Charter Board Renews the Charter of Friendship Public Charter School

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Washington, D.C. — DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) voted May 20 to renew the largest public charter school in the District, Friendship Public Charter School (“Friendship PCS”), for an additional 15 years. Following a thorough review of the school’s renewal petition, PCSB determined that their charter should be renewed based on the school’s overall academic and fiscal performance and its compliance with applicable laws.

Friendship PCS has six campuses in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8 serving 3,880 students in PK-12th grade with all campuses rated Tier 2 on the Performance Management Framework (PMF), PCSB’s tool for assessing and monitoring charter school performance. Friendship PCS - Collegiate’ s 2012 graduation rate of 90.7% is the second highest in the District, while enrolling more students than any other District high school.

"Friendship has been an important part of the Washington, DC community educating students from early childhood through high school and graduating seniors at one of the highest graduation rates in the city," said PCSB Executive Director Scott Pearson.

In the school’s renewal report, PCSB recommended that Friendship address two areas: (1) proficiency rates in reading and (2) establish a corporate structure that separates its DC public charter schools from operation of other activities.

During the past 15 years Friendship PCS has been substantially compliant with general, special education, and financial laws and is in good financial health.

To read Friendship’s 15-year renewal report click here.

About PCSB: The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is setting a national model for creating quality public school options through its rigorous review of new charter applications and effective oversight of charter school performance that is leading the transformation of public education in Washington, DC. PCSB currently oversees 57 public charter schools on 102 campuses serving 34,673 students living in every ward of the city. Learn more at www.dcpcsb.org.