Overview
McKinley High School is a public secondary school in Buffalo, New York, serving students in grades 9 through 12 [1][3]. It is published on the Buffalo Public Schools website as “PS 305 McKinley High School” [1], and it appears in New York State Education Department (NYSED) records under the legal name “McKinley Vocational High School” [2]. The campus address is 1500 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14207, and the main office telephone number is 716.816.4480 [1][3].
The principal is Terence Jenkins [1][2][3]. Assistant principals listed on the school’s website are Amy Chase, Nicole Dias, Dr. Carlos Wallace, and Gregory Landries [1][3]. School hours are listed as 8:25 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. [1][3].
This profile covers the Buffalo Public Schools campus at that address. Because “McKinley” is a common school name, readers should confirm they are looking at the Buffalo school, which state records identify by BEDS code 140600010098 and institution ID 800000052924 [2].
Location and School Identity
McKinley High School is located at 1500 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, New York, in Erie County [1][3]. The school’s website lists a fax number of 716.871.6086 alongside the main office number [1][3]. Its pages are hosted on the Buffalo Public Schools domain, and NYSED lists the same district website as the school’s official web address, which supports the school’s affiliation with Buffalo Public Schools as its governing district [1][2].
Two names appear in official sources and both refer to this single school:
- PS 305 McKinley High School — the name used on the Buffalo Public Schools website, including in page titles, the address block, and school-hours information [1][3].
- McKinley Vocational High School — the legal name recorded in the NYSED school profile, which also lists the principal as Terence Jenkins and the BEDS code as 140600010098 [2].
The “PS 305” prefix is a local school designation used by the district, while the state record uses the longer legal name [1][2]. Neither name should be confused with similarly named schools in other districts or states; the identifying details in this profile — the Elmwood Avenue address, the Buffalo Public Schools affiliation, and the BEDS and institution identifiers — apply only to this campus [1][2][3].
Grades and Academic Programs
McKinley High School serves grades 9 through 12 [1][3]. Its state legal name includes the word “vocational,” which indicates a vocational or technical designation in NYSED records [2].
The school’s official website publishes dedicated sections or pages for the following program and service areas [1]:
- Building Trades
- Electrical Technology
- Horticulture
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Printing
- JROTC
- Connexus
- Extended Learning Time
- Native American Resource Program (NARP)
The same site also lists pages for the Library Media Center, Guidance, Counseling, a CSE (Committee on Special Education) chairperson, and Physical Education, Athletics and Clubs [1].
These entries show which program and service areas the school publishes information about. The retrieved pages do not describe curriculum sequences, course requirements, industry credentials or certifications, program eligibility rules, or which offerings are available in any particular school year [1]. Families should treat the school’s website and the district as the authoritative source for current course offerings and should not assume that a listed program is open to every student or offered every term.
Enrollment and School Data
NYSED reported a total enrollment of 808 students for the 2024-25 school year [2]. This is a school-level figure for that specific reporting period. Enrollment can change from year to year, and the figure should not be read as a current-year count without checking the state data site again [2].
NYSED’s profile identifies the support model for this district and school as Comprehensive Support and Improvement [2]. In New York State’s accountability framework, this designation reflects state identification based on performance and other indicators; it is a status reported by the state, not a description of individual students or a statement about any single program [2].
The NYSED profile page also presents school climate indicators, including the percentage of students who attended school on days the school was open, the student suspension rate, the percentage of students absent 10 percent or more of the days they were enrolled, and a four-year graduation rate [2]. The retrieved content describes these measures but does not include their numeric values, so no figures for them are reported here [2].
When reading school data, note the population and period involved. A school-level percentage applies only to the students enrolled at that school during the stated year, and a single metric such as an attendance or suspension rate does not by itself establish overall school quality or explain why any outcome occurs [2].
Admissions and Enrollment
The sources examined for this profile do not describe McKinley High School’s application process, eligibility rules, deadlines, or whether any specific program requires a separate application, audition, or prerequisite [1][2][3]. Because Buffalo Public Schools operates the campus [1][2], families should contact the district’s enrollment or student placement office, or the school’s main office at 716.816.4480 [1][2], to confirm current requirements, timelines, and program-specific admissions steps.
A school’s physical location does not by itself establish attendance eligibility or program eligibility. Living near 1500 Elmwood Avenue, or being assigned to a nearby school, is not evidence of eligibility for McKinley High School or for any of its listed program areas [1][2][3]. Enrollment rules, boundaries, and program admissions can change; verify them with the district and the school rather than relying on this profile.
Student Services and Family Information
The school’s website provides sections for a range of family-facing policies and resources, including the Code of Conduct, the bullying policy, the gender identity policy, drinking water testing, student safety and security, school supply lists, the lunch menu, and wellness team meetings [1]. It also lists Counseling, Guidance, a CSE chairperson, and the Library Media Center [1].
The presence of these sections indicates that the school publishes information on these topics. The retrieved pages do not include the text of those policies, the scope of counseling or special education services, staffing levels, transportation arrangements, or language-access provisions [1]. Readers who need details about counseling, special education referrals, accessibility, or family supports should contact the school directly at the published main office number [1].
History and Community Context
The sources examined for this profile do not provide a founding date, historical milestones, or a documented community history for McKinley High School. What can be stated from official records is that the school operates under a vocational designation in its state legal name, is located on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, and is part of Buffalo Public Schools [1][2]. Readers interested in the school’s history should consult the district and the school directly rather than relying on unsourced accounts.
How to Verify Current Information
Because staffing, programs, admissions rules, and reported data can change, confirm details with official sources before making decisions:
- School website (Buffalo Public Schools): https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/ps305 — school hours, address, leadership, and published program and policy pages [1][3].
- NYSED school profile (McKinley Vocational High School, institution ID 800000052924): https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000052924 — enrollment and state accountability and climate data, with reporting periods [2].
- District: Buffalo Public Schools, https://www.buffaloschools.org — enrollment, placement, and district-wide policies [1][2].
When comparing schools, use the same reporting year and the same measure definitions, and read any footnotes or suppression notes on the state data site, since missing values are not the same as zero [2].