KIPP DC - Arts & Technology Academy PCS

At a Glance

KIPP DC – Arts & Technology Academy PCS (often shortened to ATA) is a public charter school serving the earliest grades, from PK3 through Kindergarten. It operates out of the Smilow Campus at 5300 Blaine Street NE in the Grant Park neighborhood of Ward 7, in the city's far northeast.

Because ATA is part of the larger KIPP DC charter network, families here are tapping into a citywide system of early childhood and elementary schools rather than a single standalone program. The school is built specifically around very young learners, so its entire focus — staffing, classroom design, and daily routines — is geared toward three-, four-, and five-year-olds preparing for elementary school.

What Parents Should Know

A few things tend to matter most to DC families considering ATA:

• It is a PK3–K school only. Children enroll as young as three and finish at the end of Kindergarten. That means every family needs to plan for a school transition after just a few years, even if everything is going well.
• The pipeline is built in. According to the school, students who complete Kindergarten at ATA move on to KIPP DC Quest Academy, located on the same Smilow Campus. For families who want continuity, that shared campus is a meaningful logistical advantage — same drop-off, same general community — even though it is technically a different school.
• Admission is through the citywide lottery. As a DC public charter, ATA does not have neighborhood boundaries. Any DC resident family can apply, and seats are awarded through My School DC.
• Location is Ward 7, Grant Park. The Blaine Street NE address sits east of the Anacostia River. Families coming from other parts of the city should plan their commute carefully and consider whether KIPP DC's transportation options (if any apply to this campus) fit their schedule.
• It is an early childhood program with a structured approach. KIPP DC describes its early childhood schools as focused on foundational academic skills along with social-emotional development, a safe environment, and a sense of belonging — useful framing for parents deciding between play-based, academic, and hybrid models.

Programs and Approach

Enrollment at ATA, like all DC public charter schools, runs through the My School DC common lottery. Families create one application listing their school choices in order of preference; results are released in the spring, with rolling waitlist movement after that. There is no test, interview, or boundary requirement to apply.

The school's stated approach centers on academic readiness paired with what KIPP DC calls joy and belonging — in practical terms, structured early literacy and math foundations alongside the routines, social skills, and classroom habits that help young children succeed later on. The school has also referenced enrichment experiences for its young students, including offerings tied to dance, music, cooking, science exploration, and yoga, though specific schedules and providers can change year to year.

For the most current details on the school day, calendar, enrichment partners, and what a typical PK or K classroom looks like, parents should check directly with the school.

Visiting and Contact

Address: 5300 Blaine Street NE, Washington, DC (Grant Park, Ward 7) Phone: 202-398-6811

For tour dates, open house schedules, and current program information, visit the school's page on the KIPP DC website: https://www.kippdc.org/kipp-dc-public-schools/early-childhood-schools/kipp-dc-arts-technology-academy/