Updated: June 26, 2012
Contact: Theola Labbé-DeBose, Director of Communications
(202) 328-2670 phone
tldebose@dcpubliccharter.com
Washington, D.C. —Nearly 15,000 names are on waiting lists at DC charter schools, according to self-reported data from the city’s 98 charter school campuses compiled by the DC Public Charter School Board. Meanwhile, more than 700 slots are still available, including several at high-performing schools ranked as Tier 1 on the PCSB’s Performance Management Framework (PMF).
“These numbers are a powerful indicator of DC families’ demand for more quality school options,” said Scott Pearson, PCSB executive director. “We realize there is a large gap between that demand and available slots, and we remain committed to being a high-quality authorizer that is transforming public education so that more DC children can attend the school of their choice.”
Jessica Wodatch, executive director of Two Rivers, a Ward 6 charter school with grades pre-K through 8, said the waiting list for theirlower school has more than 1,000 names while their upper school waiting list has 94 names. “I don’t want to discourage parents because we have found that seats open up after the school year begins -- especially in the upper grades,” Wodatch said.
For the first time, the PCSB is making available online information on waiting lists and available openings by school and grade to inform the public about trends in charter school enrollment. The information was compiled by the PCSB and reflects student names on waiting lists. For example, if a child is on three waiting lists, that will be counted three times.
The PCSB will update the information in July and August. Meanwhile, parents are encouraged to contact a charter school directly with questions about openings, and also to check on schools not listed as spaces may still open up over the summer.
To see more information, including the PCSB’s “Find a Charter School” tool, visit http://www.dcpubliccharter.com.
DC CHARTER
SCHOOL WAITING LISTS 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR*
Summary Table
DC CHARTER SCHOOL AVAILABLE SLOTS 2012-2013 SCHOOLYEAR*
Summary Table
|
School Name
|
Grades
|
PMF Tier
|
Total
|
|
Achievement
Preparatory Academy
|
4-8
|
1
|
60
|
|
Capital City
– Lower School
|
Pre-K-8
|
1
|
10
|
|
Center City
-Trinidad Campus
|
Pre-K-8
|
1
|
28
|
|
Thurgood
Marshall Academy
|
9-12
|
1
|
40
|
|
Center City
-Brightwood Campus
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
5
|
|
Center City
-Shaw Campus
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
1
|
|
Friendship
Woodridge
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
64
|
|
Friendship
Collegiate Academy - Woodson
|
9-12
|
2
|
69
|
|
Friendship
Junior Academy - Blow-Pierce
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
84
|
|
Mary McLeod
Bethune - Brookland
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
38
|
|
National Collegiate Prep PCS
|
9-12
|
2
|
40
|
|
Perry Street
Prep - Lower School
|
Pre-K-8
|
2
|
81
|
|
Center City
-Congress Heights Campus
|
Pre-K-8
|
3
|
17
|
|
Maya Angelou
–Lower School
|
6-8
|
3
|
77
|
|
BASIS DC |
5-8 |
Opening Aug 2012
|
20 |
|
DC Scholars
|
Pre-K-3
|
Opening Aug 2012
|
123
|
|
Community Academy - Amos II
|
Pre-K-K
|
n/a
|
72
|
|
Total
Available Slots
|
|
|
829
|
*As of June 26, 2012 [original request May 23, 2012]
About the PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) currently oversees 53 public charter schools on 98 campuses serving nearly 32,000 students living in every ward of the city. Seventy-five percent of the students attending public charter schools qualify for free or reduced price meals. Public charter schools serve 41% of all public school students in Washington, DC. Learn more about the PCSB at www.dcpubliccharter.com.
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