Author: dcpsschoolplanning

New DCPS middle school : fall engagement recap

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This fall, DC Public Schools (DCPS) began public engagement on the new middle school that will open in School Year 2028-2029 (for more information about the new middle school, check out our posts about the FY25 budget and the community survey launched last month). This initial engagement has focused on schools with geographic feeder rights to the new middle school: Cleveland ES, Garrison ES, and Seaton ES.  

Staff members from the DCPS School Planning team talked to students and families at Back to School Nights at all three schools, attended the Cleveland Literacy Night on November 19, and participated in the Garrison Fall Festival and Seaton’s outdoor movie night on October 25. Families asked thoughtful questions, and we heard plenty of enthusiasm from families who would like to stay at their elementary school through 5th grade and attend the new middle school together. 

Next up, join us at the Shaw Library on December 3 for a public kick-off event! Register here: bit.ly/NewMS_Kick-Off 

See you there!  

You’re Invited: New DCPS Middle School Kick-Off Meeting

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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 and the community survey launched last month!) 

Please join us as we kick off community engagement for the new middle school on Tuesday, December 3rd from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the Shaw Neighborhood Library (1630 7th St NW). Attendees will learn about the new school, explore insights from the community survey, and be invited to share their questions and ideas.  

The Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library is located across from the Shaw-Howard University Metro station, at the intersection of 7th Street NW and Rhode Island Avenue NW. When exiting the train, take the R and 8th Street exit. Childcare and language interpretation will be provided.
Please register here: bit.ly/NewMS_Kick-Off 

We want to hear from you! Please complete the community survey here by November 22, 2024. If you have any questions, please email us at dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov. 

New DCPS MS Community Survey

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As previously announced with the release of Mayor Bowser’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a new middle school is slated to open in SY28-29. It will be a comprehensive, neighborhood middle school with a boundary, serving grades 6-8. It will be the feeder middle school for Cleveland ES, Garrison ES, and Seaton ES. Students at these schools currently in 2nd grade and younger can attend when the school opens in 2028. 

We invite you to participate in a brief survey to inform initial engagement. The survey will remain open until November 12, 2024. If you have any questions, please email us at dcps.planning@k12.dc.gov. 

Click here to access the survey. 

Bancroft Elementary School Update

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On August 22, 2024, DC Public Schools (DCPS) shared an update with the Bancroft ES community addressing the school’s over-utilization challenges and the 2023 Boundary and Student Assignment Study recommendations.  

For School Year 2025-2026 and School Year 2026-2027, DCPS will relocate Bancroft Elementary School’s PK3 and PK4 classrooms to the Sharpe Health building at 4300 13th St NW to alleviate overutilization at Bancroft. The facility was selected due to its proximity to the school, current use as a DCPS learning space, and previous use as a swing space for Bancroft during the school’s modernization. More information on the relocation of PK3 and PK4 classrooms to Sharpe will be shared with families over the next few months. 

To read the full letter, click here (English) and here (Spanish).

Changes to the Cardozo feeder pattern

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On June 12, 2024, DCPS sent emails to families at Cardozo EC, Francis EC, shared an update with the community about changes to be implemented at Cardozo Education Campus and its feeder pattern.  

Over the next several years, DC Public Schools (DCPS) will implement the following changes: 

  • Cardozo will phase out middle grades: We are enthusiastic about the opportunity for Cardozo to return to a traditional high school. In School Year (SY) 2025-2026, Cardozo will not enroll a new 6th grade class. By SY 2027-2028, Cardozo will serve only grades 9-12. 
  • DCPS will open a new middle school: In March 2022, Mayor Bowser announced funding for DCPS to open a new middle school at 800 Euclid St NW (the former Banneker High School building) in August 2028. Engagement opportunities will be shared on the School Planning blog soon. 
  • John Francis Education Campus will temporarily expand its feeder pattern: Students who graduate from Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton Elementary Schools currently have geographic feeder rights to enroll at Cardozo for middle school. Beginning in School Year 2025-2026, students at these three elementary schools will have feeder rights to enroll at John Francis Education Campus for 6th grade. This will continue until the enrollment for the new middle school opens. At that time, students graduating from Cleveland, Garrison, and Seaton will have feeder rights only to the new middle school. 

