[4] The school's teams competed for several decades under the colors maroon and white and the name "Scots," a nod to General McLain's heritage.

[5] From its inception until the early 1970s, McLain High School served primarily white students.

During the 1970s, changing demographics on Tulsa's north side caused McLain's student body to shift to a primarily African-American composition.

The McLain Initiative instituted self-esteem and conflict resolution programs, along with a comprehensive re-staffing of all schools[7] and a federally funded 5% salary boost for teachers in the feeder pattern.

This change was targeted at improving McLain's academic performance, then the lowest of all high schools in the district.