 Kenny attends South Park Elementary as part of Mr. Garrison 's fourth grade class . During the first 58 episodes , Kenny and the other main child characters were in the third grade . Kenny comes from a poor household , presided over by his violent , alcoholic and unemployed Irish / Scottish father , Stuart McCormick . His mother Carol McCormick has a job washing dishes at the Olive Garden . Kenny has an older brother named Kevin . He also has a younger sister , shown with his family in the season nine episode " Best Friends Forever " , but does not make another appearance until the 15th season episode " The Poor Kid " , in which her name is revealed to be Karen , whom he loves unconditionally . Kenny is friends with Stan and Kyle , and has indicated that he maintains a friendship with Eric Cartman solely out of pity . Kenny is regularly teased for living in poverty , particularly by Cartman . 
