Author: dcpsschoolplanning

Implementation of updated sibling phase-in policies in the MacArthur HS feeder pattern

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In June 2022, families of students at Hardy Middle School and its feeder elementary schools were notified that the opening of the district’s new comprehensive neighborhood high school, MacArthur High School (HS), would require changes to boundaries and feeder patterns.  

Background:  

Additionally, from March 2023 to March 2024, under the Attendance Zone Boundaries Amendment Act of 2022, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) conducted a comprehensive study of DCPS boundaries, feeder patterns, and student assignment policies. Once the study’s recommendations were approved in June 2024, and in collaboration with DME, DCPS reviewed our phase-in policies.  

Updates to the Policy: 

For the past two school years, DCPS’ phase-in policy has allowed 8th grade students at Hardy to choose between MacArthur HS and their former feeder high school, Jackson-Reed HS. Aligned with past communication, that dual option has come to an end; current Hardy 8th graders entering 9th grade in School Year (SY) 2025-2026 will have feeder rights to only MacArthur HS. Additionally, there will be changes to sibling phase-in policies beginning in SY 2025-2026. For more information, read the MacArthur HS FAQ.

For more information, read this post and review the 2024 DCPS boundary study implementation FAQ.

DCPS is implementing phase-in policies within the MacArthur feeder pattern to align with this updated approach. As a result, DCPS communicated via letter and email with families in the MacArthur feeder pattern. Two groups received communication:  

  1. Families at Hardy MS (English, Spanish) 
  1. Families at the feeder elementary schools, Hyde-Addison ES, Eaton ES, Key ES, Mann ES, and Stoddert ES. (link to letters)  

Update as of June 9, 2025: DCPS Chief of Integrity, Cinthia Ruiz sent a letter to Hardy families impacted by this decision. For SY2026-27 and SY2027-28, DCPS is committed to Jackson-Reed enrolling siblings through the MySchoolDC lottery. To read the full letter from Chief Ruiz, click here.

If you have any questions, please email us at dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov. 

Updated sibling phase-in policies following DME’s 2023 Boundary and Study Assignment Study

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In June 2024, the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM) approved the recommendations of the 2023 Boundary and Student Assignment study led by the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) – for details about the study read this post or visit dme.dc.gov/boundaries2023. 

Following that approval, DCPS worked with DME to review phase-in policies. Starting in School Year 2025-2026, DCPS is updating our approach to sibling phase-in policies. For details, review the 2024 DCPS boundary study implementation FAQ.

School Boundary change maps – School Year 2025-2026

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In 2023-2024, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) led a boundary and student assignment study. To read more about the recommendations that were made by the Advisory Committee and approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser, check out this post.

As a result of the study, the school boundaries for four DC Public Schools (DCPS) elementary schools will change, effective in School Year 2025-2026. School communities received letters about the planned change in August 2024. See school-specific boundary change maps below:

1. Amidon-Bowen Elementary School new boundary

2. Van Ness Elementary School new boundary

3. Malcolm X @ Green Elementary School new boundary

4. Turner Elementary School new boundary

Announcing the New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG) members

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To ensure that the community remains informed on the new middle school opening on Euclid St in School Year 2028-2029, DCPS has formed a Community Working Group (CWG) composed of 23 parents, community members, and school staff. For more details about how representatives were chosen, see this blog post about the CWG member application process. 

Members of the CWG for the new middle school on Euclid St will have three primary roles:   

  1. Build knowledge about middle school in DCPS and share updates with members of the community they represent.    
  1. Collect feedback from members of the community they represent.    
  1. Based on collected feedback, provide insight into the priorities of prospective students, family members, and community members during CWG meetings.    

The group will meet regularly over the next three years until the school opens in School Year (SY) 2028-2029. If you have questions or ideas about the new middle school, please contact the representative for your community, listed below: 

School/Community Group  Relationship to new school Representatives 
Cardozo EC  Feeder high school (“destination school”)    Parent rep #1- Javonica Crutchfield 
Parent rep #2 – Nina Gonzalez 
Principal – Arthur Mola 
Cleveland ES  Geographic feeder elementary school  Parent rep #1 – Kate DeAngelis 
Parent rep #2 – Jacob Aladejobi 
Principal designee – Virginia Henson 
Garrison ES  Geographic feeder elementary school    Parent rep #1 – Mia Caras 
Parent rep #2 – Andria Hill 
Principal – Brigham Kiplinger 
Seaton ES  Geographic feeder elementary school  Parent rep #1 – Zandria Haines 
Parent rep #2 – Nick Nigro 
Principal – Veronica Torres 
Columbia Heights EC  Closest middle school  Parent rep #1 – Vacant 
Principal – Maria Tukeva 
H.D. Cooke ES  Programmatic feeder elementary school  Parent rep #1 – Vacant 
Principal – Ryan Lam 
Marie Reed ES  Programmatic feeder elementary school  Parent rep #1 – Joseph McCoy 
Principal designee – Tasara Redekopp 
Tubman ES  Programmatic feeder elementary school  Parent rep #1 – Vacant 
Principal – Amanda Delabar 
Ward 1 Ed Council  The new school and Cardozo, CHEC, Cleveland, H.D. Cooke, Marie Reed, and Tubman are located in Ward 1.  Rep #1 – Christine Miller 
Ward 2 Ed Council  Garrison and Seaton are located in Ward 2.  Rep #1 – Sarah Dale 
ANC 1E06  The new school is located in this ANC.  Rep #1 – Commissioner Josh Jacobson 

March 2025 CWG Meeting Recap: New Middle School on Euclid St  

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On March 12, 2025, DC Public Schools (DCPS) hosted the New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG) March meeting. (For more details about the new school, check out our posts about the FY25 budget and the December 2024 community engagement kick-off event.)  

