McKinley's Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) are teams of teachers and students that have been grouped together based on grade level or academic/career interests. The purpose of this grouping is to ensure that all students receive an education that is not only rigorous and relevant, but personalized to their post-high school plans. McKinley High School's SLCs include 9th grade academies as well as career academies (see structure below). All 9th graders will select a careeracademy when they register for their sophomore year.