Former President: Mercedes Jones	All girls glee club. Originally made for Sugar Motta; disbanded in Hold on to Sixteen after losing Sectionals. Revived by Will in Dreams Come True after McKinley becomes arts oriented.
Duly Noted		All boys glee club. Founded by Will after McKinley became an arts school.
Junior Glee Club		Glee club for underclassmen. Founded by Will in Dreams Come True.
Inactive
Celibacy Club	Former Advisor: Emma Pillsbury Former President: Quinn Former Sub Advisor: Rachel	A club for students to promote celibacy.
Too Young to Be Bitter Club	Tina Cohen-Chang	A club for girls who were single, and were "bitter" about it. It should be noted that the club was shown again in Love, Love, Love with Tina being the only member left.
Old Maid's Club	Former Advisor: Sue Sylvester	Used to convince Rachel (Hell-O).
Badminton Team	Former Coach: Brenda Castle
Heckling Club	Sue	A club started by Sue. Their job is to be rude during New Directions performances.
The God Squad	Former Leader: Mercedes Jones	A club for Christian students.
Muslim Students Club		Rachel joined this club during her freshman or sophomore year.
Speech Club
Mock United Nations Club
Renaissance Club
Black Student Union
Unwed Mothership Connection		A club for pregnant students.
The Bully Whips	Former Co-founders: Santana Lopez and David Karofsky	Protects students (specifically Kurt) from bullies, To promote Karofsky and Santana to the Junior Prom.
Hockey Team
Golf Team		One member of this club asked Santana to join after rumors about her sexuality spread in I Kissed A Girl.

Trivia

• Matthew Morrison paid a visit to the real McKinley High School in October 2010 as part of a campaign rally for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.
• The school hosted the show choir Sectionals in 2011 for the first time since 1963. (Hold on to Sixteen)
• In the original script, it was called Harrison High. Source
• According to Will the glee club was established in 1954. (Britney 2.0)
• New New York was the first episode in the show's history to not feature any scenes in McKinley High.
• This school shares a name with William McKinley High School, the main setting of comedy Freaks and Geeks and the movie Final Destination 3 (Cory Monteith appeared in that movie, though it was a small role).

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