Every year, the DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB) releases its School Quality Report, which evaluates all public charter schools in grades prekindergarten (PK) to 12 and adults in Washington, DC.
DCPCSB creates the School Quality Report to allow families, school leaders, and other stakeholders to assess performance on several factors, including how well it prepares students for college or the workforce, improves student math and literacy skills, and growth on the state assessment in English language arts and mathematics. Learn more about the measures here. It’s our hope current and prospective families use this important tool to evaluate and pick the school that best fits their child’s needs. Read Scott Pearson's, our executive director, letter to families here.
Students Attending Tier 1 Schools Continues to Rise
See more highlights and a breakdown of Tiers by Ward here. We congratulate all of our 2017 Tier 1 public charter schools:
A Day in the Life
Washington Yu Ying PCS
This year, Washington Yu Ying PCS was rated a top-performing Tier 1 school on the 2017 School Quality Report.
School Stories
A Student Finds Success at YouthBuild PCS
Photo Credit: YouthBuild PCS. (L-R): YouthBuild PCS 2017 Graduate Heaven Rice, YouthBuild PCS 2016 Graduate Yolanda Torres, Youthbuild USA CEO John Valverde, current YouthBuild PCS student Levi Moorman
“It only took that one ‘yes’", Yolanda Torres told the power players assembled in the conference room on the top floor of an office building overlooking Lafayette Square and the White House. Yolanda was advocating for her alma mater, YouthBuild PCS, at a fundraiser for Youthbuild USA. “I needed a second chance to get my education. I needed a chance to make a better life for myself and my family. I needed the opportunity. It only took that one ‘yes,’ and YouthBuild PCS was that ‘yes.'"
Yolanda was one of twelve GED grads in the Spring of 2016. After graduation, Yolanda continued to serve YouthBuild PCS as an Americorps VISTA and as a member of its board of trustees. In the Spring of 2017, YouthBuild PCS was proud to congratulate seventeen GED graduates, and Yolanda had the privilege of presenting the graduates with their GED diplomas. When her VISTA year concluded, Yolanda Torres went to work for Catholic Charities, where she currently serves as an administrative assistant in the Homeless and Housing Services Division.
This year, YouthBuild PCS was rated a top-performing Tier 1 school on the 2017 School Quality Report.
Parents and Education Stakeholders Talk Accountability in Education
A system with everyone invested, engaged, and empowered generates powerful results. This starts with measuring school’s outcomes and reporting those results out to the entire community. Families can make better-educated school selections for their children based on school performance and culture, and then families can develop strong, trusting relationships with their schools. The goal of this is to make students better learners, administrators and teachers better educators, and families better advocates. We are all responsible for the education of our youth, and as author, Stephen Covey said, “Accountability breeds response-ability." - Jay Donaldson, parent of two at Lee Montessori PCS
In November, we ran a series called "Accountability in Education Matters". We asked parents, school leaders, and community members to tell us how they hold their schools accountable. Read more of Jay Donaldson's piece and others in the series here.
Ninth Graders become Entrepreneurs at SEED DC PCS - High School
Photo Credit: SEED DC PCS
Under the supervision of SEED DC PCS teacher Mr. Nick Ford, program coordinator Ms. Indian Brown, partners at BUILD, and six dedicated mentors, 30 ninth graders spent a year dreaming up business ideas, forming teams, and pitching their business plans to peers and local entrepreneurs. Through a daily class supplemented by weekly evening programming, students built relationships with local mentors who helped them refine their ideas, products, and approach. BUILD is a real-life testing ground for students to learn skills in critical thinking, collaboration, innovation, and self-management. And it worked—one SEED DC PCS team won BUILD’s year-end, district-wide competition for their “Chop-a-Cake” cake cutter business plan and pitch, while another team took home an award for problem-solving.
This year, SEED DC PCS - High School was rated a top-performing Tier 1 school on the 2017 School Quality Report.
Upcoming Events
December 11 - Celebrating #TIERific Practices in Education
The Celebrating #TIERific Practices in Education event will showcase best practices in education, as well as honor DC's highest-performing public charter schools.
December 18 - Board Meeting The Board will hold its next monthly meeting on November 20 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss various issues related to public charter schools and to hear from the public. *The meeting will be held at The Gala Theatre (3333 14th Street NW). A meeting agenda will be available here.
Watch the meeting on our website. Missed last month's meeting? Read a summary here.
*Meeting location is subject to change.
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