Excel Academy

At a Glance

Excel Academy is a public school in Washington DC serving students from PK3 through 8th grade. It holds the distinction of being DC's first all-girls public school, with a stated mission centered on three words: Educate, Empower, and Excel. The school is located at 2501 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in the Barry Farm neighborhood of Ward 8.

Because Excel Academy spans early childhood through middle school, it primarily serves families looking for a long-term educational home for their daughters — one that can take a child from her very first classroom experience all the way through her transition to high school. Its single-gender model makes it a distinctive option within the DC public school landscape, and it draws families from across the city, not just the immediate neighborhood.

What Parents Should Know

A few specifics worth knowing as you weigh Excel Academy against other DC options:

• It is an all-girls public school. This is unusual in DC's public sector, and it's the defining feature of the school's identity. Families considering Excel are typically looking specifically for a single-gender learning environment for their daughters.
• The grade span is wide. PK3 through 8th grade means a student could potentially attend Excel for eleven years before applying to high school. That long runway can reduce the number of school transitions a family has to manage, but it also means the high school search becomes the next major step after 8th grade.
• Equitable Access seats are part of the lottery. Excel offers Equitable Access designated seats for PK3 and PK4 applicants through the My School DC lottery, which is designed to expand access for at-risk students at the earliest entry points.
• Location matters. The school sits on Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in Ward 8's Barry Farm area. Families east of the river will find it relatively close to home; families coming from other parts of DC should plan around their commute, particularly during morning drop-off.
• Contact the school directly for the most current details. Enrollment policies, school hours, uniform requirements, and after-school programming can shift year to year, so verifying with the school before applying is always a good idea.

Programs and Approach

As a DC public school, Excel Academy enrolls students through the My School DC common lottery. Families apply by ranking their preferred schools on a single application, and seats are offered based on lottery results and available capacity. PK3 and PK4 are the most competitive entry points across DC, and Excel's Equitable Access seats are intended to broaden opportunity for eligible families at those grade levels.

The school's mission emphasizes educating and empowering girls, with the goal of helping students excel academically and personally. Beyond what the school states in its own mission, parents interested in specifics — daily schedule, electives, athletics, support services, and approach to middle school instruction — should reach out to Excel directly or attend an open house. Curriculum and program details are best confirmed at the source rather than inferred secondhand.

Visiting and Contact

Excel Academy is located at 2501 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, in the Barry Farm neighborhood of Ward 8. The school can be reached by phone at 202-373-0097.

For tours, open house dates, application timelines, and the most up-to-date information on programs and enrollment, visit the school's website at excelacademy.education.