DC Public Schools Family Guide for Summer Learning 2023
Learn with DCPS this Summer!
Every summer, DCPS provides summer learning opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students. Students who participate in summer programming have opportunities to form new friendships, strengthen academic skills, and prepare for the year ahead. There is no cost to attend a DCPS summer program. Most will take place on weekdays between July 3 to August 4 for full or half-days, including breakfast and lunch for students.
Scroll down on the page or select a program name to learn more.
- Elementary Summer Acceleration (PK4 to 4)
- Middle School Enrichment (5 to 8)
- High School Credit Recovery (9 to 12)
- High School Original Credit (9 to 12)
- English Learner Summer Academic Program (PK4 to 12) |Programa académico de verano para estudiantes de inglés (PK4 a 12)
- Extended School Year (K to 12)
- Summer Bridge (6 and 9)
This five-week, full day program is a unique opportunity for elementary students to engage in hands-on, enriching academic instruction each morning and fun summer activities (games, crafts, and more) each afternoon. Students who participated in Summer Acceleration last year formed new friendships, strengthened their literacy and math skills, and had fun learning and growing with their peers!
Registration for Elementary Summer Acceleration is now open.
Summer Acceleration Locations
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR SY22-23 | SUMMER ACCELERATION LOCATION |
|---|---|
| Bancroft, Dorothy Height, Eaton, Hearst, Janney, Murch, or Tubman | Bancroft ES 1755 Newton St NW |
| Beers, Boone, Excel, Garfield, Ketcham, Moten, Randle Highlands, Savoy, or Stanton | Boone ES 2200 Minnesota Ave SE |
| Barnard, Bruce-Monroe, LaSalle-Backus, Military Road ELC, Powell, Raymond, Truesdell, or Whittier | Bruce-Monroe ES 3560 Warder St NW |
| Burrville, CW Harris, Drew, Houston, or Nalle | CW Harris ES 301 53rd St SE |
| Cleveland, Garrison, Marie Reed, Ross, Seaton, Stevens ELC, SWW Francis Stevens, or Thomson | Garrison ES 1200 S St NW |
| HD Cooke, Hyde-Addison, Key, Mann, Oyster-Adams, or Stoddert | HD Cooke ES 2525 17th St NW |
| Browne EC, Captol Hill Montessori, J.O. Wilson, Peabody, SWS @ Goding , Walker Jones EC, Watkins, or Wheatley EC | J.O. Wilson ES 660 K St NE |
| Brightwood, John Lewis, Lafayette, Shepherd, or Takoma | John Lewis ES 1335 Farragut St NW |
| Kimball, Plummer, Smothers, Thomas, or Whitlock | Kimball ES 3375 Minnesota Ave SE |
| Bunker Hill, Burroughs, Langdon, Langley, or Noyes | Noyes ES 2725 10th St NE |
| Hendley, King, Leckie EC, Malcom X, Patterson, Simon, or Turner | Patterson ES 4399 South Capitol Terrace SW |
| Amidon-Bowen, Brent, Maury, Miner, Ludlow-Taylor, Payne, Tyler, or Van Ness | Payne ES 1445 C St SE |
Middle School Enrichment (5 to 8)
There is a variety of summer enrichment programs for middle school students who are currently in 5th to 8th grades. Register here.
Algebra Accelerator I is for rising 6th grade students (students promoted from 5th to 6th grade during SY22-23).
Successful students will be more prepared to tackle 6th grade math content and continue towards an accelerated path to build a strong foundation that will better prepare them for Algebra I by the end of their 8th grade year.
Algebra Accelerator II is for rising 7th grade students (students promoted from 6th to 7th grade during SY22-23).
Students will get a boost in an intensive pre-algebra readiness so that they can gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take Algebra I when they are in 8th grade.
Algebra Accelerator III is for both rising 8th grade and rising 9th grade students (students promoted to either 8th or 9th grade during SY22-23) based on established criteria.
Rising 8th grade students will be introduced to or revisit key content and foundational standards necessary to be successful in Algebra I. Students who are successful will be more prepared to excel in Algebra I during the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.
Registration for CTE is now open.
Biz Camp for Young Moguls
This program activates the entrepreneurial mindset in students as they engage in a broad exploration of career opportunities and learn the essential principles of personal finance, economics, and entrepreneurship—providing them with the fundamental skills and mindset needed to join the future workforce. Students will create a “personal brand” that reflects their unique value proposition and how their interests, skills, and values will help them become successful entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs.
