MM Bethune PCS
MM Bethune PCS, located in Wards 4 and 5, educates 303 students in grades PK3 through 8.. The school is in its 20th year of operation and has a mission to provide challenging academic programs in a supportive, parentally involved, and diverse learning environment to enable each student to achieve academic success, talent, and positive social development.
During the 20-year review, the Board voted to continue its charter.
Executive Director Linda McKay shared that she is eager to continue developing student achievement in the years to come.
“The last five years have been a period of resilience, growth, and innovation for our school. Despite operating during a global pandemic and the challenges that followed, the school has remained deeply committed to delivering a high-quality inquiry-based education that prepares our students for the 21st century. We remain deeply committed to continuous improvement, and looking forward, we are more energized than ever to advance student achievement and whole child development.”
Youthbuild PCS
Also up for their 20-year review, Youthbuild PCS, located in Ward 1, educates 129 adult students, with a goal to empower young adults to transform their lives through education and workforce development.
The Board voted to continue its charter during the 20-year review.
Head of School Claire Libert emphasized the importance of supporting young adult learners.
“Youthbuild is unique among the city schools, and I’d like to say a little bit of magic. Our mission is to serve DC’s most vulnerable young people to open and on-ramp education that has been blocked by agencies, systems, and traditional schools that more often act as barriers than boosts to student success. Every day our students show incredible bravery with their decision to return to school, which is a place for many of them, where they experience painful failures and exclusion. At Youthbuild, we strive to create space that actively welcomes and celebrates each individual student that comes through our doors.”
Monument PCS
Located in Ward 7, Monument Academy PCS educates 131 students in grades 5 through 8, believing all students have the capacity to succeed at high academic levels and experience positive life outcomes.
During its 10-year review, the Board voted to continue its charter.
CEO Jeffrey Grant shared the effort to support youth academically and emotionally.
“We have chosen to focus on a community that needs the type of support that we can provide before they start thinking about academics. We are the only public residential middle school in Washington, [DC], and what makes us even more unique is that we focus on their traumas and triggers while simultaneously raising academic achievement.”
Kingsman PCS
Kingsman PCS, located in Ward 6, educates 346 students in grades 6 through 12. Their mission is to provide an individualized and rigorous education in a supportive environment to prepare scholars for post-secondary success and responsible citizenship.
The Board voted to continue its charter during the 10-year review.
Executive Director Kennesha Kelly shared the continued commitment to reimaging education across the district.
“Kingsman Academy is more than just a school. We are a revolutionary response to an urgent call for change in education. For too long, traditional schools have failed to serve all students, especially those with disabilities, those grappling with attendance and behavior changes, and those falling behind their age-grade cohorts. These are not flaws in our students. These are fundamental design flaws in the system itself. Our students, their families, and our community are calling for something different. They demand a paradigm shift that looks different from the status quo. We are actively working to strengthen the education safety net for students unsuccessful in their previous schools.”
Children’s Guild PCS
Children’s Guild PCS, located in Ward 5, educates 246 students in grades K through 8, aiming to prepare students for college, career readiness, and citizenship by using Transformation Education to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, self-discipline, and a commitment to serving a cause larger than themselves.
During its 10-year review, the Board voted to continue its charter.
Principal Hughes Johnson shared their effort to support student success.
“Our mission is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: we meet every student where they are. This philosophy not only guides how we teach but how we build relationships, structure support, and nurture growth. Over the past five years, we’ve grown into a stronger, more resilient, more responsive community.”
Girls Global PCS
Up for its 5-year review, Girls Global PCS, located in Ward 2, educates 183 students in grades 9 through 12. The school’s mission is to nurture active, global changemakers through rigorous, supportive, and inclusive learning environments.
During its 5-year review, the Board voted to continue its charter with two conditions, read more here.
Executive Director Karen Venable-Croft shared the efforts to improve the school's goals.
“We are the proud trailblazers of Girls Global Academy (GGA), a beacon of possibility. GGA is the only public all girls high school in DC offering the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate Career Certificate. This is an opportunity-expanding education that our girls deserve. We take students where they are, while the starting point matters, growth matters more. We’re honest about where we stand . Our data shows we’re not where we want to be yet, that’s why we’ve created our ASPIRE improvement plan with five strategic goals that will drive lasting change.”
The school will notify families of the conditions.
Read about the other charter reviews here.