Perry Street Preparatory PCS

At a Glance

Perry Street Preparatory Public Charter School serves students from Pre-K3 through 8th grade in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC. As a tuition-free public charter school in Ward 5, Perry Street Prep welcomes families from across the District seeking a diverse learning community focused on building strong relationships between school and home.

The school's mission centers on empowering students to become college-ready while preparing them to thrive in a global society. With a span from early childhood through middle school, Perry Street Prep offers families the opportunity for continuity across ten formative years of education in one school community.

What Parents Should Know

As a DC public charter school, Perry Street Preparatory participates in the My School DC common lottery system for all new student enrollment. Families interested in applying should submit their applications during the annual lottery window, typically held in late winter for the following school year. The school serves students starting as young as three years old in Pre-K3, which can be particularly valuable for DC families seeking early childhood education options.

The grade configuration through 8th grade means students can remain in one school community from preschool through middle school graduation, building long-term relationships with teachers and peers. However, families should plan ahead for the high school transition, as students will need to apply to DC high schools during their 8th grade year. The extended elementary and middle school span allows the school to potentially offer developmental continuity that differs from the typical K-5 or K-8 models found elsewhere in the District.

Perry Street Prep's location in Brookland places it in a well-connected Northeast neighborhood with Metro access and a mix of residential and institutional surroundings. Ward 5 families in particular may find the location convenient, though as a charter school, Perry Street Prep accepts students from any DC ward through the lottery system without geographic preference.

Programs and Approach

Perry Street Preparatory emphasizes building a community of diverse learners, reflecting the charter school sector's focus on creating distinctive educational environments within the DC public school system. The school prioritizes family partnerships as a core component of its educational approach, working to engage parents and guardians as active participants in student learning and school life.

The college-ready focus beginning in the earliest grades suggests an academically oriented program that aims to build foundational skills and mindsets from preschool forward. This long-range view of student preparation is particularly relevant for families considering where their child might spend up to ten years of schooling. The emphasis on global citizenship alongside college preparation indicates attention to broader skills and perspectives beyond purely academic measures.

As with all DC public charter schools, Perry Street Prep operates independently with its own board of trustees while receiving public funding and serving as a free public education option for District families. The school must meet the performance standards set by the DC Public Charter School Board to maintain its charter. Families considering Perry Street Prep should visit the school's website and attend any open houses or tours to get a firsthand sense of the school culture, meet educators, and ask specific questions about curriculum, extracurricular offerings, and daily schedules.

Visiting and Contact

Perry Street Preparatory PCS is located at 1800 Perry Street NE in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, DC. Families can reach the school at 202-529-4400 or visit http://www.pspdc.org/ for information about tours, enrollment timelines, and current programming details.