EDUCA TION
TRIGAUX
KATHLEEN DONNER
Taking The Lede School Journalism Programs Help Students Thrive
BY ELIZABETH O’GOREK
In 2024, high school senior Daria Craddock was part of a historic moment. She had the opportunity to interview the CEOs and presidents of the Divine Nine, the nickname of a group of nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations called the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
“It was an amazing lifetime experience and she did it like a pro,” said Richard Wright Public Charter School Chief Creative Officer (CCO) Michelle Santos.
Craddock is a graduate of Richard Wright Public Charter Schools for Journalism and Media Arts (475 School St. SW). At Richard Wright, introductory journalism is a core subject required for all students. This spring Craddock finished with a 4.7 GPA and over $1.2 million in scholarship offers from various colleges.
Richard Wright’s Founder and CEO Dr. Marco Clark says Craddock is an exemplar of the way journalism studies are key to academic success. “She walked out of Richard Wright thoroughly immersed with literature, thoroughly immersed with research, thoroughly immersed with exposure and opportunities [so] that her resume is full now,” Clarks said. “As she continues her journey, we’re confident because she’s been so bountiful in her academic development that she’s been able to shine in every facet.”
With its all-encompassing focus on media and journalism, Richard Wright is unique, but many District schools make journalism and media production part of their programming, introducing a new generation to the field.
Journalism in School
Every Richard Wright student is required to take the general Journalism course. Journalism provides a forum to learn fundamental skills, including reading, writing, research and critical thinking; but it also provides a jumping off point for other skills, such as photography, sound engineering, graphic design and more. Students are both assigned stories and pitch ideas, publishing the finished pieces in the school newspaper, the quarterly magazine, the Message, or as part of the broadcasting team that produces episodes of the Wright Now News (WNN).
Other schools offer journalism and media programs. For instance, more than 200 students at Coolidge Senior High School are part of the Mass Media Academy, founded by Dr. Zakiya Edens in 2017. The academy offers specialized courses in photography, videography, script writing, podcasting and broadcast journalism to prepare students for media careers through hands-on projects and internships. Students learn research and journalism
skills as well as the importance of factual accuracy. “My goal for the Academy is, when the kids graduate that they have a taste of every single part of media,” Edens said.
Edens has also cultivated many partnerships. Working with the Pulitzer Center and George Washington University, Black Student Magazine facilitated a youth field reporting workshop. Twelve students from the class of 2024 worked with the Journalistic Learning Institute (JLI) to produce a cover story for the 2024 issue of Black Student Magazine reflecting on the historic experience at the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington.
News With Purpose
Partnerships provide students with mentors and opportunities, but clubs allow them the freedom to learn. Students run the newspaper at School
Daria Craddock with the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner in fall 2023. Courtesy: Richard Wright PCS
Without Walls High School (SWWHS). While they learn about the fundamentals of journalism through coursework, the product produced is the school’s yearbook. The newspaper, The Rookery, is published weekly in print and online. Each issue includes about 10 articles, plus a crossword and comics.
“The club is very much studentrun,” said former Editor-in-Chief of The Rookery Sara Weinrod. Students can begin reporting as early as their freshman year, The schools AP Literature teacher, Shakir Ghazi, sponsors the club, facilitating actual printing and providing final stories for online publication. Reporters say that it is rare he intervenes; it is the students who decide what is published. Outgoing editors select the editor-in-chief for each consecutive year.
For Weinrod, the main role of student journalism is to call attention to local, community-specific issues. At one point, she remembered, students would try to cover national headlines. “But there is a lot of power in conversations at the local level,” Weinrod said. “And I believe that’s where change most often takes place.” Weinrod wanted to avoid rehashing information already presented by large newspapers with tremendous resources
and focus on the issues on campus.
The Rookery focuses on local and even international events and their impact on campus. Reporters covered concerns with advance placement (AP) testing; followed members of the school’s Health Justice Club as they testified before DC Council on the impact of a District decision to implement a cluster system for school nurses. In April, just before protests broke out on the George Washington University Campus where SWWHS is located, the Rookery published an opinion piece by Jessie Moss arguing that teachers should discuss the Israel-Palestine Conflict to keep students well informed and also to encourage their critical thinking, following it with stories as SWWHS students joined the protests themselves in May.
Representation
Introducing journalism as career to young journalists across diverse student bodies can have a positive impact on the kind of news we read and see, says Richard Wright COO Santos. 98 percent of students at Richard Wright are Black and 100 percent are eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch program.
“Historically, media has not been
representational of people of color,” Santos said, “and to actually give our students a voice, to really have an unbiased, untarnished lens to capture real stories in our own communities, [and], to be an advocate for their communities was really important.” A 2023 Pew Research Study found that 75 percent of reporting journalists are white, with only six percent identifying as Black and eight percent as Hispanic. Journalism programs that serve student bodies in communities of color can change the demographics of the next generation of reporters and so, the kind of news covered in the coming years.
Empowering students to tell their own stories is the mission of the Youthcast Media Group. YMG trains diverse high school students from under-resourced communities how to produce multimedia journalism on health and social issues where they live. Both Richard Wright and Bard Early College High School have participated in YMG programming. And they are using their training to bring attention to issues they face every day. For instance, in 2023, Bard High School Senior Kenya Jones wrote a story that drew attention to the mental health challenges high school student face at home, school and on social media and the need for additional resources. YMG says students who participated in their programs have gone on to work at media outlets including USA TODAY and the Baltimore Sun.
New Generation Journalists
But Journalism is not for the faint of heart as these students are well aware. Asked if she wanted a career in journalism, former SWWHS editor Weinrod demurred. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with The Rookery and I hope to work on my college paper,” she said, “but I would say probably not.”
Others have pursued further training. For instance, many graduates of the Coolidge Mass Media Academy have gone on to pursue degrees in media-related fields. One alumnus is studying broadcast journalism at LSU, said Dr. Edens, while another received a full scholarship to Georgetown where he is majoring in engineering but minoring in marketing.
And students emerge from District school programs ready to take the next step in a journey to a career in journalism. Many students from Bard go on to internships as they finish the second half of their degrees at another institution; after graduating from Bard, Courtney Curtis went on to an internship at YMG and then to Temple University in 2022, where she majored in media studies and production.
Richard Wright’s Daria Craddock will major in Mass Communication and Journalism as she begins her college career this fall at Virginia State University in Petersburg. Craddock says she’s not sure whether or not want to be behind or in front of the camera. “I’m still figuring that out,” she said. u
Daria Craddock interviews former University of the District of Columbia (UDC) President Ronald Mason Jr. for Wright Now News (WNN). Courtesy: Richard Wright PCS
School Gardens
Ever Popular, Gardens Encourage Overall Learning
BY ELIZABETH O’GOREK
In March 2020, as the pandemic struck, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church School (4700 Whitehaven Pkwy NW) faced a dilemma shared by many schools: how to safely educate its 465 students ranging in age from nursery school to grade 8. Assistant Head of Lower School and Director of Sustainability Sam Mason had already been considering building a garden on property near to the school’s athletic field at 8101 Foxhall Rd. NW. The school accelerated the process.
