After witnessing her older sister go through a difficult pregnancy, Ajaya Fields applied to and was accepted at the NAF Academy of Biotechnology at McKinley Technology High School. She plans to spend the next four years there, gaining basic classroom and internship experience to pursue her dream of becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Currently, Ajaya is one of more than 200 new freshmen at McKinley Technology High School who have been acclimating during the 9th grade Summer Bridge program. For a full week, Ajaya has been getting to know her new campus, interacting with students, teachers and staff, and better understanding what is expected of her as a high school student.

Ajaya said McKinley Tech’s Summer Bridge program set the stage for what she predicted would be a slightly harrowing but exciting high school experience.

“I want to know how to navigate school, but hopefully I can ask the teachers where I should go,” said Ajaya, a 14-year-old graduate of KIPP DC Valor Academy in the Northeast. “I want to learn and continue learning as much as I can about biotechnology. I want to be in a lab environment and do fun opportunities that are informative. These things will help me make it to college.”

From August 5-9, public middle and high schools across the district hosted Summer Bridge programs for incoming sixth and ninth graders. During this time, hundreds of students participated in team-building exercises, creative projects and other types of programs.

This initiative is part of the DC Public Schools (DCPS) five-year plan and aims to strengthen students’ loyalty to their schools. In a statement, DCPS officials explained that eligible students will use special buses, while all middle and high school students in the district will have a Kids Ride Free card.

A closer look at onboarding new students

At McKinley Tech, 204 freshmen from 20 middle schools spent their days practicing the school’s admissions policies before streaming into the auditorium, a large room where the names of several colleges and universities are written in bold letters. There, administrators explain daily routines and school policies, including that no mobile devices are allowed in the classroom.

From this point on, students attend sessions on topics such as time management, developing coping skills, academic success, and others. They also receive advice from a group of older McKinley Tech students and network with peers from other parts of town.

Darien Gregory, McKinley Tech’s summer bridge coordinator, emphasized that the special cocktail of activities is in line with the principles that the school administration wants to convey to students who attend an application-oriented school.

“We want to make sure our ninth-graders are ready and understand the expectations,” said Gregory, who also serves as McKinley Tech’s admissions and partnerships director. “This is an academically challenging field, so we want them to be focused on their goals, develop their own brand and be clear about what they want to accomplish.”

A student ambassador speaks

Located in the Northeast, McKinley Technology High School ranks fifth among high schools in the district and third among public high schools in DC according to U.S. News & World Report. As DCPS’s leading STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) school, students take courses in engineering, information technology or biotechnology, often providing opportunities for internships and experiential learning.

Almost all senior students also take Advanced Placement courses.

Some students who enroll at McKinley Tech are able to give back. This was the case for Marcus Hackett, a senior at McKinley Tech who is serving as a second-year student ambassador.

In his role, Marcus hosts open houses, interviews prospective students and assists Gregory with the Summer Bridge program. This, he said, allows him to speak to incoming students about his experiences as a digital media student at McKinley Tech’s NAF Academy of Information Technology.

“I know how to make things marketable,” says Marcus, a prospective advertising and promotions manager. “And I’ve learned how to design websites that are good for business.”

In 2021, when the district and others were still reeling from the pandemic, Marcus began his freshman year at McKinley Tech. As he said, it took him a while to adjust to being around other people after completing his studies in isolation at Center City Public Charter School – Petworth.

However, as Marcus got to know more of his colleagues and increased his knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and other tools, he became confident enough to take on the additional responsibility of representing McKinley Tech.

“It brought me out of my shell,” Marcus told The Informer. “My first year coming into Summer Bridge from COVID was nerve-racking, so being able to talk to students about what it’s like to be comfortable is something I don’t have a problem with now.”