During the June Board Meeting— the first of two scheduled for this month — the DC Public Charter School Board discussed the continuance of Paul Public Charter School and Capital City Public Charter School, both located in Ward 4, recently completed their 25-year charter reviews.
Here is a recap of the decisions:
Paul PCS
Paul PCS educates more than 767 students in grades five through 12 in Ward 4. The school is in its 25th year of operation and aims to build independent thinkers, empathetic global citizens, and courageous leaders.
During the 25-year review, the Board voted to continue the charter.
“Congratulations on getting to your 25-year review. I know it’s been an uphill battle for you all, but it’s good to see you here,” said DC PCS Board Chair Shantelle Wright.
CEO Dr. Tracy White shared her pride in the school and the work surrounding its success for 25 years.
“Paul PCS is the District’s first and only [public] charter school to be born out of a traditional DCPS campus, a transformation that was not just structural but deeply rooted in the belief that families deserve excellence, autonomy, and accountability in the public education of their children. We are beyond grateful that the staff recommendation affirms what we know to be true. Over the course of the past five years, Paul has made transformational, academic, and cultural gains. Our mission is urgent as ever to develop responsible citizens, independent thinkers, and leaders, and we take that business very seriously, every moment and every day. We are proud of who we are and what we’ve built.”
Capital City PCS
Also located in Ward 4, the school educates students in grades PK3 through 12 with the mission to enable a diverse group of students to meet high expectations, develop creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, and achieve a deep understanding of complex subjects. The school has served the DC community for 25 years.
At its 25-year review, DC PCSB staff recommended the board vote to continue its charter with two conditions, read more here.
Head of School Laina Cox understands the opportunity for deep transformation amid charter reviews.
“Capital City strives to be a systemically anti-racist community that prides itself on setting a high bar for the academic and social-emotional outcomes of its students, a place of rigor, joy, and belonging. We are so proud to represent our community and the structural model, praised by families, has a community-engaging familial, and safe environment. We are honored to be the sole educational institution for many students’ 15-year academic journeys, a responsibility we embrace. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we have also named who we want to be for the next 25 years. We cannot fear feedback on our practice. We have to actively solicit it, it is crucial for our growth.”
Families will be notified of the school’s conditions.