Please read the letters from Chancellor Ferebee here: 
1. Letter to the Cardozo community, click here (English), here (Spanish) 

2. Letter to the Cleveland ES community, click here (English), here (Spanish) 

3. Letter to the Seaton ES community, click here (English), here (Spanish) 

4. Letter to the Garrison ES community, click here (English), here (Spanish) 

5. Letter to the John Francis EC community, click here (English), here (Spanish) 
 
 

School Year 2025-2026 boundary and feeder pattern changes

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In 2023-2024, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) led a boundary and student assignment study. The study was a comprehensive review of DC Public Schools (DCPS) boundaries and feeder patterns and of public school student assignment policies in accordance with the Attendance Zone Boundaries Act of 2013. The study focused on solving current and anticipated future challenges relating to clear rights, adequate capacity, and equitable access to public schools for the next 10 years.  

The process culminated in a series of recommendations made by the DC Advisory Committee on Student Assignment. In June 2024, Mayor Muriel Bowser approved the recommendations.  

Read the report with final recommendations.  

Read the Mayor’s approval of the Advisory Committee’s recommendations.  

As a result, DCPS communicated via letter and email with families living in a boundary change area: Four groups received this communication: 

  1. Public school families living in a change area newly assigned to Malcolm X, previously Turner (link) 
  1. Public school families living in a change area newly assigned to Amidon-Bowen, previously Van Ness (link) 
  1. Public school families living in the Ross boundary whose assigned middle school changed (link) 
  1. Public school families living in the Thomson boundary whose assigned middle school changed (link) 

DCPS will continue to work on implementation of the recommendations that directly impact or are owned by DCPS. Updates will be posted to this page on a rolling basis. 

Mayor Bowser’s CIP budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2030: Foxhall ES

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On April 3, 2024, Mayor Bowser released the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2030.

The originally proposed Foxhall school opening supported the initiative to alleviate capacity concerns in Ward 3. In the Mayor’s proposed budget, funding for this project has changed; there is no longer funding dedicated to specifically support the opening of this school.

Please find the letter from Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn to the Foxhall and Ward 3 community linked here (English).

Mayor Bowser’s CIP budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2030: Euclid St MS opening SY28-29

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With the release of Mayor Bowser’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2030, Euclid St. Middle School at 800 Euclid St NW (the “Old Banneker” building) is slated to open in SY28-29.

‘Euclid St MS’ is a temporary name for the middle school that will open on Euclid St NW, referred to in previous planning periods as “Shaw” or “Center City”. In the Mayor’s proposed budget, funding for planning and design is allocated for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026, then continues with construction funding in Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028. The school will receive a full modernization in line with district-wide best practices and educational standards.

Read the letter from Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn to the Cardozo families here (English, Spanish, Amharic, Mandarin).

MacArthur High School feature: Mr Walker, Custodian Foreman

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Your role at MacArthur High School for SY23-24 and how long have you been working at DCPS/in education? I’m Custodian Foreman making sure that me and my team are maintaining a clean, safe,  secure building and environment for the staff, and students. I have been working with DCPS and education for 5 years now.

What are you most excited about at MacArthur High School? I am most excited to being able to lay down a foundation of new beginnings and that MacArthur High School is in a great position and leadership to invest in the kids and community.

Your favorite thing about working in schools? My favorite thing about working in schools is being able to make a difference behind the scenes, in the trenches, sowing into lives of the kids ,staff and families. To make a change, develop and see the growth of others and myself.

MacArthur High School: Student Scheduling Orientation Night

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On May 30th and 31st, MacArthur High School (HS) conducted its first student scheduling night at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus. This gave families and students a chance to choose their courses for the upcoming school year and meet with their teachers for the first time!

For SY23-24, MacArthur HS will have grades 9 and 10. Learn more about DCPS’ newest high school here and follow MacArthur HS on Twitter @MacArthur_DCPS