A detailed breakdown of DCPS schools — application schools, comprehensive high schools, IB World Schools, specialized supports, dual language, and more.
The DC Education Pathways Guide. Use these together when researching the right school for your student.
This supplemental guide profiles specific DCPS schools and their programs. Use it alongside the Pathways Guide to narrow your options.
Every school in this directory is publicly funded and free to attend. Some require lottery applications; others are open to in-boundary students automatically. The pages that follow tell you which is which.
Each school card shows the programs it offers as colored pills:
The eight selective DCPS schools that require a lottery application — even if you live next door.
Even if you live next door, application schools require lottery enrollment. Deadline is typically February 1. Visit myschooldc.org for current deadlines.
Open to in-boundary students automatically. Out-of-boundary students may apply through the lottery.
| School | AP | IB | Key programs & CTE academies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anacostia HS | — | Law & Public Service Academy · Civil Engineering & Architecture | |
| Ballou HS | — | Auto Technology (Toyota partnership) · Mass Media & Communications | |
| Cardozo EC | — | TransSTEM Academy · Electro-Mechanical Tech · Computer Science | |
| Coolidge HS (General) | — | Mass Media · JROTC | |
| Dunbar HS | — | Pre-Engineering (PLTW) · Law & Public Policy · Early Childhood Education | |
| Eastern HS | DP+MYP | Academy of Health Sciences (NAF) · IT/Computer Science | |
| H.D. Woodson HS | — | IT/Computer Science · STEM Academy | |
| Jackson-Reed HS | — | Finance (NAF) · Hospitality & Tourism (NAF) · Mass Media · Sci-Ma-Tech · JROTC | |
| Roosevelt HS | — | Dual Language (Spanish/English) · Global Studies · Culinary Arts | |
| Ron Brown College Prep HS | — | College Prep Focus · Social Justice & Law (males only) | |
| MacArthur HS | — | Environmental Science · Logistics (growing program) |
At McKinley or Phelps, every student MUST be in a CTE academy ("wall-to-wall"). At schools like Jackson-Reed or Eastern, you can CHOOSE to join an academy or take general classes.
The official DCPS IB World Schools, K–12. Some charter schools also offer IB programs.
PYP (elementary) → MYP (middle) → DP (high school). However, students can enter at any level — you don't have to start in elementary.
Self-contained programs (Level 3/4) — placements made by OSSE/DCPS based on IEP team decisions.
Every DCPS school offers inclusion support (Level 1/2). The schools below host specific self-contained programs for students who need more substantial support.
DCPS's dedicated citywide school for students with severe intellectual disabilities and medically complex needs. NOT a neighborhood school — placement is through IEP team decision only.
Schools where Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing and Visually Impaired resources are concentrated, with peer cohorts and dedicated staff.
The cluster sites above provide a dedicated "signing environment" with trained staff and peer cohorts of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students.
Dual language immersion and newcomer programs for students arriving in DC from around the world.
Full immersion programs where students learn in both Spanish and English.
Designed for students who recently arrived in the United States. Sheltered instruction with intensive English support.
Specialized support including sheltered content instruction, intensive English development, and help navigating the US school system. Excellent options for families who recently immigrated.
DCPS uses the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM) — enrichment opportunities for all students, not tracked "gifted" programs.
Schools with dedicated SEM programs:
Honors courses are available at ALL comprehensive high schools. Parents should request these courses during course selection if their student is not automatically placed.
Schools don't always automatically place students. You may need to request and advocate for appropriate placement during course selection.
For certain programs, students have guaranteed pathways from one school to the next. A feeder pattern means students from one school automatically have a right to attend a specific school at the next level — especially important for specialized programs.
If your child is in the CES program at Lafayette, they have a guaranteed pathway to Deal Middle School. The IEP team coordinates this transition.
Three scenarios — three checklists. Pick the one that matches where your family is right now.
Office of the Ombudsman: 202-741-4692 · DCPS Central Office: 202-442-5885 · My School DC: myschooldc.org · SBOE: sboe.dc.gov
D.C. State Board of Education · Companion to the DC Education Pathways Guide