During the summer of 2020, the school community partnered with District landscaping and gardening company Love & Carrots to design and build the fenced-in garden, complete with three outdoor classrooms.
Having the outdoor space was especially valuable for classes and activities during the pandemic when indoor spaces had more restrictions, Mason said. But it continues to serve that role today, encouraging the development of the whole child while reinforcing and broadening learning possibilities in science, art and environmental learning.
“I think the learning piece that has been the most exciting is just for kids to be able to explore the garden and really understand where their food comes from,” Mason said.
Many District schools have gardens or garden plots. These allow students to get outside and experience nature, contributing to social emotional health.
Digging It Together
As the pandemic hit, Payne Elementary School (1445 C St. SE) also decided to expand outdoor programming and improve their gardens. In 2021, Payne parent Lexi Smith secured a $5,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Payne families worked to build a French drain as an “action project” to address water pooling issues on the school grounds. “Parents and kids dug that French drain, this 24-foot French drain in the ground. It was crazy,” Smith said. “That was hard.”
Payne has a chicken coop in the yard on the north side of the building. Kids collect the eggs, learn about life cycles and how to care for the animals.
The chickens also have a surprising emotional support role; when children come to school upset, teachers often bring them out to the coop. Creef said just being near the hens will calm a child.
Along the west side, the school has an outdoor classroom. There’s a legacy garden where grade five students plant something as both memory and me-
Kevin wants to start his own nursery business after he completes his education at RTEC. Photo: Elizabeth O’Gorek
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church School Assistant Head of Lower School and Director of Sustainability Sam Mason Chris Bolger (Director of Development), and Jalene Spain Thomas (Head of School) accept the Green Ribbon School Award at the White House July 11. Photo: Courtesy St. Patrick’s School
morial. There is a sensory garden where children can touch and smell the plants.
Payne has five garden beds to the south of the building and more planting in raised garden beds. Small signs indicate that vegetables like potatoes, carrots and leafy greens are planted there.
As the school’s garden and nutrition program expanded, it provided more opportunities for parents to get involved at the school during COVID, Smith said. “The garden was the only way for the parents who wanted to be involved to [interact] with the school, because we couldn’t go in the building.”
The garden continues to play a role in bringing the wider Payne community together. Neighbors tend and visit the chickens on the weekends. Mr. Creef said many needs in the gardens —from raised plant bed to a composter —were provided by the community through the Buy Nothing group.
An additional $50,000 from the Chesapeake Trust will fund the creation of a rain garden to manage stormwater
runoff, an expansion of the school’s Food Print garden program and removal and replacement of asphalt lots with more garden spaces that have been designed by Gingko Gardens.
That project is expected to be completed in August. Smith praised the Chesapeake Bay Trust for being “so phenomenal. I mean, $50,000 is a big project for a school, so I’ve been thrilled with them. It’s huge for us.”
Partner Programs
Payne also benefits from programs that are sponsored by the District. In 2010, the DC Council passed the Healthy Schools Act which funded a full-time school garden specialist at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and created grants to not-forprofit organization partnering with District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to integrate a farming, cooking, and nutrition education curriculum.
OSSE also provides grants for DC public and charter school gardening programs, setting aside funds for some schools to employ their own school garden coordinators.
OSSE’s specialists have worked collaboratively with partners like DC Greens, DC Bilingual and FreshFarm to provide teacher training and resources to school gardeners across the District.
Food Prints, FreshFarm’s program, supports food and garden educators in more than 20 schools in the District, including Payne but also schools like John Burroughs Elementary (1820 Monroe St. NE), Watkins Elementary (420 12th St. SE) and Simon Elementary (401 Mississippi Ave. SE).
“We help schools establish teaching kitchens where students go to learn,” Jenn Mampara, the Director of Education at Fresh Farm, explained in a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) video presentation. “We help schools establish productive vegetable gardens that students can be directly engaged in; and we provide staff at the schools that help run sessions in those spaces,” she said.
Teachers help kids learn how to grow, harvest and prepare healthy foods, using produce from that school’s own garden and supplementing
with food from the Fresh Farm markets. Sessions take place monthly at each school. Teachers tie lessons to core academics so that the students connect what they are doing in the gardens and kitchens to what they are learning in other classes.
At Payne, Mr. Creef loves that the kids learn about what they make and eat from start to finish, learning how to grow, maintain, harvest and prepare the food. He loves it best when classes make vegetarian chili. “I mean, you could smell it down the hallway,” Creef said. “I’m always like, I need that. Y’all need to save some, make extra.”
Teaching Sustainability
By creating a connection with nature, school gardens help students to develop a sense of environmental stewardship and the wise use of the earth’s resources.
Sustainability is one of the pillars of the mission and vision at Mundo Verde, Interim Chief School Officer Joseph Rodriguez said.
“The mission of Mundo Verde is being able to become a steward of
Payne students work to improve water drainage on the west side of the school. Courtesy: Lexi Smith
Payne students get social emotional benefits from the chickens who live on campus. Courtesy: Lexi Smith
our environment, which plays heavily in our sustainability project along with being biliterate and a contributor to our community. We live in that model, whether it’s a structure of our building, the setup of our classrooms, food, recycling, all those kinds of things,” Rodriguez said.
The Spanish bilingual school with two campuses (at 30 P St. NW and 4401 Eighth St. NE) teaches a full farm-to-fork cycle by engaging the students in every step of the process, from growing the food, to harvesting and cooking it. They also design, plant, maintain and harvest an organic garden at each Mundo Verde campus. Classes meet with teachers in science, art as well as in food and wellness in the garden, often working at seating nearby.
Students help to grow vegetables and herbs, berries, fruit trees, and native pollinator plants in the gardens, which teachers use as a living laboratory to teach math lessons, science concepts, inspire nature poetry, and more.
Students also sell fresh fruit and vegetables from the school garden and local farms at a student-led School Garden Market on Tuesday afternoons.
Mundo Verde’s sustainability curriculum is based in Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education standards. Lessons are constructed around expeditionary learning, a learning process centered on a single topic or project that is presented to the school community. Each expedition fits into a school-wide plan to implement the sustainability curriculum across the grade levels.
Sustainability extends into the role Mundo takes in the community. Mundo Verde runs a composting program where the school and local community can compost materials and pick up the compost that is produced.
Enhancing Curriculum
St. Patrick’s Episcopal also use the garden as part of their overall sustainability initiative. In fact, the school done so much work in this area that they were named a Green Ribbon School in a ceremony at the White House on July 11.
