Highlights from May 19 Board Meeting
Early Childhood Academy PCS
Located in Ward 8, the school educates 281 students in grades PK3 through 3 with the mission to support student academic and social-emotional growth in a safe, holistic environment, preparing them to become proficient readers, critical thinkers, and successful, compassionate citizens.
During the 20-year review, the Board voted to continue the charter.
“Congratulations getting to this point, it is no easy feat, knowing that you all [opened a brand new facility] and then the world shut down after,” said DC PCS Board Chair Shantelle Wright.
Executive Director Wendy Edwards shared the school’s focus on building a strong and stable leadership team.
“This year's focus was on data analysis from student and teacher surveys and classroom observations. Based on the data, a number of focal areas have been identified for continued teacher training, including ensuring that instruction is implemented at appropriate grade level rigor, increasing opportunities for critical thinking and open-ended student responses, and improving proficiency in the teaching of reading to support both general education students and those with special needs. ECA is proud of the progress made in the past five years and remains committed to ensuring that every child leaves as a proficient reader and critical thinker. We're excited to enter our 21st year and look forward to continuing to serve as a beacon of light in the Ward 8 community.”
AppleTree PCS
AppleTree PCS educates 658 students in PK3 and PK4 at eight campuses in Wards 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8, with a goal to close achievement gaps and prepare children to thrive in kindergarten.
After an extensive 20-year review, DC PCSB staff recommended the board vote to continue its charter with one condition, which you can read more about here.
Executive Director Jamie Miles reflected on this milestone and the opportunities to improve.
“For two decades, AppleTree has focused squarely on one mission, providing the cognitive, social, and emotional foundations that children need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. As we reflect on this milestone, we do so with humility, a deep sense of responsibility, and a firm belief in continuous improvement. We are proud of our history, but we are even more focused on the future. We recognize and believe that improvements underway will not only be sustained but will accelerate over time. AppleTree is led by a seasoned, responsive team that sees the whole child, understands our context, and is resourceful in meeting the moment. We are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has access to the foundation they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.”
Chair Wright recognized the heavy lifting the school has done during COVID and looks forward to their progress in the future.
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics & Science PCS
Located in Ward 1, the school educates 271 students in grades 6 through 8, preparing students to succeed in high school and beyond.
During the 20-year review, the DC PCS Board voted to continue its charter.
The school’s Board Chair Wendall Johns shared the numerous initiatives the team has adopted since their last charter review to enhance the learning environment of their middle school students, including increasing their presence in the city and the enrollment of students.
Executive Director Kathryn Procope explained the uniqueness of the school and how it prepares its students.
“Our deep and sustained partnership with Howard University is a relationship that's both unique and transformative, providing tutoring, mentorship, and immersive experiences for our students. And as we prepare to co-locate with the school of education this academic year, we anticipate that this move will not only enhance our academic environment but also deepen the connection between our students and the university's world-class resources. We were reminded of the impact of our work this past September when we met one of our former students who left middle school in 2020, as she walked across the campus as a Howard freshman. This reminded us that the work that we're doing is making a difference as we guide our scholars to promising futures.”
Bridges PCS
Bridges PCS educates 365 students in grades PK3 through 5 in Ward 5 with an approach that nurtures students to expand their development skills to build a foundation for life-long learning.
In its 20-year review, the Board voted to continue its charter with two conditions. Take a look at those conditions here.
Principal Dennis Campbell reflected on the progress made over the past five years.
“20 years ago, Bridges PCS was founded with a clear and compassionate mission to provide the DC community with a child and family-centered preschool program that prioritized early intervention services for students with special needs. That founding vision, rooted in inclusion, equity, and whole child development, has continued to guide our evolution over the past two decades. In 2012, we expanded our program to serve students from PK3 through grade 5, deepening our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education for all learners. As we reflect on the past five years, we are proud of the progress we have made and the resilience our community has shown. As we move into this next chapter, we do so with clarity and purpose. We have laid the foundation, a blueprint grounded in equity, data, and student-centered practices. We are confident with this focus and the ongoing partnership of our board and leadership community, we will meet and exceed our accountability targets.”
Families will be notified of each school's conditions. Catch up with previous charter reviews here.