Our mission is to bridge the educational divide in the nation’s capital by increasing the number of students from underserved communities with the academic preparation and personal character to succeed in competitive high schools and colleges.
To support our work, visit: dcprep.org/support-dc-prep
100% acceptance to college-prep high schools
6 campuses
One of the highest-performing networks in DC
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There is an energy that ripples throughout DC Prep. It’s vibrant, it’s passionate, and it’s constant. It’s the energy that comes from a team who is relentless in its pursuit of ensuring our kids receive an amazing education.
I joined DC Prep in 2007 for this simple reason: I knew that if you wanted to be part of a team that worked well together and actually got results for kids, this was the place to be. That was the reputation we had back then, and it’s what continues to resonate with those who join us today. We find the people who are committed to this same mission and end result, and in turn, we invest in helping them grow and flourish in their work here.
Being part of the DC Prep network means that we are committed to helping teachers and campus leaders do their best work in service of students. Teachers across the country are constantly asked to do a myriad of jobs, all of which are important and complementary, but the most important piece is to educate our children: to make sure that every one of our students leaves DC Prep with the analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills to thoughtfully approach, disentangle, and solve hard problems—and to be able to do so alongside others.
I’ve now been at DC Prep for over 15 years, which allows me to take a long view of how far we’ve come. And I’m convinced that
central to our success is how we’ve built strong systems and structures that measure what matters and enable us to interrogate results that aren’t up to our standards of excellence. We study our data, formulate hypotheses about root causes, and iterate on new approaches to examine whether they deliver the results we’re aiming for. We are never content to rest on our laurels, because we know we can always do better.
And we incorporate every voice in our network into that pursuit of excellence. Our curriculum and assessments were developed in partnership with our teachers and campus leaders, who help us continue to refine our work every year. We take care in spotlighting great work and best practices across our six campuses. Our staff engage in task forces that guide our decision-making and design our program model for the future.
We set our kids up to be leaders. The more students that walk out DC Prep’s doors and go off into the world to make it a better place, the better. We aren’t—and shouldn’t be—the only people helping them become those leaders, but we have a very important role in their lives. And we take that role seriously. Our students have a voice, and that voice deserves to be heard—they have a right to be at the table to solve “the problem.” And our job is to prepare them to get to that table.
In 2003, DC Prep opened its doors to a small group of students. Those early families were able to look past our unusual school location (the basement of the Old Soldiers Home!) to embrace a vision we still hold today: that we will prepare children to attend great high schools and colleges, which will in turn prepare them for lifelong success. As we reflect on the progress we’ve made over the last 20 years, our DC Prep team feels immense pride in how we have worked hard to honor the faith our families have placed in us to deliver great results for their children.
We have chosen to open schools slowly— deliberately. We’re now in our 20th year and we have six campuses (two each in Wards 5, 7, and 8). We know that the reason to open a school is because you have something of value to offer to a community that wants you. And that happens when your schools are strong, when you build trust and connection with the families you serve, and your students are thriving academically and as young people. This takes significant, intentional time and effort to get right. And now with nearly 1,000 graduates, we have evidence that this approach works: over 95% of our alumni go on to graduate from high school (versus 75% citywide). Even more impressively, our students are graduating from college at more than three times the rate of their peers, nationally.
I am often asked about DC Prep’s secret to success. It’s a difficult question—there are so many things that I believe contribute to our success and none of them are “secrets”!—but there are several factors that I believe are instrumental:
• A community that believes deeply in our mission. Families choose us because they want their children to go to college, and they choose us after seeing the positive impact DC Prep had on the lives of people they know and respect. Almost without exception, DC Prep families will talk about a relative or close friend who has a child that graduated from—or currently attends—DC Prep. Similarly, staff choose us because they want to work in a school community that cares about great results for students. This is an incredible source of strength: the vast majority of parents and staff members are aligned on where we are headed and believe that goal is worthy of time and effort.
• Systems for using data to evaluate our progress and plan how to improve. One of the hallmarks of DC Prep is our commitment to using data to evaluate ourselves against the goals we set. This helps us to get clear on what we are striving towards, enables us to hold ourselves accountable, and creates space for us to celebrate progress and plan how we’ll move forward.
• A willingness to revisit how we do our work in service of better outcomes. Together, our values provide direction on how we can fulfill our mission. They remind us to set lofty goals and build plans to achieve them (“We Aim High”). They encourage us to think about issues from multiple dimensions & consider what is possible (“We Ask Why”). And they push us to be willing to try new things, in service of better results (“We Are Brave”). These strengths position us well as we look ahead to our next 20 years. In a world that
is ever more complex, we know we must prepare students to be critical thinkers, flexible problem-solvers, collaborative team players, and emotionally intelligent leaders. Already, our curriculum has evolved to place even more emphasis on social-emotional learning and studentdriven thinking. In the coming years, we will continue this push as we embrace project-based assessment to build students’ capacity for creative problem-solving, teamwork and executive functioning skills, and interdisciplinary thinking.
Alongside the shifts we are exploring for students, we are also looking for opportunities to better meet the needs of our teachers and school leaders. Over the last few years, we’ve seen that teachers and leaders are as passionate as ever about our mission—and that many talented educators are looking for greater flexibility in their day-to-day work. While we don’t yet know what the teaching roles of tomorrow may look like, we are deeply invested in examining these questions. Because in seeking solutions, we will find new ways to attract and keep great educators. We have launched a staff task force to examine these questions and are excited to see the recommendations the task force puts forward. As always, we believe our best answers come from working together as a community to define our path forward.
We look forward to continuing to improve the day-to-day experience of our students and staff and see the way that their needs reflect the urgent demands of a complex and rapidly evolving world. We are excited to tackle these challenges together. Onward!