The US Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award honors schools for excellence in resource efficiency, health and wellness and environmental and sustainability education.
St. Patrick’s has made it exceptionally easy for teachers to use the school garden to enhance edu-
cational activities and curriculum without requiring them to do extensive research and preparation.
“We really found that the people are going to use a garden, they don’t have time to do all the prep for it,” he said. “And most people are not farmers.”
There are at least three garden classrooms in the 3,560 square foot outdoor garden space, each capable of hosting an 18-person class. Teachers can access 30-minute lesson plans using provided iPads to scan QR codes in the garden. A nearby garden shed has materials for lessons sorted into labelled bins.
Classes from nursery through middle school regularly visit the garden to supplement their science, sustainability and even art lessons with hands-on activities and exploration.
“Depending on what age group it is,” Watson said, “they’ll talk a lot about, say, the importance of tree canopy and an outdoor space and access to nature.”
Older kids can learn about the plant cycle, pollination and butterflies, different types of herbs and trees, or even about the coloring of the insects that can be found under every log and rock. Preschoolers might do simple identification games.
But they also learn to like the vegetables grown in the garden. Children are known to be perpetual snackers, and at St. Patrick’s kids are encouraged to pick food and eat it. Watson keeps a cutting board, safety knives, olive oil and salt in the shed so that teachers can entice a kid to try what they pick. “That will be a kid who likes cucumber for the rest of their lives,” he said. “A little salt on their first one, and they’re in.”
Parents are always surprised at what their children will sample when they can pick it straight from the garden, he said. “My kid tried spinach for the first time. How is that possible?”
Job Training
School gardens don’t just facilitate classroom learning —they also open up doors to employment. Standing in the greenhouse at River Terrace Education Campus (405 Anacostia Ave. NE), Dr. Hammed Massaley points to a row of green shoots in a garden box. The plants are struggling. “What went wrong here?” he asks the twelve or so students standing near him.
“We shocked them,” responds one. Finding the tomato plants were crowded where originally planted, the students transplanted them. But, they
now realize, they didn’t bring sufficient soil with each plant. But they know what to do. “Keep it watered,” a student says, “but not too much – and it might recover.”
River Terrace Education Campus (RTEC) is a city-wide school that serves the DCPS student population with the greatest needs in grades three through to 22 years old. Dr. Massaley runs the horticulture program that is part of the school’s workforce development training. Students aged 18 to 22 can choose to focus on hospitality, health sciences or horticulture.
Many schools in DC and elsewhere have gardens that are used to teach students about healthy eating and the process of growing plants and vegetables. But the garden at RTEC also creates opportunity. RTEC uses the garden to give adult students a chance to build skills that they can use for permanent employment.
Horticulture students have worked at the US Botanic Gardens and interned at the Smithsonian. The school has sold their wares at local markets, distributed them among staff, or took them home to be cooked. Sometimes the horticulture students provide food for preparation by the school’s hospitality program.
That’s a win, because the RTEC horticulture program is part of the school’s workforce development training. And jobs are important. According to the Center for American Progress, the average annual employment rate for people without disabilities was 65.8 percent, while the rate for people with disabilities was 22.5 percent.
Helping Students Grow
School gardens have a broad range of uses. They enhance lessons, expand social emotional learning, connect students to nature, teach environmental stewardship and provide a pathway to employment. In making students into gardeners, students have hands-on experience that helps them grow themselves.
With one more year left at RTEC, Kevin said that he wants to start his own nursery business, growing plants and then selling them at local markets.
“I love it, you know, I love it,” he said of growing the school crops. “It wasn’t easy at all, no, but I love what we’re doing and it looks beautiful.” u
Not Debatable
How Debate Programs Support Academics, Civic Engagement, and of Course, Fun
BY DAVID TRIGAUX
Debate combines academic and social-emotional growth with advocacy, helping students to evaluate a problem, understand the mechanisms through which change is possible, and test ideas for action. Research shows that debaters are twice as likely to vote as non-debaters and three times more likely to be involved in advocacy.
“The challenge I always put to students is that anybody can identify something to complain about. It’s harder but so much more meaningful to come up with a realistic plan to do something
about it and understand how change is made,” says Mac Clabaugh, a veteran debate coach and Washington Urban Debate League staff member.
Through debate, students are challenged to not just advocate for change, but to know how to achieve that change, either through government action, social movements, or changes to the way we learn and think about the world. The ideas students develop are then challenged by their peers, and community members decide how viable the ideas are. This vibrant exchange of ideas brings together passionate, intellectually engaged and civic minded students from across the city, building connections and friendships that can last for decades.
Debate Enhances Learning
Debate has been central to pedagogy since Ancient Greece and remains a fundamental skill in today’s educational landscape. Its modern evolution blends seamlessly with modern curricular standards about literacy, writing, and research, not to mention the recently approved social-emotional standards for DCPS. With generative AI tools like Chat GPT automating a lot of jobs that were once thought safe from automation and an increasingly global society making the competition for employment even fiercer, students need the combination of critical thinking, research, persuasive communication, and problem-solving skills that debate fosters now more than ever.
Whether you are motivated by creating societal change, getting a leg up in the future
job market, strengthening a college application, or just looking for a community of engaged young people, joining debate is the right move. Extensive peer reviewed studies show that debate is one of the best activities a young person can do. Debating improves grades, standardized test scores, and literacy, and increased chances to get accepted into college.
The good news is that debate is increasingly available at public high schools, middle schools, and even some elementary schools via the WUDL which supports debate programs at more than 80 public and public charter schools across the greater Washington region. Designed to support an entire ecosystem of debate-related learning, WUDL provides the curriculum, recruits and trains coaches, and hosts the local tournaments. WUDL also
“Not coming from the debate world, I had no idea how transformative this experience would be.” Parent, Oyster Adams Bilingual School
supports the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Summer Debate Institute, manages a travel team that allows more than a hundred students to compete around the country, and even offers opportunities for students to debate in Spanish.
This ecosystem allows local public school students to have the same robust opportunities afforded to their peers attending many of the region’s private schools, like Georgetown Day School, one of the country’s most competitively successful debate programs.
Tunde and Sukra show off their trophies at the Lexington Invitational.
Debate in Middle School
For Sitara and Daniella, two sophomores at BASIS DC this past year, debate gave them a platform to challenge stigmas around neurodivergence and autism in education and the workplace. They wanted to make a point and change people’s minds. They were so successful at it that they became the first local public school students to qualify for the Tournament of Champions, the premier national championship debate competition, making them the youngest team in the competition.
