Schools in Washington Highlands

Washington Highlands is a Ward 8 neighborhood in far Southeast DC near the Maryland border, home to seven schools — one DCPS and six charter schools. The neighborhood sits south of Congress Heights and west of Oxon Run Park, a community where charter schools have established a significant educational presence over the past decade. The charter schools in Washington Highlands include both elementary and secondary programs, with several offering extended school days and academic support structures designed to address achievement gaps. The single DCPS school, Ferebee-Hope Elementary, serves as the neighborhood school anchor for families who prefer the traditional public school pathway. Washington Highlands is served by the Southern Avenue Metro station (Green line) and Metrobus routes along Alabama Avenue and Southern Avenue. The neighborhood borders Oxon Run Park, one of Ward 8's largest green spaces, which provides outdoor recreation options for school-age children throughout the year. DC's equitable access lottery model was designed with neighborhoods like Washington Highlands in mind — ensuring that families in Ward 8's southernmost communities have real pathways to high-performing schools citywide, not just the options immediately adjacent to their homes.