All students have a constitutional right to public education. DCPS and D.C. public charter schools welcome children and their families, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status, which has protection of the Supreme Court, school officials say.
For instance, the case — Plyler v. Doe — states that all students have a constitutional right to public education, regardless of immigration status.
Parental as well as students’ citizenship and immigration information will not be requested or shared, and even if a family’s immigration information is shared with school officials, DCPS does not record such information in the file containing the student’s education record.
Chancellor’s Shout-Out
“We [recently] celebrated DCPS educators across the city at our annual Standing Ovation ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Our eight Excellence Award winners and 21 Rubenstein Award winners are individuals and school communities from across DCPS, who were honored with a total of $230,000 in cash prizes.
“Standing Ovation was also an exciting opportunity to remember how great teaching can change lives. With the commitment of our great teachers, leaders, educators, and staff people, DCPS will continue to be the fastest-improving urban school district in the country.” — Antwan Wilson, DCPS Chancellor
Community Engagement Sessions
Chancellor Antwan Wilson has scheduled five more sessions of “Shaping the Future of DCPS Together,” where he engages public comments and feedback surrounding DCPS successes and concerns.
The remaining community conversations, which begin at 6:30 p.m., will be held as follows:
March 27 — Alice M. Deal Middle School
April 8 — Turner Middle School
April 11 — Eastern High School
April 13 — Columbia Heights Education Campus
April 24 — School Without Wall @Francis Stevens
Middle School Investments
Starting with the 2017-18 term, DCPS will increase extracurricular offerings in middle schools to ensure every student can participate in at least one extracurricular program.
New offerings will include coding clubs, lacrosse, wrestling, rugby, archery, and hockey, as well as wheelchair track and field and unified basketball for students with disabilities.
“These budget priorities focus on making school joyful for students and providing supports for all students to be successful in school, no matter their path,” said Chancellor Antwan Wilson.
DCPS in Numbers
48,439 — The number of students committed to graduating from high school, prepared for college and work.
4,025 — The number of teachers determined to live up to our unparalleled role in ensuring the achievement of our students.
115 — The number of schools and principals who demonstrate the vision to build positive school communities focused on academic achievement.
3,500 — The number of classroom aides, social workers, counselors, custodians and other support staff who understand that our students must be safe, healthy and supported in order to achieve at the highest possible levels.
Countless — The number of parents and family members supporting our children and demanding a high-quality education for them.
DCPS Goes to College
Kimberly Manalang, a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School, will attend Lafayette College next year on a full ride through the POSSE Foundation. She’s looking forward to Lafayette because it has a “welcoming, inclusive environment,” and its diversity reminds her of Wilson.
“It’s not just one thing. It’s not just about science, it’s not just about arts,” Kimberly said. “It’s a balance of all of the humanities. You can’t pick just one thing.”
Kimberly’s goal is to attend medical school to someday become a pediatrician, a fitting career path given that her favorite class at Wilson has been bio-med.
“I love kids and actually co-teach at a Sunday school on the weekends,” she said. “With my love of kids, I thought a nice compromise would be a pediatrician.”