The Kennedy School

At a Glance

The Kennedy School is a private, specialized K-12 school operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. It serves students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering individualized instruction along with therapeutic support services under one roof.

Located at 801 Buchanan Street NE, the school sits in Ward 5, in the Brookland/North Michigan Park area of Northeast DC. Because it spans kindergarten through twelfth grade, families can keep a child enrolled through their entire school career without navigating multiple transitions between elementary, middle, and high school programs.

What Parents Should Know

A few practical things to keep in mind if you are considering The Kennedy School for your child:

• It is a specialized private school, not a general-admission school. Enrollment is geared specifically toward students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so families typically come in with documentation of their child's needs, such as an IEP or recent evaluations. Interested families should contact the school directly to understand current admissions requirements.
• Many DC families attend through public funding. Specialized non-public schools like Kennedy often serve students whose needs cannot be met in a traditional DCPS or charter setting. Placements and tuition arrangements are commonly coordinated through a student's local education agency as part of the IEP process. Families should talk with both the school and their LEA about how this works in their specific case.
• K-12 means continuity. With one program from kindergarten through high school, students do not have to switch buildings or staff teams at the typical transition points. For students who benefit from consistent routines, relationships, and therapeutic services, this can be a meaningful advantage.
• Ward 5 location. The Buchanan Street NE address is accessible from much of Northeast and North DC. Families coming from elsewhere in the city or from nearby Maryland will want to ask about transportation options when they inquire, as transportation for students with disabilities is often arranged through the LEA.
• Operated by a faith-affiliated nonprofit. Catholic Charities DC runs a range of social service and educational programs in the District. Parents who want to understand the organization's broader mission can find more on the Catholic Charities website.

Programs and Approach

As a private specialized school, The Kennedy School does not participate in the My School DC lottery. Families typically begin by reaching out to the school to discuss their child's profile, share evaluations and IEP documentation, and learn about the application and placement process. Because most students arrive with significant support needs, admissions conversations tend to focus on fit — whether the school can meet the specific learning, communication, behavioral, and therapeutic needs of the child.

The school's core approach combines academic instruction tailored to each student's individual learning plan with therapeutic and support services delivered on site. Specific service offerings, staffing, and daily schedules are best confirmed directly with the school, since these can change from year to year.

For families weighing options, it can help to tour, observe a classroom, and ask concrete questions about class size, staff-to-student ratios, related services, transition planning for older students, and how the school partners with parents.

Visiting and Contact

The Kennedy School is located at 801 Buchanan Street NE, Washington, DC, in Ward 5. You can reach the school by phone at (202) 281-2700. For the most current information on admissions, tours, and programs, visit the school's page at https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/program/kennedy-school.