On Friday, November 3rd, Center City Public Charter School in Congress Heights hosted community members and education advocates for this month’s First Fridays tour. In one of the most engaging parts of the day, students welcomed and engaged in small group discussions with attendees prior to the start of the presentation giving some true insight into what it’s like to be a student.
Principal Ms. Niya White gave opening comments before attendees broke up into tour groups. Guests relished the opportunity to drop in and observe classes throughout the building. Ms. White said that teachers and administrators focus on “what we teach and how we teach” in order to ensure students are successful. Center City PCS Congress Heights offers constant opportunities for students to learn, with math, reading, and writing lessons posted on walls throughout the school’s hallways and stairwells.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- To keep track of student grades, most parents use the PowerSchool Parent Portal filled in by teachers
- Students talked about a national political debate they participated in recently in their class, with each student recollecting with pride his/her role in the conversation
- Principal: Ms. Niya White | Assistant Principal: Ms. Quiana Johnson
- Grades Served: Pre-K3-8th grade |Ward 8 | Year Opened 2008
HISTORY
Center City Public Charter Schools, founded in 2008, strives “to empower students for lifelong success by building strong character, promoting academic excellence, and generating public service throughout Washington, DC.” The Congress Heights campus was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016. Additionally, last year’s improvement in PARCC achievement rates across all Center City schools was nearly double the city-wide average.
FIRST FRIDAYS
First Fridays is a joint venture of Focus DC, CityBridge Education, Charter Board Partners, and Education Forward, LLC, highlighting charter schools monthly across the District. For more information about First Fridays, visit www.firstfridaysdc.org.
D.C. State Board of Education Blog 