Welcome to Burke INTELLIGENCE INDEPENDENCE INCLUSION At Burke, these aren’t merely buzzwords. They’re the tangible excitement of building a hovercraft in the middle school science lab and a Foucault’s pendulum in the atrium. They’re the eye-opening trips to a local artist’s studio to see metalworking or to participate in plaster casting. They’re the way our students channel the spirit of Edmund Burke’s commitment to social justice when they deliver meals to cancer patients, write passionate pieces about racial inequality for the school newspaper, or build wheelchair ramps in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They’re the egalitarian spirit in the classroom, on stage, in the studio or on the field, where respect and collaboration are the goals, success is defined by personal growth, and everyone’s efforts are rewarded with hearty cheers. And they’re the confidence and pride felt by students and parents alike at Commencement, when our graduates celebrate their years at Burke and go off with the skills and sense of purpose to succeed at great colleges and at life.
OUR MISSION We consciously bring together students who are different from one another in many ways, actively engage them in their own education, hold them to high expectations, give them power and responsibility, and support and advance their growth as skilled and independent thinkers who step forward to make positive contributions to the world in which they live.
“I’m surrounded here by artists, writers, scientists, leaders, mathematicians, activists and athletes – just like the city of Washington, DC.” DAMIAN JONES,
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HEAD OF SCHOOL
HUMANITY REASON JUSTICE Our founders, Dick Roth and Jean Mooskin, opened Burke in 1968, a time of tumultuous social and cultural change both in Washington, DC, and across the country. Their goal was to create a school that reflected a society where everyone has a voice. They wanted a school community that respected the dignity of all students and embraced a wide range of backgrounds and identities. They believed that classrooms should be places of reasoned discussion and passionate exploration. And that young people should learn to be responsible citizens and work for social justice. Dick Roth cites this quote from Edmund Burke as his inspiration: “It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do.” Some 50 years later we still follow this progressive vision, teaching students to think deeply and to work toward a more just world.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
“ At Burke I learned who I was as an individual and became comfortable and confident in my own beliefs and values.” A BURKE ALUMNUS
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We place the academic, social and emotional well-being of students, as well as their athletic and artistic lives, at the center of all our work.
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We know, respect and appreciate all students as learners and individuals.
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We recognize and affirm the skills, interests and abilities of all students.
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We challenge students to actively engage in critical thinking and help them develop intrinsic motivation for lifelong learning.
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We value autonomy, curiosity, creativity, experimentation, discovery and collaboration.
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We are committed to maintaining a safe, equitable and inclusive school environment, and to cultivating the moral reasoning and social responsibility of all students.
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We ask students to apply their knowledge and skills to make our school, neighborhood, city, and the wider world a more just place.
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“ My entire education, from knowledge to learning how to interact with adults, other students of diverse ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds, was above and beyond.� A BURKE ALUMNUS
DIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE UNDERSTANDING There is no typical Burke student. Some kids arrive at Burke confident and gregarious, some are quiet thinkers, some are stars on the stage, others in the gym. They come from different backgrounds, have a range of interests and express themselves in a variety of ways. No matter their race, class, gender, politics or sexual orientation, their voices are heard. The result is a vibrant, warm and supportive community where students feel free to take intellectual risks and challenge themselves in academics, arts and sports.
EQUITY & INCLUSION AT BURKE >
We respect the dignity and humanity of our students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and trustees, as well as our broader community.
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We foster a culture of equity and inclusion that embraces the wide range of backgrounds and perspectives at Burke.
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We cultivate an understanding and appreciation of diversity that includes, but is not limited to age, ability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, gender identity, political perspectives, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
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We acknowledge and encourage differences of opinions, ideas, and interests, and we expect thoughtful discussion and civil engagement.
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We affirm the individual worth of everyone at Burke, and we challenge behaviors that demean, marginalize, or exclude others.
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Our goal is to fulfill our commitment to equity and inclusion consistently in all areas of school and community life.
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“You don’t have to leave any part of yourself outside on the stairs when you come into Burke.” A BURKE ADMINISTRATOR
TEACHER ADVISOR FRIEND Burke’s teachers are remarkably talented and well-educated – most of them hold advanced degrees, and have many years of professional experience. We have a healthy mix of veterans and new teachers, allowing our students to benefit from both seasoned wisdom and youthful energy. Our teachers genuinely enjoy adolescents – you can see them laughing, talking and working with students all day, in every part of the school. The strong relationships between teachers and students are part of why the Burke community is so welcoming. Burke kids are upbeat, even while working hard, because they are known, understood, and appreciated. That’s why we can demand so much of them intellectually and ethically. ADVISORY PROGRAM Each year we pair up every student with an advisor with whom they meet regularly to talk about school work, extracurricular interests, friendships– whatever is on the student’s mind. Advisors monitor grades, talk with parents and work closely with other teachers. They organize the Family Conference – a Burke speciality that keeps each student accountable for his or her progress. It is not unusual for alumni to keep in touch with their previous advisors long after they leave Burke. Relationships built here last way past Graduation.
“We really keep track of what the kids are doing, which allows us to focus on what they need, where they are. I don’t think any other school in the area has such an intense advisory program.” A BURKE TEACHER
COMMENT SYSTEM The Student Information System on our website allows every teacher to send a quick message whenever homework is missing, a grade is slipping, or when a child has excelled at a project or made a terrific contribution to a class. These comments go to the student, the parents and the advisors – everyone stays informed, and no child at Burke “flies under the radar.”
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“I like how Burke accepts people and nobody is teased for being different. There’s lots of diversity and it’s very inclusive, definitely in comparison to other schools.” A BURKE STUDENT
LEADERSHIP SERVICE EQUITY It’s not an accident that these words appear in the titles of no less than three faculty at Burke: Leadership Director, Director of Service & Civic Engagement, and Director of Equity & Inclusion. Our excellent academics, arts and sports are made even richer by our emphasis on learning to be a thoughtful, responsible, and engaged citizen. Our Leadership program starts with a foundation in middle school: group dynamics; listening skills; how to be assertive, yet respectful. In high school, students work on ways to run a meeting, inspire others, and organize events. Our Service program is an integral part of the Burke curriculum. Service learning is built into middle school courses, and high school students are asked to perform a minimum number of service hours outside of Burke each year. (Many do much more than what’s required.) Our seniors go off for two weeks each May to pursue interests outside the classroom – many of them choose to work in nonprofits, hospitals and schools. The goal is to use the knowledge and skills they’ve gained at Burke to contribute to the community outside our walls.
“When I first visited Burke, students were presenting in a leadership program and I was taken by the poise of those young people. To see such confidence as well as happiness at a college prep school - I knew I wanted to teach here.” A BURKE TEACHER
Our Director of Equity & Inclusion is committed to weaving the principles of affirmation and fairness into everything we do here, from assemblies to course curricula. Teachers and students alike appreciate that Burke has dedicated an administrative office and significant resources to this critical facet of school culture.