Stuart Hobson Middle School on Capitol Hill, has the largest debate team in the region, with 80 of the 500 students at the school participating. They are also one of the most successful Middle School programs in the country, winning Middle School Nationals two of the last four years. The biggest impact Stuart Hobson Debate Coach Kip Plaisted has, however, isn’t the deluge of shiny trophies his team brings home each season, but the broader academic impact on students. Students who had been struggling with assigned reading in class are suddenly hunched over a text devouring information, and get a surge of confidence in their academic abilities from getting their first trophy.
The impact of debate on a school goes far beyond the specific team members, and speaks to one of the hot button issues of the day -- chronic absenteeism. As much as we’d like to think that
students come to school due to the excitement in their core classes each day, that simply isn’t true. Many come because they’ve been inspired by an enrichment program like debate, which research proves gets students to go to more days of school for every round they debate.
One WUDL alumni, Emmanuel Makinde, now a student at NYU, put it this way:
had is to let students across the school community know that this is a place where people succeed and good things happen, despite some of the stereotypes.
“It builds a sense of pride— there are smart, hard working people here succeeding at whatever they care about, and I should want to come to school and be a part of that,” Price said.
As local leaders contend with a budget crisis, they need look no further than debate. A 2023 peer reviewed study showed that participating in debate had similar outcomes to “high impact” tutoring programs, but at a third the cost,, not to mention being something students actually want to do.
“When I grew up and went to middle school……I looked for the fun in things, but the adults around me told me no. They told me that high school and life after doesn’t tolerate this playful behavior. After hearing this countless times, my adventurous spirit had faded……However, debate gave me a world I could have fun in. I was shocked. Something isn’t right here. Why do I actually enjoy an activity at school?”
For others, it can change the perception of their schools. Dr. Omar Price, who has coached high school and college debate for nine years, says that one of the biggest impacts his debate team has
Be creative, follow your passions, and heed the evidence. In this instance, the evidence is clear: supporting debate programs across the education system is a winning argument.
A D.C. native, David Trigaux is the Director of Washington Urban Debate League (WUDL), a local non-profit that supports debate programs in public schools, especially those in historically under-resourced communities. You can get in touch via email: David. trigaux@urbandebate.org.
WUDL is always looking for new coaches and judges to get involved (no experience necessary), or to connect students to their school’s team. u
Reigning National Champion Stuart Hobson Middle School Debate Team with Coach Kip Plaisted.
Danielle, David, Sitara, Messai, and Daniella at the Tournament of Champions. These BASIS DC debaters are the first local public school students to qualify for the tournament.
Least Restrictive Education
Supporting Students with Disabilities in Schools
BY E.V. DOWNEY
Prior to the revolutionary changes in public education for disabled students that came in the 1970’s, such students were often either left without an education or were put in institutions with minimal to no instruction. The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) of 1974 requires that all students, regardless of abilities, be provided a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). It further dictates that this education take place in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
Determining the LRE is a part of the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) put together for each student. Parents should remember that they are an equal part of the team that puts together the IEP and that they have a right to provide their input on this. The LRE can be thought of less as a physical location and more as a concept to ensure that the student is receiving the support necessary without restricting their access to typically developing students as much as possible.
The LRE can be anywhere from a mainstream classroom with supports to a special education school to hospitalization or home schooling with support from the public school system. Most students fall somewhere in this continuum. Students can also move between settings such as spending part of their day in the general education classroom and part in a selfcontained space.
In a general education classroom with support the student is in a general education classroom all day, with added services such an aide, assistive technology, or accommodations/modifications to the curriculum. In a partial mainstream/inclusion classroom the student spends part of the day in the general classroom and part of the day in a special education classroom. In a
special education classroom, the student spends the day in a specialized classroom with students with similar needs. In a specialized program outside of school district the student could attend a private school, specialized program, or residential program.
Specialized Classrooms
District of Columbia Public Schools has worked hard at expanding its resources in recent years and has a variety of specialized classrooms into which students can be placed depending on their needs. They are:
Behavior Learning Support (BLS) Classrooms serve students whose learning and/or behavior difficulties make it difficult for them to learn at the same pace as their peers. They are on track to receive a high school diploma.
Behavior and Education Support (BES) Classrooms are for students with moderate to severe emotional and behavioral disorders that require intensive behavior support and interventions. Again, these students are generally on track to receive a high school diploma.
Communication and Communication Education Support (CES) Classroom serves students with significant cognitive impairments. The focus is less on academics and more on life skills, making friends, and behavior. These students are on track after third to receive a High School Achievement Certificate.
Early Learning Support (ESL) Classroom is for younger students with learning and/or behavior delays. After third grade these students may join a different specialized classroom or else join their typically developing peers.
Independence and Learning Support (ILS) Classroom is for students with Intellectual Disabilities. Students receive assistance with
academics plus social interactions and selfcare. They receive a High School Achievement Certificate.
Specific Learning Support (SLS) Classroom serves students with a specific learning disability, mild intellectual disability, other health impairment, autism spectrum disorders, or multiple disabilities.
Finally, the Medical and Educarjon (MES) Classroom is for students with serious health problems that need support while they are at school. Some of the students are able to receive a high school diploma.
Determination of LRE
Bridges Public Charter School in DC has an additional lottery for high-level special education students. Bridges has stand-alone special education classroom for students whose IEP’s provide between 16 and 32 hours per week outside of the general education setting.
The Bridges classrooms are an Emotional Disturbance program for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade and a Non-Categorical program for grades PK3 through 5th grade. This second classroom educates kids with diagnoses such as Other Health Impairment, Speech and Language Impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delay, and Multiple Disabilities.
Hypothetically, the determination of LRE is obvious. Some children clearly need much more significant support only to be found in certain environments while others have milder needs that can be handled within a general education classroom. Having each child educated with the most access to typically developing students is beneficial to the child with a disability. In theory these students will go on to live in a world
where they will have to handle situations without the support they receive in school. The more they are exposed to that during their school years, the more they will be prepared for adulthood.
On the other hand, even a student who might one day attend college and work in a mainstream job might need significant support to get through the school years. Schools can be overwhelming environments. For example, students on the autism spectrum struggle with the numerous unwritten social expectations, unannounced changes of routine, sensory bombardment, and, sadly but often, misunderstanding of their disability. Other students can easily handle the social environment of school, but their disability makes it impossible for them to learn adequately without being pulled out of the general education classroom and educated 1:1.
In general, the trend with schools is to try to place kids in a LRE with the fewest possible hours even if they actually need more support. It is incumbent on the parents to read the evaluations, paying special attention to the recommendations for educational supports, to determine whether the services being offered are sufficient. They also have the right to request a 30-day review if they sense that their child is not receiving enough help.
School systems are most resistant to placing students in non-public placements, even if that is what they really need. These schools are extremely expensive and there is the added expense of transporting students there, often over long distances. These placements are not ideal for the student either, as they remove the student completely from access to typically developing peers, but sometimes they are the only way to find success.
