McClellan Magnet High School is a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas and part of the Little Rock School District. It's magnet strands are Engineering, Multimedia, Freshman Academy, and Business Finance.
McClellan High School was named for U.S. Senator John Little McClellan (1896-1977). It originally was a part of the Pulaski County Special School District. Opened in 1965, McClellan was built as a replacement school for the old Mabelvale High School. When McClellan opened its doors, Mabelvale was no longer needed as a high school and was converted into a junior high school (now Mabelvale Magnet Middle School).
By 1980 enrollment at McClellan had grown to 1,800 students; with the opening of the new J.A. Fair High School in 1982, McClellan's attendance zone decreased, and the resulting decrease in students was the beginning of a trend that continued until the early 1990s. McClellan and Fair were annexed by the Little Rock School District in 1987. With a new faculty, administrators and students, the school was forced to redefine itself. This process, though difficult, was aided by the inception of two new programs: The Community Education Program and the Business/Communications Magnet Program. A history of strong support in the McClellan community was a big factor in the decision to initiate the McClellan Community Education Program, which provides night and evening classes for adults and enrichment programs for children. This program began in 1990. The school's Business/Communications Magnet program began in the fall of 1992 with six study strands: business principles and management, marketing and advertising, economics and finance, written communications, oral communications and visual/product communications. McClellan's current magnet programs (defined in 2000) offer students areas of study in business/finance, multimedia/graphic design and engineering.
McClellan was named an Arkansas Blue Ribbon School in 1998. This award recognizes overall achievement in a school's programs, faculty and academic performance. The school also received the "Outstanding Business Education Program in the Nation" award twice, from 1995-97 and 1998-2000, from the American Vocation Association and Glencoe-McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. The school's magnet programs align perfectly with its designation as a Model Technology High School. Students prepare for college and/or careers at McClellan by taking advanced courses in business, computer technology and communications. Additions/renovations were made to the school in 1969, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1992 and 2004.
Features: McClellan Magnet High School is defined as exceptional by many factors. McClellan is the Model Technology High School for the district. A school-wide computer network of over 455 computers connects students and teachers with each other and with the world!
Students have access to unlimited research tools from their classrooms. Teachers even compute and submit grades on their classroom computers. McClellan's Magnet Program aligns perfectly with the Model Technology High School designation.
Students prepare for college and careers by taking advanced courses in business, computer technology and communications. They also enroll in the EAST (Environmental And Spatial Technology) Lab, a course that can provide four years of advanced, highly technical study in a particular computer-related area.
McClellan excels in many areas, as evidenced by its selection as an Arkansas Blue Ribbon School in 1998. This award recognizes overall achievement in a school's programs, faculty and academic performance. Another testimony to McClellan's success is its award for the "Top Business Education Program in the United States;" McClellan received this award in two consecutive judging periods!
By striving to be the best in all areas, McClellan provides an unparalleled education for students who are serious about preparing for success in the 21st century!