McKee High School Unveils Holographic Wellness Studio

The Staten Island school is introducing a $500,000 facility that uses advanced holographic technology for student mental health.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Wellness

McKee High School Unveils Holographic Wellness Studio

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Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School has completed a $500,000 student wellness studio featuring private holographic therapy sessions. The facility, which aims to improve mental health access, is the first K-12 school project to utilize Proto Hologram Inc. technology.

Why it matters

The school created the studio to increase mental health support accessibility for its 570 students, many of whom are low-income or have disabilities. Administrators intend for the space to serve as a pilot model for other schools across New York City.

The wellness studio project required three years of planning and cost $500,000 to complete. Proto Hologram Inc. technology is already in use at more than 40 universities nationwide.

The players

Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School

This Staten Island educational institution serves 570 students with a focus on career and technical training.

Proto Hologram Inc.

This Los Angeles-based company manufactures the holographic technology used for remote interactions and telepresence.

S.I.C. Film School

Located in Hillside, New Jersey, this institution partnered with the school to develop the wellness studio project.

The details

The studio includes a relaxation area with a U-shaped screen, a podcasting section, and a private room that projects life-sized 3-D images for therapy. Developed in partnership with the S.I.C. Film School, the space serves a student body where 82% are low-income and 36% have disabilities.

Timeline

  1. In 2021, 38% of NYC high school students reported feeling depressed.

  2. In November 2023, NYC launched the Teenspace online therapy program.

  3. In October 2026, two dozen students received a sneak preview of the studio.

  4. The studio is expected to open to students in the coming weeks.

Health Landscape

The project follows a pattern set by the NYC Teenspace online therapy program by adopting digital solutions to address student mental health needs. It represents an evolution in medical science that integrates immersive technology into traditional school-based guidance services.

Students at the school will gain direct access to holographic therapy sessions intended to improve mental health support. This facility adds a new resource alongside the school's existing staff of four guidance counselors and one social worker.

The takeaway

This project highlights how schools are increasingly looking toward immersive technology to bridge gaps in mental health services. Students and administrators at other institutions should monitor this pilot to evaluate its impact on long-term student engagement and well-being.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest mental health initiatives in Staten Island Wellness.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Chalkbeat.

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Do you believe using holographic technology in schools improves support for student mental health?