Schools in Brightwood

Brightwood is a quiet residential neighborhood in upper Northwest DC, Ward 4, home to four schools — one DCPS and three charter. The neighborhood occupies the mid-section of Georgia Avenue NW between Petworth and Takoma, with large single-family homes and spacious lots that attract families seeking more space than the denser parts of DC offer. The charter schools in Brightwood include middle and high school programs with strong academic reputations. Paul PCS operates both a middle and an international high school campus in Brightwood, giving Ward 4 families a two-school feeder option within walking distance of each other. The Petworth Metro station (Green/Yellow lines) is accessible from southern Brightwood, with Metrobus service along Georgia Avenue connecting the full length of the neighborhood northward toward Takoma. Brightwood's proximity to Rock Creek Park's eastern trail network gives families access to miles of green space for recreation and outdoor education. Ward 4 residents applying to Brightwood's charter schools receive a priority point through the DC lottery. The small number of schools in the immediate neighborhood means that most Brightwood families look across Ward 4 and into Ward 1 and 5 for the full range of school options available to them.