Hendley Elementary School

At a Glance

Hendley Elementary School is a public District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) campus located in the Washington Highlands neighborhood of Ward 8. Serving students from pre-kindergarten age three through fifth grade, Hendley emphasizes hands-on learning with a schoolwide focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The school's mission centers on developing both innovational and interpersonal skills through interest-based experiences, risk-taking, teamwork, and self-regulation.

As a DCPS elementary school offering early childhood education starting at age three, Hendley provides families with a complete elementary experience that includes the critical early learning years through upper elementary. The school's commitment to STEM education means students engage with the engineering design process, scientific method, and computational skills including coding throughout their elementary years.

What Parents Should Know

Hendley Elementary participates in the My School DC lottery system, which is how DC families apply to DCPS and public charter schools across the city. The school offers an Equitable Access lottery preference specifically for in-boundary pre-kindergarten 3 and pre-kindergarten 4 applicants, which can increase admission chances for families living within Hendley's attendance boundary who are seeking early childhood education options. Understanding your boundary status before applying can help you make strategic decisions during the lottery process.

The PK3–5 grade configuration means families can potentially keep their children at Hendley for up to seven years, from age three through fifth grade. This extended timeline allows students to build lasting relationships with teachers and peers while developing within a consistent school community. However, families should plan ahead for the transition to middle school after fifth grade, which will require another school selection process through My School DC.

Located in Washington Highlands in Ward 8, Hendley serves a community in Southeast DC. The school's location at 425 Chesapeake Street SE puts it in a residential neighborhood, and families considering the school should think about transportation logistics, whether that means walking distance, DCPS bus eligibility, or Metro access for their particular situation.

The school's STEM focus is integrated throughout the curriculum rather than being an occasional add-on, with explicit attention to computational skills including coding starting in the early grades. This approach means even the youngest learners engage with technology and problem-solving in age-appropriate ways.

Programs and Approach

As a DCPS school, Hendley Elementary follows the district's academic standards while implementing its distinctive mission focused on innovation and STEM learning. The school emphasizes hands-on, interest-based experiences designed to cultivate critical thinking, cooperative learning, and teamwork skills. According to the school's mission, scholars work with the engineering design process and scientific method as core components of their learning.

The schoolwide STEM focus incorporates computational skills, including coding, across grade levels. This integration means that technology and problem-solving aren't taught in isolation but woven into how students learn across subjects. The mission also highlights risk-taking and self-regulation as key components of student development, suggesting an environment where students are encouraged to try new approaches and learn from mistakes.

Enrollment at Hendley, like all DCPS schools, happens through the My School DC unified lottery system. Families submit a single application ranking their preferred schools, and the lottery algorithm matches students to schools based on preferences, lottery preferences like Equitable Access for in-boundary students, and available seats. The process typically opens in the winter for the following school year, with results released in spring. Families can contact the school directly to learn about tours and information sessions before making application decisions.

Visiting and Contact

Hendley Elementary School is located at 425 Chesapeake Street SE in the Washington Highlands neighborhood. Families interested in learning more about the school's STEM-focused approach, visiting the campus, or getting information about enrollment should visit https://www.hendleydc.org/ or call 202-645-3450 for current details and tour availability.