Students need 24 Carnegie credits: English (4), Math (4), Science (4), Social Studies (4), and Electives (8). At least 2 credits must be College Level / Career Prep (CLCP) through AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, or CTE. Students also need 100 community service hours (75 for the Class of 2025).

Both are free public schools. DCPS schools are run by DC Public Schools (the city). Charter schools are run by independent boards. Both follow the same graduation requirements and state standards. Apply to most through My School DC.

Use the My School DC lottery at myschooldc.org. Deadline is usually February 1. You can rank multiple schools. Results come in March. Some schools (like Duke Ellington) have additional requirements such as auditions.

Yes — it's FREE. Dual Enrollment lets high school students take actual college courses and earn both high school and college credit. DCPS pays the tuition. Available for grades 9–11. Ask your counselor about eligibility.

DC TAG (Tuition Assistance Grant) provides up to $10,000/year for public universities anywhere in the US, or $2,500/year for private HBCUs and DC colleges. Lifetime maximum is $50,000. Apply at osse.dc.gov/dctag starting February 3.

An IEP (under IDEA) provides specialized instruction plus services for students with specific disabilities affecting education. A 504 Plan provides accommodations only — no specialized instruction — for any disability affecting a major life activity. Students have one or the other, not both.

Put your request in writing to the principal and special education coordinator. Say: "I am requesting a comprehensive special education evaluation for [child's name]." Describe specific concerns. The school must respond within 10 school days.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required for most financial aid, including DC TAG. It opens October 1 each year. File EARLY — some aid is first-come, first-served. It's now shorter (only 46 questions) at studentaid.gov.

Yes. Every student has the right to access AP, IB, CTE, and Dual Enrollment regardless of previous grades or test scores. Schools cannot deny access based on informal criteria. If denied, contact the Ombudsman at 202-741-4692.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) provides hands-on training in fields like healthcare, IT, construction, hospitality, and business. Students can earn FREE industry certifications. CTE courses count toward the CLCP graduation requirement.

Call the Office of the Ombudsman at 202-741-4692. They help resolve school-related issues for free. For special education issues, you can also contact Advocates for Justice and Education at 202-678-8060.

Contact the receiving school and your current school. Request records transfer. For mid-year transfers, credits should transfer. Special education services should continue — request an IEP transfer meeting. Use My School DC for the next school year.

Yes. Undocumented students can attend DC public colleges at in-state tuition rates. They can receive state financial aid (DC is one of 17 states offering this). TheDream.US offers scholarships up to $80,000 for eligible students.

First, talk to the teacher. Ask about tutoring, after-school help, or intervention programs. If struggles continue, request a meeting with the counselor. You can also request an evaluation if you suspect a learning disability.

SBOE meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM. Meetings are open to the public. You can sign up to give testimony (2–3 minutes). Check sboe.dc.gov for agendas and registration.

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous, internationally-recognized program. In DCPS, the full Diploma Programme is offered at Banneker and Eastern high schools. IB courses count toward CLCP graduation requirements.

Students with IEPs can receive services until the end of the school year in which they turn 22. Don't exit early without a plan. Use this time to build skills and connect with adult services.

Service must be unpaid and benefit the community. Examples: tutoring, food bank volunteering, environmental cleanup, hospital volunteering. Keep documentation. Talk to your school's service coordinator for approved opportunities.

Use the DCPS boundary map at dcps.dc.gov/page/school-boundary-maps. Enter your address to find in-boundary schools for each grade level. You can also apply to out-of-boundary schools through My School DC.

DC offers dual language programs, ESL classes, newcomer academies, and sheltered content instruction. EL students have the right to access all academic pathways — including AP and Dual Enrollment — with appropriate support.

My School DC is the common lottery system for applying to most DC public schools — both DCPS and public charter schools. One application lets you rank multiple schools in order of preference.

Most DCPS and charter schools participate, including DCPS application schools like Banneker, McKinley, and Duke Ellington. Some charter schools have separate applications — check the school's website.

The deadline is typically February 1. Lottery results are released in late March. Late applications go on waitlists.

