Schools in Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle is one of Washington DC's most iconic neighborhoods, centered on the Massachusetts Avenue NW traffic circle in Ward 2. While the neighborhood is primarily known for its restaurants, embassies, and LGBTQ+ cultural institutions, two DCPS schools serve the families who live in the residential blocks surrounding the Circle. The schools here cover elementary grades, with middle and high school families in Dupont Circle typically looking citywide through the DC lottery — Hardy Middle School and Jackson-Reed (formerly Wilson) High School are the default DCPS pathway for Ward 2 families choosing the traditional public route. The Dupont Circle Metro station (Red line) sits at the heart of the neighborhood, one of DC's busiest transit hubs. The neighborhood's walkable, urban character means school-age children and their families rarely need a car — many families in Dupont Circle cycle or walk to schools throughout Ward 2 and beyond. Ward 2 families receive a priority point for Ward 2 schools. Dupont Circle's central location means families here are geographically positioned to access schools across Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5 with relatively equal commute times — making it one of DC's most strategically positioned neighborhoods for school choice exploration.