Finn Hudson is an alumnus of William McKinley High School and former co-captain of the New Directions and quarterback of the football team. Finn was previously engaged to Rachel Berry before letting her go to New York City without him after graduation. He has since joined the Army in tribute to his late father.

Kurt Hummel is an alumnus of William McKinley High School. Kurt is the first openly gay student to attend McKinley, and is also a former member of the New Directions, the Dalton Academy Warblers, the McKinley Titans, and the Cheerios. He currently lives with his father Burt, stepmother Carole, and stepbrother Finn Hudson, as well as his friend and fellow glee clubber Sam Evans.

Rachel Barbra Berry was born on December 18, 1994, in Lima, Ohio and was a shining star from the start. She is currently a student at NYADA, run by dean Carmen Tibideaux. She is an alumni of William McKinley High School. She had been the co-captain of New Directions along with Finn Hudson. She was one of the three major self-proclaimed divas of the club, the others being two of her best friends, Mercedes Jones and Kurt Hummel.

Santana Lopez is an alumnus of William McKinley High School, where she served as the co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Cheerios, and has been a member of the school's glee club, New Directions, and previously the all-girls second glee club, The Troubletones. She is currently in a relationship with her best friend Brittany Pierce.

Lucy Quinn Fabray, commonly known as Quinn, is an alumnus of William McKinley High School and current student of Yale University. Quinn was a co-captain of the Cheerios and a member of the glee club. Quinn became pregnant in high school after having a one-night stand with Puck. Shelby Corcoran is currently raising her daughter Beth.

Noah "Puck" Puckerman is a recent graduate of William McKinley High School. He is now a former member of both the glee club and football team. As a self proclaimed "badass", Puck is well-known around the school for constantly tossing students into dumpsters and also for initially being a primary culprit for throwing slushies in everyone's faces. Yet Puck joined the glee club after discovering that Quinn has become pregnant with his baby, and joins the club as a way of being closer to her.

Mercedes Jones is an alumnus of William McKinley High School, where she actively participated in the New Directions, The Troubletones and The God Squad. In the past she has also spent time as a member of the Cheerios, which she joined alongside her then-best friend Kurt Hummel. She has accepted a recording contract and is moving to Los Angeles, where she will also attend classes at UCLA.

Brittany Susan Pierce is a student and cheerleader at William McKinley High School. She is a member of the school's glee club, the New Directions. She is the senior class president for the 2011/2012 year. She is dating her best friend, Santana Lopez, and is currently repeating her senior year.

Michael "Mike" Robert Chang Jr. is a graduate of William McKinley High School. He is also a former member of the glee club and the football team. Mike joined the Glee Club after winning their first football game with the club's help. Also known as the "Other Asian", he is usually referred to by his full name of Mike Chang and is considered to be the New Directions' best male dancer. Currently he received a sponsorship for a dance school in Chicago.