You can rank up to 12 schools in order of preference. Be strategic — your first choice gets priority if there's a spot.

If you want your neighborhood DCPS school, you're automatically enrolled — no lottery needed. But if you want a different DCPS school, a charter, or an application school like Banneker, you must apply through My School DC.

Feeder patterns determine which middle school your elementary feeds into, and which high school your middle school feeds into. Feeder enrollment is guaranteed — you don't need to apply through the lottery.

Each applicant gets a random lottery number. The system goes through applications and matches students to their highest-ranked school that has space. Siblings and in-boundary students often get priority.

Priorities give certain students better chances. Common priorities: siblings at the school, living in-boundary, attending a feeder school. Each school lists its priorities on My School DC.

You'll be matched to your highest-ranked school that has space. You'll automatically be waitlisted at higher-ranked schools. Waitlists move throughout summer and even into the school year.

If you're waitlisted, you'll be notified when a spot opens. You have a limited time to accept. Keep your contact info updated. Waitlists often move significantly before school starts.

Yes. Duke Ellington requires an audition in your chosen arts discipline in addition to the My School DC application. Check dukeellington.org for audition dates.

Basic application requires: child's name and birthdate, parent contact information, current school (if applicable). Some schools may request additional documents after matching.

Yes — until the deadline. Log back into My School DC and edit your application. After the deadline, changes are not allowed.

Apply through My School DC like any other student. After matching, work with the school to ensure services continue. Your child's IEP transfers with them.

Once enrolled, you don't need to reapply to stay at the same school. You only use My School DC if you want to transfer or are moving to a new school level.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required for most financial aid — federal grants, loans, work-study, and DC TAG. Even if you think you won't qualify, fill it out. Many families are surprised by what they receive.

FAFSA opens October 1 each year. There's no federal deadline, but file EARLY — some aid is first-come, first-served. State and college deadlines vary. DC TAG requires FAFSA to be completed.

The 2024–25 FAFSA is much simpler: reduced from 108 to 46 questions, tax info pulled directly from the IRS (less paperwork), the new Student Aid Index (SAI) replaces EFC, and it's available in more languages including Spanish and Chinese.

DC TAG provides DC residents up to $10,000/year at public universities anywhere in the US — not just DC. It also provides up to $2,500/year for private HBCUs and DC-area private colleges.

You must be: a DC resident for 12+ consecutive months before college, age 26 or younger when receiving the award, a high school graduate or GED holder (2010 or later), and accepted to an eligible college.

Apply at osse.dc.gov/dctag. The application opens February 3. Deadline is August 15. You must complete FAFSA first. Renew every year.

DC TAG covers the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public universities. It does not cover room and board, books, fees, or meal plans. You'll need other aid for those costs.

The Pell Grant is federal money (you don't pay back) for students with financial need. Maximum is about $7,395/year for 2024–25. Automatically considered when you file FAFSA.

Grants and scholarships are FREE money — you don't pay them back. Loans must be repaid with interest. Always maximize grants and scholarships before taking loans.

Federal student loans often have better terms than private loans. If you need loans, federal subsidized loans are best (no interest while in school). Only borrow what you need. Understand repayment before signing.

Start with: DC-CAP (dccap.org), your school counselor, the colleges you're applying to, local community organizations, your parent's employer, and online databases like Fastweb.com. Never pay to apply for scholarships.

Undocumented students cannot get federal aid (FAFSA), but CAN get: DC in-state tuition at public colleges, DC state financial aid, and private scholarships like TheDream.US (up to $80,000). DACA students can also work legally.

Net cost = total cost − grants/scholarships. This is what you actually pay. A $60,000 school with $50,000 in grants costs LESS than a $30,000 school with $10,000 in grants. Always compare net costs.

Yes. If your family's circumstances have changed — or you have competing offers — contact the financial aid office. Write a professional letter explaining your situation. Many schools will reconsider.

DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) provides FREE help with college applications, financial aid, and scholarships. They also offer last-dollar scholarships. Contact them at 202-783-7933 or dccap.org.