LAUSD christens Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High, named for iconic educator, board member
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Dr. George J. McKenna III is surrounded by cheerleaders after the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill speaks during a school renaming ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Andrés E. Chait shakes hands with George Mc Kenna after speaking during a school renaming ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified officials join Dr. George J. McKenna III for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Dr. George J. McKenna III speaks at the renaming event for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Andrés E. Chait speaks during a school renaming ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People take pictures after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People take pictures after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Dr. George J. McKenna III speaks at the renaming event for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified officials join Dr. George J. McKenna III for a school renaming ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Dr. George J. McKenna III is surrounded by cheerleaders after the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified officials join Dr. George J. McKenna III for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Dr. George J. McKenna III speaks at the renaming event for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles Unified officials join Dr. George J. McKenna III for a school renaming ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
People take pictures after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Dr. George J. McKenna III is surrounded by cheerleaders after the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School in honor of the longtime educator and former Los Angeles Board of Education member at Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Honoring a longtime local educator and elected official, Los Angeles Unified School District officially renamed one of its schools the Dr. George J. McKenna III Middle College High School.
The move honors the former Los Angeles Board of Education member who helped set scores of students on the path to success, district officials said Friday.
“Dr. McKenna devoted more than 60 years to promoting equity and improving student achievement, especially of underserved students,” according to a district statement. The school, located on the campus of L.A. Southwest College, was formerly known as Middle College High School.
As portrayed in the 1986 movie “The George McKenna Story” starring Denzel Washington, McKenna helped turn then-struggling George Washington Preparatory High School into a national educational model.
Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson, a former student of McKenna’s, served as emcee for the ceremony.
Also on hand: Superintendent Andrés E. Chait, Board of Education President Scott Schmerelson, Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill, Chief of Schools Andre Spicer and other officials.
