Schools in Southwest Waterfront

The Southwest Waterfront is one of Washington DC's most transformed neighborhoods, a waterfront community in Ward 6 that has seen dramatic redevelopment through The Wharf project along the Washington Channel. Three schools serve the Southwest Waterfront — two DCPS and one charter — in a neighborhood whose residential population has grown significantly with the completion of thousands of new housing units. Amidon-Bowen Elementary is the anchor DCPS school for the Southwest Waterfront community, providing neighborhood school access for the youngest residents of this waterfront district. Jefferson Middle School and a charter program round out the local options, with high school families typically looking citywide through the DC lottery. The Waterfront Metro station (Green line) and L'Enfant Plaza station (multiple lines) serve the neighborhood, and the DC Circulator and Metrobus routes along Maine Avenue connect to the broader city. The Wharf's boardwalk and the Southwest Waterfront's proximity to the National Mall make this one of the most amenity-rich environments for school-age children in the city. Ward 6 families receive a priority point for Ward 6 schools. New Southwest Waterfront residents — many relocating from outside DC — should note that DC's school lottery is citywide, not zip-code-based, and early registration for the November lottery is essential for securing preferred school placements.