1 High quality schools heat map. (2020). Ready Colorado. Retrieved from https://coloradoschoolmap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ReadyCO-HQ-Schools-Heat-Map-Analysis-Final.pdf
2 Watson, K. (2016, August 3). Why richer areas get more school funding than poorer ones. Global Citizen. Retrieved from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/cost-of-education-in-us/
3 “At risk” is a term defined by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education as students identified as homeless, in foster care, their families qualify for government assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or high school students that are one year older, or more, than the expected age for the grade in which the students are enrolled.
4 Mervosh, S. & Wu, A. (2022, October 24). Math scores fell in nearly every state, and reading dipped on national exam. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/24/us/math-reading-scores-pandemic.html
“ DC Prep isn’t scared to change. DC Prep is willing to reflect and grow. That’s the difference between us and other ‘high-performing’ schools.”
Ashli
The 2022 Nation’s Report Card paints a sobering picture of students’ proficiency in reading and math following the 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It confirmed, empirically, what many of us already knew: that the pandemic has had a profoundly detrimental impact on our children.
There have long been inequities in the American education system—we know that both zip code and household income have strong correlations with access to quality education 1,2 —and COVID-19 drove an even deeper wedge into the wide gap. Here in DC, only 6% of “at risk” students3 scored “proficient” in math, compared to 33% of “not at-risk” students; in ELA, it was 15% compared to 45%.
In our 20-year history, we’ve demonstrated that we know how to get results for students and prepare them for high school, college, and beyond. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges both significant and unexpected—but none that are insurmountable. We know that with your
“ The pandemic laid bare the deep and troubling inequalities that dominate many aspects of American life—especially in education.”
The New York Times4
support, we can continue to successfully deliver on our mission of bridging the educational divide in our nation’s capital. Because ultimately, how we choose to approach education speaks to what kind of world we want to live in together.
The stakes are higher than ever—not just for our students, but for the future of our city, our country, and our world. We must collectively take responsibility for the education of our communities. And DC Prep continues to forge ahead, committed to providing a first-rate education to every student that walks through our doors. We hope you’ll join us in this work.
WARD 5
Edgewood Elementary Campus
Opened in 2007
PK3–3rd,~440 students
2013 National Blue Ribbon School
Edgewood Middle Campus
Opened in 2003
4th–8th,~340 students
WARD 7
Benning Elementary Campus
Opened in 2008
PK3-3rd,~440 students
2022 National Blue Ribbon School
Benning Middle Campus
Opened in 2013
4th–8th,~340 students
WARD 8
Anacostia Elementary Campus
Opened in 2015
PK3–3rd,~430 students
Anacostia Middle Campus
Opened in 2020
4th–6th,~200 students
(AMC grows by one grade each year)
“ What we learned at DC Prep has been embedded in our souls.”
Jaime Owens | DC Prep ’08
By the early 2000s, DC public education had been struggling for a long time. Despite having among the highest per-student education expenditures in the country, DC students’ test scores were among the lowest—and continuing to decline. Something had to change.
DC Prep was founded in 2003 by local leaders, advocates, and families who wanted a school to believe in their children as much as they did. The mission: To bridge the educational divide in the nation’s capital by increasing the number of students from underserved communities with the academic preparation and personal character to succeed in competitive high schools and colleges.
“DC Prep set out to show that there is a model of public education that can work: that when you bring together missionaligned teachers, families, and community partners, you can have a successful and thriving public school,” founder Emily Lawson said. “And to show that all kids can succeed and go on to high school and college. Back then, that wasn’t an accepted fact.”
DC Prep’s first school, Edgewood Middle Campus, opened with 100 fourth and fifth graders in Ward 5 thanks to the strong support and partnership with Reverend Donald E. Robinson and his youth development organization Beacon House, which is deeply embedded in the Edgewood community.
From the very beginning, DC Prep focused on the twin pillars of academic rigor and social-emotional development. “It’s about helping our students build the skills, habits, and mindsets that will help them be successful members of their communities for the rest of their lives,” founding Board Chair Terry Eakin said. “And we had fun! It was such a joy to feel that we were making a difference.”
At the time of DC Prep’s founding, Pam Steptoe had recently moved to the city and was looking for a school for her daughter, Jaime—the neighborhood school for which they were zoned was not a viable option. “I took a risk on DC Prep,” Pam said, “but once
we started, I was hooked. I could see her academic growth, and I could see that she was being nurtured as both a student and a child.” Jaime was a member of the second graduating class of DC Prep.
Today, Jaime still lives and works in the city where she grew up. “DC Prep was the best education I’ve ever had,” she said. “And I went to two private schools after graduating. I still keep in touch with my friends from DC Prep, and we all agree that what we learned at DC Prep has been embedded in our souls.”
Adenike GonÇalves Kirby has been a Preppie parent for 15 years and counting— her oldest son graduated DC Prep two years ago, while her three younger children are currently in PK4, 1st, and 3rd grade.
“DC Prep has been an important part of my family’s life,” Adenike told us. “Anything you want in a school, DC Prep has it. They do what’s best for the child, and they move with the times. You couldn’t ask for a better team of people to be involved in your child’s life.”
(SY2022)
African-American Hispanic Multi-racial or “other” “At risk”
“ If you want a good education for your child, DC Prep is the place to send them.”
Donita Washington | Mom of 3 DC Prep students
Here at DC Prep, we set the bar high for rigorous instruction and academic achievement. We know what students need to be prepared for the rigors of collegeprep high schools and beyond, and our self-developed curriculum—based on high-quality, research-based educational standards—is designed to do just that. We use the Response to Intervention (RTI) model to closely monitor student process and provide layers of tailored support, ensuring that every student is successfully able to access and engage with instructional content on an ongoing basis.
Rigorous academics and social-emotional education are the twin pillars upon which DC Prep’s educational model is built; they are—and have always been—at the heart of all we do.
Our social-emotional curriculum is centered around our five Core Prep Competencies. Adopted from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), these five competencies anchor the work we do in classrooms toward development of each student’s socialemotional skills.
Self-Awareness: The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
Self-Management: The ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations—effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. The ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals.
Social Awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand
Preppies practice these Core Prep Competencies throughout the day, in social-emotional spaces like Advisory and Community Meetings as well as during instructional time.
Donita Washington first learned about DC Prep when she overheard a coworker talking about their nephew, who was a Preppie. “I visited Edgewood Elementary Campus and the principal showed me the curriculum and took me around the school,” Donita recalled. “I told my husband: they’ve got to come here.” She enrolled her three sons—Julian, Jeremy, and Jayden—as soon as she could. Today, Julian and Jeremy have graduated from DC Prep and both attend Gonzaga College High School; Julian, a junior at Gonzaga, is taking Advanced Placement classes and tutoring other students. Her youngest, Jayden, is in fifth grade at Edgewood Middle Campus and reading on a seventh-grade level.
“I have so much gratitude for DC Prep,” Donita said. “If you want a good education for your child, DC Prep is the place to send them. My three boys are total examples of what you can get. DC Prep makes sure your children are prepared for their journey in life: high school, college, and wherever they choose to go beyond that.”
social and ethical norms for behavior and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Relationship Skills: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
Responsible Decision-Making: The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.
• DC Prep receives the High-Performing School Incentive Award from the DC Mayor’s office for outstanding student academic achievement and the school’s overall performance.
Milken Educator Award
• EEC is the recipient of a 2011 National Title I School of Distinction honor for its work in closing the achievement gap—one of only two schools in DC to be selected.
• Edgewood Middle Campus (EMC) opens in Ward 5.
• Benning Elementary Campus (BEC) opens in Ward 7.
• 95% of DC Prep’s Class of 2007 (the first graduating class) earn their high school diplomas (a rate more than double that of DC Public Schools at the time)—and over 80% matriculate to college.
• Edgewood Elementary Campus (EEC) opens in Ward 5, next to EMC.
• DC Prep receives DC Public Charter School Board’s “Chair’s Award for Excellence”, one of only three charter schools (out of 41) to be recognized for meeting the Board’s highest standards in all areas.
• DC Prep launches PrepNext, an alumni support program, for DC Prep graduates. The program focuses on providing support and resources necessary for high school success and college matriculation.
• DC Prep is the highest-performing network of charter schools in Washington based on results of the 2012 DC CAS statewide assessment.
• DC Prep is prominently featured as a top-performing Tier 1 school in a widely-anticipated report commissioned by DC Mayor Gray’s Administration, “Quality Schools: Every Child, Every School, Every Neighborhood” conducted by the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF).
New Leaders EPIC Spotlight Teacher Award Winners (3) Black Alliance for Educational Options’ “Ed Reform Champion Under 40”
AEC = Anacostia Elementary Campus
AMC = Anacostia Middle Campus
BEC = Benning Elementary Campus
BMC = Benning Middle Campus
EEC = Edgewood Elementary Campus
EMC = Edgewood Middle Campus = Awards
Achievement Network’s Education Impact Award
• EEC recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education
• Benning Middle Campus (BMC) opens in Ward 7, next to BEC.
DC Teacher of the Year
• Out of ~300 charter networks across the country analyzed in a Stanford University study, DC Prep has the fourth highest growth impact in math and the sixth highest growth impact in reading. State-level finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Honored’s National Award (June Honoree)
• For the fifth consecutive year, DC Prep is the highest-performing network of public charter schools based on the results from the 2016 PARCC assessment.
• DC Prep receives a 387/400 Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score from its accrediting agency, Cognia (formerly AdvancED). The five-year average of institutions in Cognia’s accreditation network is 278-283. As a result, Cognia recognizes DC Prep as a School of Distinction, an honor bestowed on less than 10% of schools and school systems across the world that Cognia reviewed in SY2021-22.
• BEC recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Anacostia Elementary Campus (AEC) opens in Ward 8.
DC Teacher of the Year Finalist
• D.C. Policy Center releases the “Access to schools that level the playing field for D.C.’s at-risk students” report that looks at how far DC children must commute to attend a school that is exceptionally good at enabling at-risk students to succeed academically (a “leveler” school). The report cites DC Prep’s middle schools, Edgewood Middle Campus and Benning Middle Campus, as 2 of only 12 “leveler” middle schools in the city.
At DC Public Charter School Board’s “Celebrating Best Practices in Public Charter School Education” event, BMC student Aisosa Oviasogie receives the TIERific Student Award.
• Anacostia Middle Campus (AMC) opens in Ward 8.
BMC students Tyler Willis and Amari Edmonds win Attorney General Racine’s Do the Write Thing Challenge award for Gun Violence Awareness Week.
“ Teachers bring the joy, but we also take the work really seriously— and this is universal at DC Prep.”
Kayla Locklin, Pre-K teacher | 14 years at DC Prep
Nothing matters more than the teacher in the classroom.
At DC Prep, we believe in the value of cultivating great talent. Our adult learning philosophy parallels our student learning philosophy: every member of our DC Prep community is always learning, improving, and modeling a growth mindset in all that we do. It’s why we incorporate over 300 hours of robust, tailored professional development throughout the school year, focusing not only on technical skill development but also on the adaptive skills teachers need to support students in navigating an increasingly complex world. Our teachers have the opportunity to strengthen their content knowledge; repeatedly apply and refine their knowledge and skills; and observe, interact with, and learn from mentors who are experts at their craft. Quarterly “Data Days” allow our faculty the time and space to reflect on growth from the past quarter and develop strategies for the next quarter to facilitate student achievement.
“ I work at DC Prep because I value excellence.”
Aasiya Spann (Community Assistant Principal; 5 years at DC Prep)
Our coaching model—in which each of our teachers is individually coached by a member of the campus leadership team—is the hallmark of our professional development practice, and is lauded by
• For nearly a decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DC Prep was the highest-performing network of public charter schools based on citywide assessment results
• Two of our schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools
• Three of our schools have been named
“ People who worked with me early on said that I had a lot of potential, but I didn’t have the guidance to hone it. DC Prep provided the structure that I needed to develop as a teacher.”
Gary Nelson (6th-grade Special Education math teacher; 8 years at DC Prep)
“ I was very green when I started here. Through their coaching model, DC Prep is responsible for all of my growth as a teacher. And after being at other schools, I believe that DC Prep has a level of support for both teachers and students that makes this place a better environment for learning than most other schools in the city.” Rich Myers (6th-grade math teacher; 8 years at DC Prep)
our accrediting agency as innovative and successful. Guided by our coaching rubrics for culture, instruction, and school community, teachers receive written, actionable feedback from their coach every month.
Our teachers are able to find their professional “home” here at DC Prep because we take great care in building a team of smart, values-aligned colleagues that get results.
EmpowerK12 Bold Performance Schools
• Both of our middle schools open in 2019 were named by the D.C. Policy Center as “leveler” schools (schools that are exceptionally good at enabling at-risk students to succeed academically)
• 100% of graduates have been accepted to college-prep high schools
• Archbishop Carroll High School (DC)
• Bard High School Early College (DC)
• Barrie School (MD)
• Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (DC)
• A Better Chance of Andover (MA)
• A Better Chance in Lower Merion (PA)
• A Better Chance Strath Haven (PA)
• A Better Chance of Winchester (MA)
• Bishop McNamara High School (MD)
• Bullis School (MD)
• Capital City Public Charter School (DC)
• Cesar Chavez Public Charter School (DC)
• Chatham Hall (VA)
• Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)
• Church Farm School (PA)
• Columbia Heights Educational Campus (DC)
• Coolidge Early College Academy (DC)
• DC International School (DC)
• DeMatha Catholic High School (MD)
• Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (MD)
• The Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DC)
• Edmund Burke School (DC)
• E.L. Haynes Public Charter School (DC)
• Elizabeth Seton High School (MD)
• Emerson Preparatory High School (DC)
• Friendship Collegiate Academy (DC)
• Friendship Technology Preparatory High School (DC)
• Georgetown Day School (DC)
• Georgetown Preparatory School (MD)
• Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School (DC)
• Girard College (PA)
• Girls Global Academy (DC)
• Gonzaga College High School (DC)
• Holton-Arms School (MD)
• The Hotchkiss School (CT)
• IDEA Public Charter School (DC)
• Jackson-Reed High School (DC)
• KIPP DC College Preparatory (DC)
• KIPP DC Legacy College Preparatory (DC)
• Landon School (MD)
• The Madeira School (VA)
• Maret School (DC)
• Maya Angelou Public Charter School (DC)
• McKinley Technology High School (DC)
• National Cathedral School (DC)
• The Nora School (MD)
• Oldfields School (MD)
• Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School (DC)
• Phillips Academy Andover (MA)
• Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
• The Potomac School (VA)
• Proctor Academy (NH)
• Radnor A Better Chance (PA)
• Richard Wright Public Charter School (DC)
• Ron Brown College Preparatory High School (DC)
• Sandy Springs Friends School (MD)
• The School Without Walls (DC)
• The SEED Public Charter School (DC)
• Sidwell Friends School (DC)
• The Sojourner Truth Public Charter School (DC)
• Solebury School (PA)
• St. Albans School (DC)
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (MD)
• St. Anselm’s Abbey School (DC)
• St. John’s College High School (DC)
• St. Margaret’s School (VA)
• St. Timothy’s School (MD)
• Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (MD)
• Templeton Academy (DC)
• The Field School (DC)
• The Hill School (VA)
• The Webb School (TN)
• Thurgood Marshall Academy (DC)
• Washington Latin Public Charter School (DC)
• Washington Leadership Academy (DC)
• West Nottingham Academy (MD)
• Western Reserve Academy (OH)
• Woodberry Forest School (VA)
We apologize for any oversights in this list—they are unintentional and a product of incomplete records.
Our work preparing our students for a long, successful academic future begins from the earliest years: at every grade level, age-appropriate content and activities encourage students and their families to learn about future educational options and to set their sights high to achieve outstanding academic careers after graduating from DC Prep.
We’ve succeeded at that: 100% of Preppies have been accepted to college-prep high schools, and collectively they’ve earned over $12 million in high school scholarship support. Over 95% of DC Prep alumni have earned their high school diplomas (compared to 75% of public school students citywide), and our students are graduating college at more than three times the rate of their peers, nationally.
The road to high school and beyond starts with our award-winning High School Placement program.
The high school placement process begins in the fall of students’ seventh-grade year. Our High School Placement counselors provide information packets and meet with families and students to discuss interests, goals, and best-fit high schools, building a list of high schools to research and visit throughout the year.
Director of High School Placement Julie Moeller has taught at DC Prep since 2005 and directed our High School Placement program for over a decade. “I believe that every family wants the very best for their child,” Julie said, “and understanding what constitutes ‘the very best’ for their child is important and the starting point for high school placement.”
In eighth grade, all students participate in a weekly High School Placement class. Outside of class, they also participate in
“ DC Prep has a wonderful reputation for strong student scholars who are excited about learning.”
Amanda Deringer (Director of High School Admissions, Georgetown Day School)
“ I’d be hard pressed to find a school in the District that does a better job of getting their students ready for high school. DC Prep is a special place.”
Mike Hanagan (Associate Dean of Admissions, Gonzaga College High School)
interview preparation, test prep courses, and financial aid application guidance. Our faculty write thoughtful, meaningful recommendation letters for our Preppies’ applications.
“Everyone is going to high school,” Julie emphasized, “and everyone is going to get into a high school that prepares them for college.”
“DC Prep understands community,” Craig Dawson, Assistant Director of Admission at Woodberry Forest School, said. “They are a tight-knit community, just like we are. They prepare students really well for our environment, because at both schools we push students to be great.”
Sophie Howard, Maret School’s Director of Upper School Admission, agrees. “DC Prep students at Maret are well known kids in all the best ways,” Sophie said. “They are smart and accomplished, but more importantly, they love to be involved—and will always say hi to you in the hallway! They are very much the type of student that thrives at Maret, and Maret is proud to have them on campus.”
In his role as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Gonzaga College High School, Devon Leary has seen firsthand the caliber of DC Prep alumni. They made such an impression on Devon that he enrolled his son at DC Prep. “When I saw the DC Prep graduates at Gonzaga, I thought, I want my son to be like them when he’s their age,” Devon shared. “I was so impressed with DC Prep, and I wanted my son to be in that environment, where his identity would be reinforced and he would be loved and challenged.”
• Alabama A&M University*
• Alabama State University
• Albany State University
• Albright College
• Allegany College of Maryland
• Altierus Career College
• American Intercontinental University
• American University
• Anne Arundel Community College
• Arcadia University
• Argosy University
• Ashford University
• ASU Local (Arizona State University)
• Baldwin Wallace University
• Barry University
• Barton County Community College
• Beloit College
• Benedict College
• Bethune Cookman University
• Birmingham Southern College
• Bowie State University
• Broward College
• Bryant University
• California State University, Los Angeles
• California State University, Northridge
• Catholic University of America
• Cheyney University
• Claflin University*
• Clarion University
• Clark Atlanta University
• Clarkson University
• Cleveland State
• Coastal Carolina University
• Coastal Carolina University/ Horry Georgetown Technical College
• College of Southern Maryland
• Colorado Technical University
• Columbia University
• Coppin State University
• Delaware County Community College
• Delaware State University*
• Denison University
• DePaul University
• DeVry University
• Dickinson College*
• Dillard University
• Drew University
• Eckerd College
• Elizabeth City State University
• Elon University
• Emmanuel College
• Emory University
• Everest College
• Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
• Fayetteville State University
• Fisk University
• Florida A&M University
• Florida International University
• Florida Memorial University
• Fordham University
• Frostburg State University
• Furman University
• Garrett College
• George Mason University*
• George Washington University
• Georgetown University
• Georgia State Perimeter College
• Georgia State University
• Gettysburg College*
• Grambling State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Hamilton College
• Hampton University
• Harris Stowe State University
• Harvard University
• Hofstra University
• Hollins University
• Holy Cross University
• Hood College
• Howard Community College
• Howard University
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Indiana University East
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Indiana University— Bloomington
• ITT Technical Institute
• Jackson State University
• James Madison University
• Johnson & Wales University
• Kean University
• Kent State University
• Kentucky State University
• Lafayette College*
• Lee University
• Lehigh University
• Liberty University
• Lincoln University (PA)
• Lincoln University of Missouri
• Livingstone College
• Louisiana State University
• Loyola Marymount University
• Loyola University Maryland
• Loyola University New Orleans
• Marshall University*
• Mary Baldwin University
• Marymount University
• McDaniel College
• Merrimack College
• Miles College
• Montgomery College
• Morehouse College
• Morgan State University
• Mount St. Mary's University
• National University
• New England College
• New England Institute of Technology
• Niagara County Community College
• Norfolk State University
• North Carolina A&T University*
• North Carolina Central University
• Northeastern University
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Notre Dame College
• Oakwood University
• Oberlin College and Conservatory
• Ohio University*
• Old Dominion University
• Pace University
• Paine College
• Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Penn State Harrisburg
• Penn State University, University Park
• Post University
• Prairie View A&M University
• Prince George's County Community College
• Princeton University
• Quinnipiac University
• Radford University
• Rhodes College
• Riverside City College
• Rowan University
• Salisbury University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Savannah College of Art & Design
• Savannah State University
• Seton Hall University
• Sewanee: The University of the South*
• Shepherd University
• South Carolina State University
• Spelman College
• St. John's University (NY)
• St. Olaf College*
• Strayer University
• SUNY Oswego
• Susquehanna University
• Talladega College
• Tallahassee Community College
• Temple University
• Tennessee State University
• The College of New Jersey
• The College of William & Mary
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Thomas Jefferson University
• Towson University
• Trinity Washington University
• Tuskegee University
• University at Albany
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
• University of Arizona
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
• University of Maryland Global Campus
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• University of Miami
• University of New Hampshire
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of North Carolina at Pembroke
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Phoenix
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Rhode Island
• University of Richmond*
• University of Rochester*
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California
• University of Tampa
• University of the District of Columbia
• University of the District of Columbia Community College
• University of Virginia
• University of Wisconsin—Madison*
• Ursinus College
• United States Military Academy at West Point
• United States Naval Academy*
• Vanderbilt University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia State University
• Virginia Union University
• Virginia Wesleyan College
• Voorhees College
• Wake Forest University
• Wake Tech Community College
• Wesley College
• West Chester University of Pennsylvania
• West Virginia University
• Wichita State University
• Widener University
• Wilkes University
• Winston-Salem State University
• Xavier University of Louisiana
• Yale University
“ PrepNext was very helpful during my first year of high school. I needed and appreciated those touchpoints with people that I already knew, and who already knew me.”
Jahari Shelton (DC Prep ’15, Sidwell Friends School ’19, Rhodes College ’23)
A hallmark of our program model is our long-term investment in our students’ success. Our PrepNext program—which receives no government funding and is sustained through philanthropic giving— supports all DC Prep alumni for 10 years after eighth-grade graduation, through their educational journeys and into the start of their careers. We make this decade-long commitment to our graduates because we deeply believe in their potential, and we know that they are capable of and deserving of achievement at the highest levels.
At every stage of their educational journeys, DC Prep alumni have access to a PrepNext counselor, ongoing programming opportunities, and short-term emergency funding to support persistence through high school and college. We know this works: our students are graduating college at more than three times the rate of their peers, nationally —and our students credit PrepNext for helping them persist.
Our High School Transition team of counselors focus on the critical transition into high school. Starting in the second semester of eighth grade, our counselors work with our graduating students to prepare for matriculating to high school and thinking about college. The team ensures that our alumni maintain the momentum and strong work habits developed at DC Prep as they move to the larger and often more intimidating world of high school.
Our College and Career Access team engages deeply with students throughout their college application process, ensuring that students develop a goal-aligned and financially viable post-secondary plan—an incredibly important key to persistence through college.
Finally, our College and Career Success teams support our alumni as they transition to and through college and career. While college is the end of our mission statement, we know it’s not the end for our alumni: throughout college, we help our alumni build the academic and professional experiences necessary to successfully launch their post-graduate careers.
The consistent presence that DC Prep maintains with families from PK3 all the way up through graduating college allows us to deeply know and understand our students, even as they grow and change over the years. Our teams across the DC Prep network, from our Early Childhood teachers up through our Career Success counselors, work in lockstep to maintain the level of commitment and expertise our students and their families expect and deserve.
Keys to PrepNext’s success:
• Strong relationships, strong community. PrepNext’s work builds on relationships that have been developed for many years, through elementary and middle school. Students and families trust PrepNext because it is part of the DC Prep network.
• A focus on financial viability. We understand and prioritize the importance of financial literacy and affordability of college pathways: two important factors in college persistence and graduation, particularly for lowincome, first-generation students.
• Technical expertise at every stage. Our PrepNext counselors are deeply knowledgeable in high school, college, and career success work and bring a rich diversity of experiences to their practice.
* For each full-ride scholarship
Maria had been attending her neighborhood elementary school when her mother came to visit her classroom one day in fourth grade. What Sue Lawson saw shocked her.
“It was basically a zoo,” Maria said. “There was a lot going on at the school that she didn’t feel comfortable with, and she started thinking about whether this was the safest, best school for her child.”
By chance, Maria’s mother ran into someone at the grocery store who was recruiting students for DC Prep. “My mom was skeptical, but after she went to an information session, she was sold.”
Once at DC Prep, Maria began to thrive. “I was deathly shy,” Maria said. “Going into new situations was never easy for me. But DC Prep quickly became home to me. I loved the principal and my teachers and all of my friends, and I created really strong bonds early on.” To her mom, that sense of community made the biggest difference. “She knew I’d do well academically anywhere I went, but because I was so shy and quiet, she knew it’d be easy for me to fall under the radar. She wanted me to be seen and have people care about me. My mom could see that I was happy at DC Prep and that I was coming out of my shell here.”
Maria went on to attend the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Benjamin Banneker High School in DC, and then to Gettysburg College on a four-year, fullride scholarship. Despite always being a stellar student, her transition to college was challenging.
“I wasn’t used to being in a community where no one really looked like me,” Maria said. “And I wasn’t the smartest kid in the class anymore. It was the first time I struggled in my classes. At the time, I didn’t know how to connect with anyone on campus, how to find resources, who to ask about financial aid…I was very overwhelmed.
“My PrepNext counselor, Lindsay Fallon, happened to reach out to me at that time, and I told her about everything that was going on. Right then, over the phone, we walked through each of the issues I’d been struggling with, and we created an action plan to connect me with the resources I needed. After that, I connected with the Dean of Multicultural Resources, who became my mentor; I signed up for tutoring sessions; I talked with the Financial Aid Office; and I set up work-study. That one call with my PrepNext counselor was so important to my college experience.”
For most of college, Maria’s post-grad plans were to work for the Internal Revenue Service, where she had completed several summer internships. But going into her senior year, something changed.
“I remembered my PrepNext experience and thought, ‘I’m so lucky. These were the best four years of my life, and I almost didn’t complete it, if not for my PrepNext check-in.’ I started discussing this with my new PrepNext counselor, and he asked me what I wanted to do after college. I told him I wanted to do for other students what Lindsay had done for me. Before I knew it, I was interviewing with DC Prep and I ended up coming to work at DC Prep as a PrepNext counselor.” Maria was a counselor on PrepNext’s high school team for five years before moving to the Development & Communications team.
When asked why she continues to work at DC Prep, Maria replied, “I love the people. That’s my favorite part of the job. Not everyone is lucky enough to work with people who genuinely share the same values. I’m very blessed to work here, because even in the hardest moments, I know that everyone is here for our students.”
DC Prep ’14 | St. Albans School ’18
Drew University ’22
When Jose’s mother immigrated to the U.S. in 2008 from the Philippines, she immediately began preparing for the day her children would join her in two short years.
“She found this little charter school by her house,” Jose recalled, “and when I came to the U.S. in 2010, DC Prep became my home.”
As recent immigrants, navigating the American education system could be intimidating—but DC Prep put the Nobles at ease. “The faculty treated us like family,” Jose said. “Not only were they teaching me, they were also mentoring me and really getting to know and support the student that I was. And every day when we were leaving
school, our principal, Mrs. Severn [who is now our Chief Academic Officer!], would wait outside the door and say goodbye to the kids and talk with the parents.”
After graduating from DC Prep, Jose matriculated to St. Albans School, a prestigious private school in DC. “DC Prep prepared me well,” Jose said. “I was assigned my first research paper in sixth grade, and our teacher drilled into us the process of writing a research paper. When I got to ninth grade at St. Albans and we had to write a research paper, some of the other students weren’t prepared for this kind of academic rigor—but I was.”
DC Prep ’14 | Choate Rosemary Hall ’18 University of Southern California ’22
In her move from Maryland to Southeast DC, Calvin’s mom was just looking for “a good school” for her son. “DC Prep happened to be the perfect fit,” Calvin said. He was a member of the second graduating class of Edgewood Elementary Campus, before matriculating to and graduating from Edgewood Middle Campus in 2014.
DC Prep completely shifted Calvin’s perspective on what he wanted out of life. Now a high-performing eighth grader, he wanted a high school that would be challenging, provide plenty of opportunities, and open the doors to great colleges. “I planned to be busy from 8am to 9pm every day in high school,” Calvin said. “I wanted to be completely immersed in school.” When Calvin visited Choate
Rosemary Hall, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut, he knew this was where he wanted to go—and DC Prep’s High School Placement program helped him get there.
“Ms. Moeller [the Director of High School Placement] was so helpful,” Calvin said. “She really pushed me in the application process. She helped me learn to accept feedback on my high school application essays and prep for interviews, and she even drove me to an interview when my mom had car trouble. How many people can say their middle school counselor drove them to an interview four hours away?
“DC Prep laid the foundation for understanding that life is about hard work, and that you have to capitalize on every
In college at Drew University, Jose majored in political science. He credits DC Prep for fostering his interest in this area of study. “Every morning at DC Prep, they’d give us a worksheet on current events, or would have us read a news article for homeroom. It shaped my passion for equity and social justice.”
Today, with his bachelor’s degree in hand, Jose aims to use his career to serve others. “I want to use my advocacy and research experience in public policy, education, or law,” Jose said. “Eventually, I want to go to law school and become a civil rights attorney to combat inequity. That’s a DC Prep influence.”
opportunity,” Calvin continued. “At DC Prep, I was presented with many opportunities. It was the same at Choate: at Choate, I took Mandarin Chinese and studied abroad twice. And in college, I explored a variety of career options.” Now a newly minted dual-degree graduate of the University of Southern California, Calvin works in marketing in Los Angeles. When asked what makes DC Prep special, Calvin responded, “The staff’s commitment to each and every student. That’s really hard to find in schools. Everyone at DC Prep is really there to be part of bridging the access gap to education.”
As we celebrate DC Prep’s 20th anniversary, I must begin with recognizing each stakeholder that has made this accomplishment possible.
First, I want to thank all of our faculty members for the consistent effort, flexibility, and intentionality they put into giving our students an effective and high quality education. Throughout the pandemic, our teaching faculty repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to helping our students continue learning. Their willingness to adapt swiftly to the ever-changing conditions gave me confirmation that I chose correctly in enrolling my children at DC Prep.
Second, I want to thank our families for being allies in this process of giving our students a better education. Their feedback and willingness to be a part of our students’ educational endeavors open the door for collaboration and community.
Lastly, I would like to thank DC Prep’s founder, Emily Lawson, who pioneered this vision we are able to steward today: To provide a quality education to underserved students in the District of Columbia. I would also like to thank Terry Eakin and Michela English, our previous board chairs, for their guidance and leadership. To our DC Prep board members: thank you for your investment, commitment, and dedication to the DC Prep philosophy and vision. The advice, resources, and external partnerships you bring to DC Prep in service of our students are so valuable and do not go unnoticed.
DC Prep is unique in its ability to cultivate an environment where our children learn and grow both in academics and socialemotional learning. I have been a part of
the DC Prep community for over eight years, and each year, I see more growth in my children’s development as a result of the structure and discipline DC Prep instills in them. DC Prep’s structure makes learning for our children much easier, and our children learn to value voice and perspective. They understand the importance of doing the work and caring for their community, and they are able to practice empathy and risk-taking—in learning new skills and making mistakes— because they have a community who supports them in their growth.
Every year at DC Prep, we witness students, families, faculty, and board members aiming high. We all want to sustain and amplify our top-tier performance, and we all understand that it takes work. We cannot stop here. I know that the achievements we have made over these 20 years are not all that we are capable of. Even as we celebrate and recognize this important anniversary, we are busy thinking ahead: from where we are, to where we can be. I know that we still have even greater capacity for excellence.
Reaching 20 years is only possible through a strong community. Each of us are stakeholders in the push to provide our children with a life-changing educational experience. The next 20 years rely on us and our ability to remain committed and innovative, even through hardships and challenges.
We are DC Prep. And we are the future of DC Prep.
Thank you to our generous and loyal supporters for 20 years of giving.
Our track record demonstrates that we know how to help students succeed, but we need your support to extend our track record for the next 20 years.
We firmly believe that every student, regardless of identity, zip code, or household income, deserves a great education. Will you join us in making that vision a reality?
To make a donation by check, please mail a check made out to DC Prep to our address at:
DC Prep
P.O. Box 31226
Washington, DC 20030
To make a stock gift, please contact us at development@dcprep.org
To join our team, visit www.dcprep.org/join-our-team/ current-opportunities/
$1,000,000+
• Anonymous
• CityBridge Foundation
• The Clark Charitable Foundation
• Lindsay and Terry Eakin
• Elizabeth and Michael Galvin
• Diana and Stephen Goldberg
• New Schools Venture Fund
• The Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation
• The Robert and Christina Silberman Charitable Trust
• The Walton Family Foundation
$250,000–$999,999
• The Boone Family Foundation
• The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
• City Build
• Estate of Armida B. Colt
• Education Forward DC
• Louisa Copeland Duemling
• Sheila and Patrick Gross
• Cynthia Helms
• Jockey Hollow Foundation
• Judy and Peter Kovler
• The Motley Fool
• Anne Mehringer and Terry Beaty
• The Shanahan Law Firm
$100,000–$249,999
• Bainum Family Foundation
• Collette and Anthony Bruce
• Capital One Bank
• Charina Endowment Fund
• Fight for Children
• Marilyn and Michael Glosserman
• Grafik
• Stephanie and Eugene Lawson
• Philip L. Graham Fund
• Claire McCarthy and Roderick McKelvie
• Melanie and Larry Nussdorf
• Carol and David Pensky
• Phil Perkins
• Perkins Hunter Foundation
• Ursula and Whayne Quin
• Share Fund
• Teacher Advancement Program
$25,000–$99,999
• Anonymous (2)
• Patty Abramson and Les Silverman
• Bank of America
• Cindi and Bob Blakely
• Katherine Boone and Joshua Geltzer
• Betty and Alex Boyle
• Sue and Steve Bralove
• The Broad Center
• Building Hope
• Chevy Chase Bank
• Hadley and Bill Cooper
• Carol and Ron Crawford
• Lisa and Porter Dawson
• Charis and Ryan Drant
• Lexi and Dick Eakin
• Michela English and Rob Quartel
• Claire and Jake Farver
• Nancy Folger
• Beth and Jerry Fotheringill
• Goldman Sachs
• Harman Family Foundation
• Elise Hoffmann and Chris Niemczewski
• Ibby Jeppson
• The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
• Carol and Peter Kaplan
• Catherine and Teddy Kaplan
• Emily Lawson and Tom Amis
• Ruthie and LaSalle Leffall
• Elissa Leonard and Jay Powell
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Lee Lockwood
• M&T Bank
• Darina and Allan McKelvie
• MCN Build
• Jake Michel
• New Leaders
• NFP | Meltzer Group
• Bridget and Greg Nikodem
• Jean and Robert Phay
• Porter Family Foundation
• Allison and Jamie Riepe
• Valerie Rockefeller
• Perry and Brian Shure
• Susan Gage Caterers
• Judy and Steve Urbanczyk
• The Webber Family Foundation
• Joanne and Derby Wilson
• Maureen and Jon Witter
• Sogand Zamani and Ahmad Hajj
$5,000–$24,999
• Anonymous (3)
• Jodie and George Allen
• Sasha and Tom Adams
• Diane and Jim Bankoff
• Patricia Barmeyer
• Mia and Tim Bass
• Law Office of Lauren E. Baum, PC
• Madzy and Albert Beveridge
• The Herb Block Foundation
• Karna and Dick Bodman
• The Boston Consulting Group, Inc.
• Amanda Zucker Bowker and David Bowker
• Susan and Steve Boyd
• Peggy and Joseph Bracewell
• Jeannette and Ray Brophy
• Preston Brown
• Brown Advisory
• Annie and Eric Burnquist
• Burns Family Charitable Fund
• Capmark Foundation
• Carlyle Group
• CSX
• Eugene B. Casey Foundation
• Leslie Cashen Photography
• Sally and Buck Chapoton
• Virginia Chew
• Children’s Charities
• Katherine and John Coleman
• Ana and Paul Collins
• Lauree and Frank Connors
• Molly and James Crownover
• Lisa and Porter Dawson
• Democracy Fund
• Betty and Henry Diamond
• Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
• Mimi and Chris Dorment
• EagleBank
• Eastman Fund
• Laura and Paul Escobosa
• Fannie Mae Foundation
• Elizabeth and Reed Fawell
• Stefanie and Russell Firestone
• Florida & Q Street LLC
• Flamboyan Foundation
• Julie and Lee Folger
• The Foundation for Maryland's Future
• Barbara and John Franklin
• The Carl M. Freeman Foundation, Inc.
• Susan and Tom Gage
• Gallup Community Builders
• Nathalie Gilfoyle and Christopher Ma
• Piper and Jon Gould
• Greater Washington Community Foundation
• Haldeman Family Foundation
• Jill and Ridge Hall
• Kathryn and Michael Hanley
• Mary Ellen and Gates Hawn
• Hershey Trust Company
• Hill-Snowdon Foundation
• Ellen and Jeff Huvelle
• Meehee Hwang and Richard Gluck
• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
• Halley and Chris Jensen
• Manisha and Roy Kapani
• Gray and Andrew King
• Sarah Kuhn and David Steinberg
• Barbara and Chiswell Langhorne
• Latham & Watkins, LLP
• Kris and Stephen McBrady
• Nina and Jonathan Marks
• Nancy and Arthur McKee
• Judith and Richard Meltzer
• Sabina Menschel and Bill Priestap
• Richard and Mary Jo Myers
• National College Attainment Network
• Katie and Jeremiah Norton
• Mary and David Nygaard
• Vin and George Packard
• Stuart and Lorine Pergament
• PMM Companies
• Eric Price
• PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Molly Raiser
• Raise DC
• Josh Rales
• John Reilly
• RFI Foundation
• The Robertson Foundation
• Sharon and Jay Rockefeller
• Jennifer and Jim Rooney
• The Rosenfeld Rumford Steckler Family Foundation
• Megan and Quinn Rounsaville
• Fran and Lew Rumford
• The Safeway Foundation
• Nancy and Rob Samit
• Georgina Sanger and Bowdoin Train
• John Scully
• Shinberg.Levinas Architects
• Ellie and John Shorb
• Gerard Smith
• Niente and Bob Smith
• Maddy and Isaac Stein
• Sarah and Ted Stettinius
• Lila and Brendan Sullivan
• Elizabeth and Keith Taylor
• Elizabeth Ulmer and Jon Graham
• Julianne and Scott Wagner
• Diana and Mallory Walker
• Adam Weers
We apologize for any oversights in this list—they are unintentional and a product of incomplete records.
To support our work, visit: dcprep.org/support-dc-prep
instagram.com/dc_prep
facebook.com/dcprep
twitter.com/dcprep
“Our mission is our truth. At the heart of DC Prep is community, collaboration, and care and love for children.”
Amber Slater, Special Education Coordinator | 5 years at DC Prep
