Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 24, 2026

Overview

DCSchools.com (the “Site”) is operated by DC Schools Guide (“we”, “us”). We are an independent, free school directory for Washington, D.C. families. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how it is used, how it is shared, and the choices and rights you have. By using the Site you agree to this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

Information we collect

We collect a small amount of information automatically when you visit the Site, and we do not require any account, sign-up, or form submission to use it:

  • Usage data — pages visited, time on page, referring URL, approximate location (country/city), device type, browser type, and language. Collected via Google Analytics 4.
  • Technical data — IP address (truncated by Google Analytics), user-agent string, and HTTP request headers, processed by our hosting provider (Vercel) for security and abuse prevention.
  • Cookies and similar technologies — see the Cookies section below.
  • Contact correspondence — if you email us, we keep your message and email address to respond and to maintain a record of the exchange.

We do not collect names, phone numbers, payment information, or any data about children through the Site. We do not run user accounts or sign-up forms.

How we use information

  • To operate, maintain, and improve the Site;
  • To understand which guides and school profiles are useful, so we can write better content;
  • To detect and prevent abuse, spam, and security threats;
  • To respond to email inquiries and corrections;
  • To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with marketing or data-broker companies.

Cookies and tracking

We use cookies and similar storage technologies for two purposes:

  • Analytics — Google Analytics 4 sets cookies (e.g., _ga, _ga_*) to distinguish unique sessions. IP addresses are anonymized.
  • Advertising — if we display ads on the Site through Google AdSense or another ad network, those providers may set cookies and use the Google advertising ID to serve relevant ads and to limit how often you see the same ad. See the Advertising section for details and opt-outs.

You can control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them. Blocking cookies may impair some Site features but the editorial content remains accessible.

Advertising (Google AdSense and partners)

We may use Google AdSense or comparable advertising partners to display ads on the Site. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site or other sites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our Site and/or other sites on the Internet.

You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You may also opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting aboutads.info.

Third-party services

In addition to analytics and advertising, the Site uses:

  • Google Maps — embedded on some school profiles to show the location. Subject to Google's Privacy Policy.
  • Vercel — our hosting provider. Processes request data for delivery and security. See the Vercel Privacy Policy.
  • Affiliate links — tutoring partner links (e.g., Preply). Clicking such a link takes you to the partner's site, which has its own privacy policy.
  • YouTube and Vimeo — embedded videos may set cookies under their own privacy policies.

Children's privacy (COPPA)

The Site is intended for parents, guardians, educators, and other adults researching DC schools. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information through the Site, contact us at hello@dcschools.com and we will delete it.

EU/UK rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the General Data Protection Regulation grants you the following rights with respect to the limited personal data we process (analytics identifiers, IP addresses, and email correspondence):

  • Right to access the data we hold about you;
  • Right to request rectification of inaccurate data;
  • Right to request erasure (“right to be forgotten”);
  • Right to restrict or object to processing;
  • Right to data portability;
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time;
  • Right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Our legal bases for processing are: (a) legitimate interest in operating and improving the Site; (b) consent, where required, for non-essential cookies; and (c) compliance with legal obligations.

California rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act grant you the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, the right to correct inaccurate information, and the right to opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. We do not sell personal information. To exercise these rights, email hello@dcschools.com with the subject line “California Privacy Request”.

Data retention

Analytics data is retained by Google Analytics for up to 14 months and then automatically deleted. Server logs at our hosting provider are retained for a short rolling window (typically 30 days) for security and debugging. Email correspondence is retained for as long as needed to maintain the conversation and for reasonable record-keeping.

Security

The Site is served over HTTPS. We rely on industry-standard infrastructure (Vercel, Google) and we limit access to logs and email to the editor. No internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

International transfers

Our servers and third-party processors (Google, Vercel) are located primarily in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. By using the Site you consent to this transfer.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent change. Material changes will be announced prominently on the Site.

Contact

Questions or requests about this Privacy Policy? Email hello@dcschools.com or see our Contact page.

← Back to home