As with all issues in special education, there are pros and cons to having a child in any environment. Students who are able to be placed in the general education classroom benefit from the exposure to typically developing students, more opportunities
to be challenged academically and in terms of communication, and increased socialization. However, often the supports are not enough for the child to flourish. Additionally, there can be a stigma attached to a student who manifests a disability either academically or behaviorally. This can cause the student to be acutely aware of their differences and therefore sometimes a more restrictive environment would be more appropriate.
These are the types of considerations that must be taken into account when determining the LRE, but, again, often the school districts are more concerned with savings money rather than the best placement. Sometimes an educational advocate or lawyer is necessary to help parents achieve the best LRE for their child.
E.V. Downey is an educational consultant and tutor based on Capitol Hill. She is also the co-director of Busy Bees Camps and teaches flute at Music on the Hill. A graduate of DCPS, E.V. has 25 years’ experience in education as a teacher, school administrator, behavior therapist, tutor, consultant, and camp director. u
Kids & Family
NOTE BOOK
BY KATHLEEN DONNER
DC Up Close Family Workshops at National History
Explore the biodiversity of DC and the surrounding areas from a new view…through a microscope. rough weekly prompts sent through email, families will be invited to get outside and make observations with their own pocket microscope, take pictures, and then share what they discovered with others. Each family will take part in two di erent in-person workshops, where families will be provided with one microscope to take home to complete weekly prompts. Attendance at the workshops is mandatory. Free registration is required. e workshops take place for 1-1.5 hours at Natural History on Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. natural history.si.edu.
Family Takeovers at the Folger
Every other Saturday, 9 to 11 a.m., is all about family fun at the Folger, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Saturday, Aug. 3, is a morning of crafts, poetry and music. On Aug. 17, in this hip-hop theater arts experience, Paige Hernandez presents Dance eater Workshop with Havana Hop with excerpts from her original work based on her experience as a performer with African American and Latina roots. Learn the basics of hip hop, salsa, and partner dance with adults and children together. After the program, stay and enjoy the exhibition halls. Timed entry passes are recommended. Free; registration requested. folger.edu/whats-on/?event-genre=families.
See the Animals of Mount Vernon
On Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., learn about the animals that would have lived on the estate during Washington’s life and meet some of the animals that live at Mount Vernon today. Hear from Mount Vernon’s livestock sta about the jobs animals performed on the estate in the 18th century and meet their sheep at 10 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; their oxen at 10:30 to 11 a.m. and their horses at 11 a.m. to noon. Look for the Discovery Cart to learn about the horses that called Mount Vernon home in the 18th century and be sure to pick up a horseshoe craft to take home. Stop by the Spinning House to see the process of turning sheep’s wool into cloth. Also, storytime is at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. mountvernon.org.
Boulder Bridge at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC.
A Hog Island sheep at Mount Vernon.
The Pandas are Coming!
Giant pandas are returning to Washington DC. As part of the 52-year-old conservation partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the National Zoo is getting ready to welcome two new bears—Bao Li and Qing Bao—by the end of 2024. nationalzoo.si.edu/dcpandas.
Arlington County Fair
Bao Li (pronounced BOW-lee), male, born Aug. 4, 2021. In Mandarin Chinese, “Bao” means ‘precious’ and ‘treasure’. “Li” refers to vitality and strength. Put together, “Bao Li” means an active and vital power.
Qing Bao (pronounced ching-BOW), female, born Sept. 12, 2021. Her name means ‘green’ and ‘treasure’ in Mandarin Chinese. ‘Qing’ evokes the lush and mountainous habitat of pandas. ‘Bao,’ which means ‘precious’ and ‘treasure,’ reflects how cherished and adored she is.
Just minutes from DC, the Arlington County Fair is an urban fair focused on educating, entertaining, and showcasing the best of Arlington. It is the premier community-wide event that provides a range of educational and entertaining activities for people of all ages. Admission is free; specific programming including rides, games and other activities are fee-based. Check out their free kids programming at the Family Fun Spot Up Top. Activities vary from year to year but typically include interactive games, live performances, coloring and more. The Arlington County Fair, Aug. 14 to 18, is at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 Second St. So., Arlington. Check website for hours arlingtoncountyfair.us/fair.
About Museums for All
Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,300 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card. Museums for All is a national access program that encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. It is open to participation by any type of museum—including art, history, natural history/anthropology, and general museums, children’s
museums, science centers, planetariums, nature centers, historic houses/sites, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and arboretums. The cost of museum admission can be a barrier for many low-income families. Participating museums provide reduced admission, ranging from free to $3, to visitors presenting their EBT card. This reduced rate is available during all normal operating hours for up to four individuals per EBT card. With a year-round open door policy, Museums for All invites low-income visitors to feel welcome at cultural institutions. museums4all.org.
Placita Mágica Exhibit Opens at National Children’s Museum
The National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, off the Woodrow Wilson Plaza, has announced the opening of a new, immersive cultural exhibit, Placita Mágica. In this “magical plaza,” visitors experience Mexican culture through sensory play, group activities, and hands-on fun. Sponsored by Abuelita Mexican Chocolate and with cultural support from the Mexican Cultural Institute, the exhibit is on display through Jan. 3, 2025. Throughout the National Children’s Museum’s history, the institu-
tion’s mission has remained the same: to inspire children to care about and change the world. Placita Mágica is a reimagined homage to the beloved 1979 Capital Children’s Museum Mexico exhibit, now presented with modern inclusions of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Placita Mágica is included in the cost of Museum admission. Tickets to the Museum are $18.95 for adults and children one and older and are free for children under one and Museum members. nationalchildrensmuseum.org.
DC’s Child Car Safety Seat Program
You can have your child car safety seat inspected and properly installed at DC DMV’s Inspection Station. DC DMV offers free inspections during normal operating hours at 1001 Half St. SW. A Certified Passenger Child Safety Technician will properly install the child
Race For Every Child Run/ Walk and Kids Dash Registration Open
The Race For Every Child on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Freedom Plaza, is a fun event with a serious purpose—to promote children’s health and wellness, and raise much-needed funds that help Children’s National ensure every child can benefit from world-class medical care. Registration is free through Oct. 13. There is a $30 fee to register between October 14 and 19. Children between the ages of three and ten are eligible to participate in the 100-yard Kids’ Dash. Pre-race activities start at 7 a.m.; 5k at 8:45 a.m.; and Kids’ Dash at 10 a.m. foundation.childrensnational.org.
safety seat and share information with parents and caregivers about the importance of proper use of child safety seats. dmv.dc.gov/service/car-safetyseat-program.