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“I like our unique schedule – it would be boring to have the same class after lunch everyday. Having classes meet at a variety of times keeps things exciting.” A BURKE STUDENT
LEARNING PLAYING SUCCEEDING ACADEMICS Burke teachers take a wide view of their subjects, bringing biology into English class, art into geometry, and physics into music. What’s important is showing students how the pieces of what they are learning fit together and to inspire them to continue to make those kinds of connections throughout their lives, not just to pass this week’s test. While our course offerings are challenging and varied, understanding how to analyze problems, interpret material, organize work, and manage time is a crucial part of the learning that goes on at Burke. ARTS In addition to our fine academics, Burke emphasizes the importance of the arts. We understand that painting, drawing, ceramics, music and acting are just as important to brain development as reading and writing. The arts foster the experimentation and expression of ideas that are part of the 21st century skills all graduates will need. Our dedication to visual and performing art is visible in our extraordinary dramatic productions, concerts and art shows. ATHLETICS Our athletic program is famously “no-cut.” Every student can play on any team, and we encourage students to try new sports. Being part of a Burke team contributes to personal and social growth, as well as physical fitness. Our emphasis is on teamwork and skill-building, but that doesn’t prevent us from winning banners and sending graduates off to play on college teams. COLLEGE We have an excellent record of college placement, because by 12th grade we know our students and they know themselves. Our college counselors begin working with families in junior year, and they help make great matches between kids and schools. The majority of Burke students are accepted to one of their top choices, and Burke alumni are passionate in their praise for the way our program prepared them for success at college. Our graduates arrive on campus intellectually and emotionally ready to make decisions, advocate for themselves, and pursue their academic interests with confidence. They know how to research, write, calculate and analyze, and they also know how to speak up and work for justice. burkeschool.org
“Burke does a better job of fostering a multi-faceted person than other schools. They emphasize becoming a thinker rather than passing tests.” A BURKE PARENT
“ Burke welcomed me with open arms for exactly who I was. There was no prejudice or expectation to be a certain way. I was free to be inspired by highly competent, enthusiastic teachers who encouraged intellectual growth, not regurgitation. It was education in its truest form.� A BURKE ALUMNUS
COLLABORATION CREATIVITY TECHNOLOGY Remember when sending a fax was the latest in communications? When teachers needed AV carts holding TVs and VCRs to show videos? It sounds so retro, but it really wasn’t that long ago. Keeping up with the latest technology and incorporating it into our curriculum is essential both for keeping students engaged and for teaching them how to navigate in a world full of small screens. We are on top of the latest in classroom techniques, and we are committed to making use of research into how students learn and what helps them to be successful in school and in life. Hence our middle school iPad program, where each student has a tablet to use during the school day and teachers meet regularly to discuss creative ways to incorporate tablets into the curriculum. iPads are a natural tool for problem-based and project-based learning. Using the many iPad applications developed for classrooms, students can confront and work on real-world issues and problems, often in groups, and can share and publish their work with an audience outside of Burke.
“The technology at Burke is at a college level. There’s always a computer available, the teachers use them really well, and I like the way it’s combined with writing in a traditional notebook.” A BURKE STUDENT
Students also make use of the latest software when creating digital photographs, designing the school newspaper and yearbook, and blogging about service trips. It’s not uncommon to see students giving a multi-media presentation of a group project to their class. And clever studentmade videos showcasing sports teams are the highlight of every season. Weaving iPads, computers and social media into the fabric of our curriculum empowers students to research, think, process, design, connect, and produce creative solutions in novel ways. These are the very skills our graduates will need in college and in the modern workplace.
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Applying to Burke VISIT US Many Burke families tell us that as soon as they walked in the door, they could tell that Burke was a good fit for them. We urge you to come experience our unique community for yourself. OPEN HOUSE We hold two Saturday Open Houses every year, one in the fall and one in the winter. The dates are on our website, www.burkeschool.org. You can take a tour, meet the head of school, talk with teachers and current parents, and watch student performances. All are welcome. PARENT TOURS We run small student-led tours for parents throughout the fall by appointment. These are typically held in the morning - visit us on the web at www.burkeschool.org for more information. STUDENT VISITS Once we receive your application (with or without supporting materials) we will arrange a half-day visit for the applicant to attend classes with a student buddy.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF APPLICATION Our application is online - just go to our website, www.burkeschool.org, and click on Admissions to get started. Completed applications, plus supporting materials and transcripts, are due in January - please check the website for the exact dates. INTERVIEW We schedule time for all prospective students and parents to talk with us on the same day that the student applicant comes to visit classes.
CONTACT US For more information on how to schedule a parent tour or to ask questions, please call 202-362-8882, or send us an email at admissions@burkeschool.org
“Ultimately, we are here to teach every student to be a better human being.� DAMIAN JONES, HEAD OF SCHOOL
“I still find myself referencing topics I learned as a student at Burke. Next year will mark my tenth year since graduating; when you are still able to recall with clarity key lessons learned, I think that is a testament to the quality of education received.� A BURKE ALUMNUS
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” EDMUND BURKE
VISIT US ONLINE
www.burkeschool.org
CONTACT US
4101 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20008 202-362-8882 ext. 670 admissions@burkeschool.org