The meeting opened with introductions and a discussion of the group’s purpose and an outline of the role of CWG members. Greg Dohmann, the DCPS Senior Director of Graduation Success Initiatives, was a guest speaker and provided an overview of DCPS’ middle school offerings to build the group’s foundational knowledge. 

You can view the meeting recording here and the presentation here (English), here (Spanish), here (Chinese) and here (Amharic).

The next CWG meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2025. This spring, CWG members will also visit DCPS middle schools and will plan opportunities to get feedback from the communities they represent.  

2023 Boundary and Student Assignment Study Implementation Plan 

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In 2023-2024, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) led a boundary and student assignment study. To read more about the recommendations that were made by the Advisory Committee and approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser, check out this post.  

In February 2025, DCPS and DME published an Implementation Plan outlining key actions related to the recommendations of the boundary study. Future updates will be posted to this page on a rolling basis. 

New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group Meet-and-Greet

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On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, DCPS hosted a meet-and-greet for members of the New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG) – the first in a series of planning meetings for the new school that will open at 800 Euclid St NW. (For more details about the new school, check out our posts about the FY25 budget, the December 2024 community engagement kick-off event, and the CWG member application process.) 

The CWG is composed of 23 representatives, including parents, community members, and school staff. The group will meet regularly over the next three years until the school opens in School Year 2028-2029. The finalized list of members will be posted here, on the School Planning Blog, in the coming weeks so that community members know who to contact with questions and ideas.  

The next CWG meeting will be held virtually on March 12, 2025. A recording of the meeting and all meeting materials will be publicly available and posted to this blog. If you have questions about the new middle school, please email our team at dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov.  

Upcoming changes to school locations

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Swing Spaces Locations: School Year 2025-2026  

During a modernization, some schools are temporarily relocated to a “swing space” location. In School Year 2025-2026, the seven schools listed below will be in swing spaces. For more information, visit the DCPS Facilities website. 

School  Swing Space – Temporary Location  Swing Space Address – Temporary Location  
Brent ES  Meyer  2501 11th St NW, Washington DC 20001  
Burroughs ES  Burroughs modulars 1820 Monroe St NE, Washington DC 20018 
JO Wilson ES  
(moving in January 2025)		Upper Spingarn Field modulars 850 26th St NE, Washington DC 20002  
King ES V Street Anacostia 1409 V St SE, Washington DC 20020 
Malcolm X ES at Green  Davis  4430 H St SE, Washington DC 20019  
Thomas ES  Kenilworth  1300 44th St NE, Washington DC 20019  
Tubman ES  Old Banneker  800 Euclid St NW, Washington DC 20001 

Please note: Drew ES was previously scheduled to relocate to a Swing Space in School Year 2025-2026. On October 21, 2024, the Drew ES community received notification that their relocation to a Swing Space will begin in School Year 2026-2027 instead. For more information, refer to this letter to the Drew community. 

Classroom Relocations: School Year 2025-2026 

To alleviate overutilization, classrooms can be temporarily relocated to another location. In School Year 2025-2026, Bancroft Elementary School will relocate its PK3 and PK4 classrooms to the Sharpe Health building. For more information, refer to this letter to the Bancroft community. 

School  Temporary Location  Address – Temporary Location  
Bancroft ES  Sharpe Health4300 13th St NW, Washington DC 20011

Completed Modernizations: School Year 2025-2026

Three schools will return to their permanent location, upon the completion of a modernization or small capital improvement, in School Year 2025-2026. For more information, visit the DCPS Facilities website. 
 

School  Permanent Address 
Truesdell EC 800 Ingraham St NW, Washington, DC 20011 
Oyster Adams
(Adams campus, serving grades 4-8, only) 		2020 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 
Browne EC
(moving in December 2024) 		850 26th St NE, Washington, DC 20002 

New DCPS Middle School: Kick-Off Meeting Recap

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On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, DC Public Schools (DCPS) hosted a kick-off meeting about the new middle school DCPS will open in School Year 2028-2029. (For details, check out our posts about the FY25 budget,  an opportunity to join the Community Working Group, or a recap of engagement in the feeder schools.)  We’re grateful to everyone who attended! 

The event, held at Shaw Neighborhood Library, attracted a full house, with about 35 community members plus representatives from DCPS. The group participated in visioning exercises for the new school, explored the results of the community survey, and asked questions about plans for the new school. At this meeting, the application for the New MS on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG) was released. You can learn more about the CWG here. The CWG application will be open until January 15, 2025, and can be found here: https://bit.ly/newdcpscwg.
 
Meeting materials from the event can be found here – English, Spanish, Chinese, Amharic

New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG) Application

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DCPS is opening a new middle school in School Year 2028-2029 at 800 Euclid St NW. (For details, check out our posts about the FY25 budget,  the community survey launched last month or a recap of engagement in the feeder schools.)   

As part of the opening of the new middle school, a Community Working Group (CWG) will be formed. In opening schools in recent years, DCPS has consistently formed CWGs to serve in an advisory role during planning.  Members of the CWG for the new middle school on Euclid St will have three primary roles:  

  1. Help share updates on the planning of the new school to members of the community they represent.   
  1. Collect general and specific feedback from members of the community they represent.   
  1. Based on collected feedback, provide insight into the priorities of prospective students, family members, and community members during CWG meetings.   

DCPS is looking for parents and caregivers, school staff, and community members to represent their communities on the New Middle School on Euclid St Community Working Group (CWG). To learn more and apply click here (English), here (Spanish), here (Chinese) and here (Amharic). The CWG application deadline is January 15, 2025, DCPS will work with principals and community groups to identify CWG members. Presentation materials from all meetings will be publicly available and posted to this blog.  

If you have any questions, reach out to dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov.