SUCCESS BEYOND 8TH GRADE

High School Placement

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 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.”

Strong Impressions

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.”

“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.”

“ 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)

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.”

“ 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)

DC Prep Graduates’ High School Acceptances (All-Time)

• 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.