C.W. Harris Elementary School

At a Glance

C.W. Harris Elementary is a DC Public Schools (DCPS) neighborhood elementary located at 301 53rd Street SE in the Marshall Heights neighborhood of Ward 7. The school serves students from PK3 through 5th grade, making it a full early-childhood-through-upper-elementary option for families east of the Anacostia River.

As a DCPS school, C.W. Harris is part of the city's public, in-boundary system, meaning families living within its attendance boundary are guaranteed a seat. The school's stated approach centers on the whole child, with social-emotional learning (SEL) woven into the daily schedule alongside academics.

What Parents Should Know

• Grade span (PK3–5): Because the school enrolls students as young as three, families can keep one child in the same building from preschool through fifth grade. After fifth grade, students transition to a DCPS middle school, typically determined by the feeder pattern tied to their home address.
• In-boundary vs. lottery: DCPS guarantees in-boundary seats at your assigned neighborhood school. If C.W. Harris is not your in-boundary school, you can apply through the My School DC common lottery, which opens annually in the winter.
• PK3 and PK4 seats: All preschool seats in DCPS — including at C.W. Harris — are awarded through the My School DC lottery, even for families living in-boundary. Pre-K spots in Ward 7 fill quickly, so families should plan to apply during the standard lottery window.
• Head Start programming: C.W. Harris is a Head Start school, with programming available to PreK students. This typically includes wraparound family supports such as parent classes and case management.
• Location context: Marshall Heights is a residential neighborhood in far Southeast DC. Families should plan for travel by car or DC Circulator/Metrobus routes serving the area, as the nearest Metro stations are a drive away.

Programs and Approach

C.W. Harris frames its program around teaching to "the head, heart, and hands," with SEL embedded throughout the school day. Beyond core academics, the school highlights enrichment experiences including gardening and nutrition, environmental literacy, aviation, and field trip excursions designed to extend learning outside the classroom walls.

The school also references athletics through Boys & Girls Club programming and an Acceleration Academy, which in DCPS generally refers to targeted academic support during school breaks. As with all DCPS elementary schools, instruction follows DCPS-wide curriculum frameworks in literacy, math, science, and social studies.

Enrollment for non-boundary families runs through My School DC (myschooldc.org). The lottery is the single application used for all DCPS out-of-boundary requests and for all DC public charter schools. In-boundary families do not need the lottery to claim their seat, but they do need to complete DCPS enrollment paperwork each year.

For families considering C.W. Harris, it is worth visiting during a tour or open house to see the early childhood classrooms, ask about current Head Start availability, and learn how SEL is structured day to day.

Visiting and Contact

Address: 301 53rd Street SE, Washington, DC (Marshall Heights, Ward 7) Phone: 202-645-3188 Website: cwharriselementary.org

For tour schedules, current staff contacts, enrollment paperwork, and the most up-to-date program information, check the school's website directly or call the main office.