Stick-N-Shoot at Medstar Capitals Iceplex
In addition to structured clinics and league games, MedStar Capitals Iceplex offers open Stick-N-Shoot hockey sessions for all ages. Stick-N-Shoot is limited to thirty skaters plus four goalies. Full gear is required. This includes helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, pants, shin guards, protective cup, and hockey skates. Participants must provide their own gear. Mini Stick-N-Shoot sessions are just for kids ten and under. Perfect for Mini-Mites and Tot Hockey players. Register in advance. MedStar Capitals Iceplex is a state-of-the-art facility located atop the Ballston Common Mall Parking Garage, 627 No. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA. medstarcapitalsiceplex.com.
Family Days at the LOC
Winnie the Pooh at Imagination Stage
Everyone’s favorite bear from the 100 Acre Wood is surrounded by Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl in this delightful and gentle musical. Set during one busy day, there’s a Heffalump to catch, Eeyore’s tail to find, and a misunderstanding between Rabbit and Kanga to sort out. In the end, friendship and understanding win the day. Winnie the Pooh is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, from Sept. 18 to Oct. 27. It is best for ages three and older. Ticket prices start at $12. Imagination Stage uses dynamic pricing, so prices may be higher for more popular performances. imaginationstage.org.
Upcoming Family Days at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 20 First St. SE, in the Great Hall are from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, Hispanic Heritage Month; Oct. 19, Halloween; and Nov. 9, Veterans Day. Every Library of Congress visitor, regardless of age, must have a free timed-entry ticket to enter the historic Thomas Jefferson Building. Passes are available 30 days in advance. A limited number of same-day tickets are made available each open day at 9 a.m. at loc.gov/visit/.
Brick City at the National Building Museum
Brick City celebrates iconic architecture from cities around the world through carefully recreated constructions made from LEGO bricks by UK-based artist Warren Elsmore. Visitors can take a world tour discovering new destinations across all seven continents that include: lively streetscapes from Cartagena, Colombia; Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans; intricate temples from India to Mexico; and imaginative castles from medieval Japan to modern Las Vegas. The centerpiece of the exhibition is London’s St. Pancras Station, measuring 12-feet-long and built from over 180,000 standard LEGO bricks. Brick City is at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, through spring 2025. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum offers free general admission to individuals and families presenting an EBT card. One person per group needs to present the identifying information, and that will cover up to three additional individuals. nbm.org.
Rock Creek Park Nature Center Stellar Star Show
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, at 2 p.m., through Aug. 31, enjoy a 30-minute ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service about the planets and the night sky. Recommended for ages eight and up. Arrive 30 minutes early to pick up a free place holder ticket for the show. The planetarium is in the Rock Creek
Park Nature Center at 5200 Glover Rd. NW. nps.gov/rocr.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Family Days with Young Historians
Every Sunday through Labor Day weekend, from 2 to 5 p.m., guests can meet young historians, from grades four to twelve, as they share the history of the Gadsby’s Tavern, 138 N. Royal
St., Alexandria, VA, through stories and hands-on activities—including making historic chocolate. Through the museum’s objects and activities, learn how Alexandria was connected to the world and the wide variety of people who lived and worked in Alexandria. Visitors from past years have found the kids’ unique perspective and enthusiasm for history an “exciting treat” that brings a “fun element” to the tour. Regular admission is charged; $5 for adults, $3 for kids. City of Alexandria Residents are free. alexandriava.gov/museums/ location/visit-gadsbys-tavern-museum.
Dumbarton House Family Day
On Saturday, Aug. 17, 19 a.m. to 3 p.m., step into the past with Dumbarton House’s Federal Period Family Day. Bring your family and friends for a delightful day filled with fun, educational, and hands-on activities inspired by early American history. Their event is designed to entertain and engage children of all ages, making history come alive with interactive experiences and, of course, delicious ice cream. Dumbarton House is at 2715 Q St, NW. dumbartonhouse.org.
East of the River Fall Festival
On Saturday, Aug. 17, 2 to 6 p.m., Whitman-Walker hosts a free Back-to-School Backpack Drive and Block Party and they are inviting all their SE DC neighbors. This event features live entertainment by Culture Queen, Go-Go music by Sirius Company, free food and drink and giveaways and backpacks with supplies for the first 500 kids. The party will take place rain or shine at the pavilion of Sycamore & Oak, 1110 Oak Dr. SE, on the St. Elizabeths East Campus, next to the Entertainment and Sports Arena. whitmanwalker.org.
The First Tee Golf Program for Kids
The First Tee started as a way to bring an affordable junior golf program to youth ages seven to 18. It blends the rules of the game with life and leadership skills. Kids and teens don’t just learn how to putt, they learn important values. They offer after-school and weekend programs at 17 golf facilities throughout DC, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, MD and Prince George’s County, MD. To find a location near you visit firstteedc.org. Classes are during afterschool hours and on weekends. DC classes are at East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek Park. Read more at firstteedc.org.
The Little Mermaid on the National Mall
On Friday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m., see the Little Mermaid. Dive into the enchanting world of Ariel, a spirited young mermaid who dreams of exploring the wonders beyond the sea. The Little Mermaid is screened at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the lawn adjacent to the bookstore. Come early, pack a snack and bring blankets or low-profile lawn chairs. The Memorial is at 1964
Riad, Marrakesh, Morocco
Independence Ave. SW. thememorialfoundation.org/mlk/films.
Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park (final chances)
Kids ages four to ¬twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This year’s remaining dates are Aug. 4 and 11; and Sept. 1 and 15. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com.
DinoRock: Dinosaur Babies
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical
Trixie and her father bustle through the streets of New York City down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat. But returning home, Knuffle Bunny is gone, and Trixie cannot tell her father what is wrong. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at adventuretheatremtc.org or by calling 301-634-2270.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical is at Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD., through Aug. 19. adventuretheatre-mtc.org. u
A national leader in children’s entertainment for nearly 40 years, DinoRock has performed for millions of children nationwide and has sold over 100,000 award-winning original audio recordings around the world. A generation has grown up singing along with their life-sized, colorful prehistoric friends, the creations of Emmy Award-Winning puppet designer Ingrid Crepeau and Parents’ Choice Magazine and American Library Association Award Winner Michele Valeri. DinoRock is recommended for ages five and older. The run time is about 45 minutes. Dinosaur Babies is at the Puppet Company at Glen Echo Park from Aug. 15 to Sept. 8. thepuppetco.org.
Visit the National Zoo’s (immersive) Bird House
The Bird House exhibition invites visitors to flock this way and soar into the fascinating world of North American shorebirds, waterfowl, and songbirds. As guests make their way through the shores of the Delaware Bay, a lush prairie pothole and a tropical bird friendly coffee farm, nearly 80 species of free-flighted birds stride, paddle, tweet and fly all around. These immersive aviaries mimic natural ecosystems—places that boost both bird and humans’ wellbeing. New additions to the building offer even more ways to dive deeper into the story of migratory birds, while retaining the charm of the original mosaic archway entrance on display in the Bird House lobby. Visitors can see a living example of a bird-friendly garden, where native plants like purple coneflowers, downy serviceberry trees, and highbrush blueberry bushes provide food and habitat for birds and other local wildlife. Zoo admission is free; parking is $30. nationalzoo.si.edu.
Photo: Elizabeth Dapo
A pair of barred owls, a male named Edward and a female named Edwina, live in an outdoor habitat at the Bird House plateau.
Advertiser Resources
THERAPY & SUPPORT
Capitol Kids Therapy LLC capitolkidstherapy.com
Founded in 2000 on Capitol Hill, Capitol Kids Therapy provides pediatric speech and language therapy to children up to 12 years of age. Located at 2nd and D St. NE, Capitol Kids – Therapy offers office, home, school and daycare-based therapy. Their therapists address a variety of speech and language areas, including (but not limited to) speech therapy, language therapy, feeding therapy, oral motor, and articulation therapy. Capitol Kids Therapy offers screenings, parent consultation, parent/ teacher workshops, evaluations, and treatment. – They look forward to helping your child achieve their potential.
ENRICHMENT & TUTORING SERVICES
Downey School Consulting
DowneySchoolConsulting@gmail.com
Offering affordable online SAT tutoring prep for $50-$75/hour, based on hours booked and flexibility. We assist with the D.C. Public and Charter School Common Lottery process, including navigating the system and maximizing your chances. We also address unique situations like mid-year relocations, holding a child back, and school-related problems. Downey School Consulting supports families with special needs, from undiagnosed issues to IEPs and 504 Plans, helping you choose the best public-school options and ensuring adequate services for your child.
Early Stages earlystagesdc.org
Early Stages is an evaluation center for children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years 10 months. – They identify developmental delays and disabilities in children. Early Stages provides evaluations for DC children who are not in school or who are homeschooled. – They evaluate children living outside of DC if they attend a private school or childcare center in DC. Early Stages is a program of DC Public Schools (DCPS). All Early Stages services are FREE.
Skills on the Hill LLC skillsonthehill.com
Skills on the Hill provides pediatric occupational, feeding, physical, and speech-language therapy from birth to teenage years. We integrate family goals, collaborate with other professionals, and offer developmental screenings. Our Capitol Hill and Arlington locations are easily accessible. Visit our website for a free developmental checklist: https://form.jotform. com/202034652477150
Total Tutor mytotaltutor.com
Total Tutor employs techniques backed by cognitive science and neuroscience research to help students become critical thinkers, selfreliant, and successful. We tutor students of all ages, styles, and abilities through one-on-one and small-group courses. Total Tutor offers K-12 Subject Help, Test Prep, and College Admissions Guidance. Work with experienced tutors one-on-one or in small groups to achieve your learning goals.
SCHOOLS: PRESCHOOL
Capitol Hill Learning Group (CHLG) capitolhilllearninggroup.com
CHLG’s Preschool program, located at 9th & Maryland Ave. NE, is a Christ-centered, parent/ teacher cooperative for children 2.5 - 5 years of age. Established in 2006, we are licensed by DC and employ professional teachers (with parents serving as classroom assistants on a rotat-
ing basis). Our program boasts hands-on learning, small class sizes, and a tight-knit learning community. We also have a University-Model® micro-schooling program for grades K-8.
Northeast Stars Montessori Preschools (NES) nestars.net
Northeast Stars Montessori Preschools are fully licensed preschools in Old Town Alexandria and Capitol Hill, DC. They provide individualized, personal, educational opportunities for the whole child. Their teachers deliver “Montessori and More!” through mixed-age (two to five years) classrooms, carefully planned lessons, and the incorporation of music and arts. NES schools offer before-care and extended day learning from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., space share, and par time spaces.
ToTH Montessori tothmontessori.org
ToTH Montessori is an independent Montessori school located in Capitol Riverfront/ Navy Yard. At ToTH we guide young children to reach their full potential by nurturing their curiosity, independence, and enthusiasm for learning. Our trained teachers provide kind and caring guidance in our mixed-age classroom environments for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. ToTH is a member school of the International Montessori Council and accepts DC Child Care subsidy vouchers.
PRIVATE/PAROCHIAL
Burgundy Farm Country Day burgundyfarm.org
An inclusive, creative, and nurturing environment that engages the whole child. Burgundy enjoys a wooded 26-acre Alexandria campus. Outdoor learning spaces, exterior decking on academic buildings, two outdoor stages, a barn with farm animals, natural play spaces,
and playgrounds expand our students’ learning space. Discover Burgundy today!
Capitol Hill Learning Group (CHLG) K-8 capitolhilllearninggroup.com
CHLG’s K-8 University-Model® program, established in 2006 and located at 9th & Maryland Ave. NE, is a Christ-centered micro-school that boasts dedicated teachers, small class sizes, and a close partnership between home and school that supports and encourages family connectedness. Bringing the Christian worldview to bear in all learning is the hallmark of what we do, and our students grow to be responsible, independent, and self-driven learners.
DeMatha Catholic High School dematha.org
DeMatha Catholic High School provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum to young men in the Washington area, including 87 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, 22 college dual-enrollment courses, and individualized academic support. Students are committed to service while participating in numerous co-curricular activities, including nationally recognized athletic and music programs.
Edmund Burke School burkeschool.org/learn
Founded in 1968, Edmund Burke School offers a challenging curriculum in a welcoming environment. With 300 students in 6th-12th grade, Burke is a small school where we forge big connections – and lasting bonds. We strive for balance among academic rigor, civic engagement, and student well-being, and encourage continual exploration.
Elizabeth Seton High School setonhs.org
Rooted in Catholic values and the charism of the Daughters of Charity, Elizabeth Seton High
School’s mission is to cultivate confidence in young women to excel in college, careers, and life through an innovative and rigorous academic experience.
Friends Community School friendscommunityschool.org
FCS is a purposeful and joyful school that engages and inspires young children through adolescence. Located just 15 minutes from Capitol Hill on 17 acres in College Park, MD, FCS offers a diverse and inclusive community, a commitment to educating the whole child, and a curriculum emphasizing child-centered and hands-on learning. FCS students are lifelong learners, courageous risktakers, and joyous peacemakers who matriculate to rigorous independent, parochial, and public magnet schools in the greater Washington DC area. See our website for updates and details regarding our open houses and application process
St. Peter School stpeterschooldc.org
St. Peter School, a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School, is a family of learners serving the Capitol Hill parishes and community. The children are provided with an education that is founded on love of God and service to others, characterized by Catholic values and academic excellence, and dedicated to addressing each child’s unique talents and abilities.
PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
BASIS Washington, D.C. ™ enrollBASIS.com/washington-dc
BASIS Washington, D.C. is proud to be the highest ranked open-enrollment high school in the District of Columbia, according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Education recognized BASIS DC as a National Blue Ribbon School. Through the acclaimed BASIS Charter
School Curriculum, students in grades 5–12 master complex and challenging material across all disciplines. We offer a wide variety of Advanced Placement courses and post-AP capstone courses that prepare students for success in college and beyond.
Bridges PCS bridgespcs.org
Bridges Public Charter School opened in 2005 and serves a culturally and linguistically diverse student population in Pre-K3 through 5th. The school’s developmentally appropriate, student and family-centered approach includes small classroom sizes, well-trained staff, and individual student planning. Bridges PCS incorporates hands-on learning into classroom instruction across grades. The school’s specials are Spanish, art, music, physical education, and gardening. In Fall 2022, Bridges PCS was honored by EmpowerK12 with the Bold School’s Award for academic and student educational outcomes.
DC Prep PCS dcprep.org
D.C. Prep is a network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschoolers through 8thgrade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. The school prepares every child for an academically and socially prosperous future by ensuring more class time, targeted interventions, standards-based instruction, and frequent assessments.
Eagle Academy PCS eagleacademypcs.org
Eagle Academy Public Charter School, DC’s first early childhood charter school, employs a variety of educational, technological, physical, and sociological tools to transform its students into active learners. Offering pre-K to third-grade instruction, the school has myriad programs, including STEM, arts, music, foreign language, and adventure activities that encourage student curiosity, which is the key to successful learning.
Lee Montessori PCS leemontessori.org
Our East End campus in the Fairlawn neighborhood serves students in PK3 - 4th grade and will grow to serve 6th graders in 3 more years. We integrate traditional Montessori education with an explicit focus on anti-racism, combined with a supportive foundation of positive discipline and restorative justice practices. This means each one of our students can flourish and show up authentically as their true selves. And when they go out into the world, we know they will embody our core values of Grace, Bravery, Growth, Joy, and Equity because of what—and how—they learned at Lee Montessori.
Meridian PCS mpcs-dc.org
Meridian is a nurturing and rigorous school serving PK-8th grade students at all academic and developmental levels. Our collaborative, child-centric school community celebrates student diversity and teaches foundational skills needed to succeed in an increasingly global world. As an EL Education partner school, Meridian students engage in meaningful, challenging work that helps them grow socially, emotionally, and academically both inside and outside the classroom.
Mundo Verde PCS mundoverdepcs.org
Mundo Verde is an EL Education School dedicated to education for sustainability and biliteracy. We believe that education for the 21st century should prepare children to reach their full potential and take on personal responsibility for our world’s sustainability. School culture emphasizes character, mutual respect, global stewardship, and health and wellness, focusing on developing rich cultural awareness, critical problem-solving, and fostering active members of a caring community. Mundo Verde is free and open to all Washington, DC students.
Richard Wright PCS richardwrightpcs.org
Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts provides a strong, academically enriching, and rigorous program while providing hands-on learning of fundamental concepts and skills essential in Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Film, Graphic Design, Visual Art, and Music Production. In addition, the school’s innovative curriculum elevates the literacy levels of all its students.
Sela Public Charter School SelaPCS.org
Sela PCS is DC’s only Hebrew Language immersion school. Rated a Tier 1 School by the DC Public Charter School Board and awarded a Blue Ribbon by the US Department of Education, Sela has a diverse student body and staff that reflects the multicultural and vibrant dynamics of the nation’s capital. The school offers an academically rigorous curriculum, including daily Modern Hebrew studies, that leads to a high level of language proficiency.
Two Rivers PCS tworiverspcs.org
Founded in 2004 by a group of Capitol Hill parents, Two Rivers Public Charter School is an EL school that serves PK3– 8th grade students across three campuses in Wards 5 and 6, Northeast DC. A high-performing network, its mission is to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Kelly Miller Middle School kellymillerms.org
Kelly Miller fosters strong relationships between students, educators, and families
in order to build trust and promote a joyous learning environment, where all students and families feel empowered. We meet the needs of all students through inspiration, motivation, and education. Kelly Miller Middle School is the model school in Washington, DC where we nurture productive citizens through family engagement, extracurricular activities, and data-informed decisions based on the needs of the whole child.
Kramer Middle School
kramermiddledc.org
Kramer Middle School is committed to ensuring 100% of our students are prepared to succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond. We assure a smooth and supportive transition for our students into the next chapter of their learning as they come into 6th grade and then onto 9th grade. We hold students and staff to high standards while possessing a growth mindset and promoting perseverance. Kramer strives to cultivate an educational environment that is challenging, fun, and joyous, nurturing a sense of curiosity for learning among all members of our school community.
MacFarland Middle School macfarlandmsdc.org
At MacFarland, we foster a loving and inclusive learning environment where students achieve personal excellence and prepare to revolutionize society. Every student is a part of the MacFarland family. We empower students to take ownership of their academic and personal goals by valuing diversity, striving for excellence, and engaging in productive struggle. We prepare competent individuals that will invest in their local and global communities. Our work to enrich students doesn’t end when the school day finishes – we provide quality sports, clubs and tutoring as well as empowerment and leadership experience after school so our students have a safe space to grow in the afternoon and evening as well.
Sousa Middle School sousacobras.org
Sousa Middle School, located in Ward 7, is a vibrant and diverse learning community committed to academic excellence and holistic growth. Academic achievement is a top priority at Sousa Middle School, and a rigorous curriculum is offered across various subjects. We strive to foster an environment that builds a pathway to college and career readiness by inspiring scholars to become lifelong learners, creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, compassionate human beings, and responsible citizens. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment that promotes respect, integrity, and excellence in teaching and learning. We are fully committed to working with each scholar, each family, and the greater Sousa community to ensure that all of our scholars reach their full potential.
AFTER CARE, AND ENRICHMENTS
Polite Piggy’s Day Camp politepiggys.com
Serving the community since 2008, Polite Piggy’s Day Camp is a vibrant and dynamic choice for families. With six convenient locations in DC Public Schools, we offer a safe, fun, and energetic environment where children can thrive socially, physically, and emotionally. Our programs include age-appropriate learning opportunities, exciting outdoor activities, and engaging field trips and performances (summer). From Before and After School Care to Day, Summer, and Winter Camps, we strive to be your child’s favorite place away from home and school. On camp days, we welcome families from all areas.
The Washington Urban Debate League (WUDL)
urbandebatewashingtondc.org
WUDL offers year-round programming, including summer camp and aftercare programs, to cultivate debate skills among students. With a focus on fostering critical thinking and effective communication, the organization provides educational opportunities that empower participants to excel in debate and contribute meaningfully to civic discourse. u