Summer Site Locations: Eliot-Hine MS, Ida B. Wells MS
Everyone Can Code – Coding with Apple Swift
Coding with Swift is an easy-to-follow programming language used by professional developers to create apps around the world. Students will enjoy learning to code with Swift Playgrounds, a free app for iPad that makes getting started with Swift code interactive and fun. Students will use iPads to prototype apps in small and large learning communities. Students will also engage with IT professionals and complete career exploration activities.
Summer Site Locations: Eliot-Hine MS, Johnson MS
Can You Build It? – Carpentry
During this carpentry course, students will be a builder for the summer — all while having fun exploring and learning about trades through carpentry! Students will be exposed to concepts for safety and building while creating a unique and authentic final project. This course is perfect for the student who enjoys hands-on engagement.
Summer Site Location: Phelps ACE HS
Hospitality
Students will explore the hospitality and tourism industry, which is one of Washington, DC’s largest employers. Students who participate in this summer program will engage in a hands-on event planning “business.” Paired with the Culinary program, these students will get real world experience in the Hospitality/Tourism industry. Students will utilize the Hospitality/Tourism essentials learned to plan the final showcase at the end of the program.
Summer Site Location: Ballou HS
DC’s Next Top Chef Jr.
Students will enjoy learning to cook with celebrity Chef Shanel Howard! Each week will have a different culinary theme as students learn their way around the kitchen. Students will be engaged as they learn culinary skills, teamwork, and professionalism. Students will prepare a spread for the chef’s competition at the end of the program!
Summer Site Location: Ballou HS
VEX IQ – Robotics
The Vex IQ Robotics course, students can be a creative thinker — all while having fun exploring and learning about STEM ideas and concepts through robotics! Students will apply their learning, use the Engineering process, and build teamwork and collaboration skills. This course provides students with hands-on, minds-on engagement that encourages students to design creative solutions and innovate through experimentation.
Summer Site Locations: Eliot-Hine MS, Hart MS
Registration for Digital Arts Camp is now open.
Middle school students with a passion for arts and technology can take their skills to the next level by enrolling in a Digital Media Arts Summer Camp. The half-day, four-week program is a fun-filled, active, and engaging summer learning experience that introduces students to digital art and music forms, new ways of learning, and the joy of creative discovery. This whole child centered camp will be an opportunity for students to create rich storytelling projects by interweaving digital art, animation, music, and technology.
Registration for Music Explorers Came is now open.
Music Explorers Camp will provide middle school students with the opportunity to begin or continue their instrumental and vocal musical learning. Students will develop the needed skills to become proficient in playing an instrument, digital music, reading music, learning the necessary skills and etiquette to become a successful musician. This opportunity will conclude with a final performance for the community.
Original Credit Accelerators are credit bearing courses available to middle grade students who would like to start earning DCPS graduation credits prior to officially enrolling in high school. Students are only allowed to enroll in one original accelerator course. Secondary Grading Policy will be in effect; students will earn summer grades of A, B, C, D, or F. Original Credit Accelerator seats are limited. Students who accrue 4 unexcused absences will receive a grade of W (withdrawal) and may have to retake the course in high school.
Algebra I OC
This math course is designated for the middle school student taking Algebra I only and combines 8th grade CCSS and Algebra CCSS. This math course focuses on the understanding of the real number system as a basic structure of algebra and to acquire facility in applying algebraic concepts to problem-solving. Students will do operations with real numbers, solving equations and inequalities in one variable, lines and graphing, polynomials and algebraic fractions, factoring, solving systems of equations, and the quadratic formula. Additionally, students will address understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem and interpreting data on categorical and/or quantitative data.
Art A
This course is designed to provide students with the tools to interpret and communicate about works of art, as well as learn the skills and knowledge necessary to produce each art form. The intended outcome is artistic literacy.
Health
This course provides learning experiences related to health concepts and safety practiced in the maintenance and improvement of body efficiency.
Registration for Outdoor Pursuits is now open.
Outdoor Pursuits Programs involve hands-on activities outdoors in nature. These programs also encourage action and leadership in students by exercising their critical thinking and creative skills and giving students the knowledge and confidence to make their own decisions and try new and exciting physical adventures outdoors and indoors. Activities include: hiking and orienteering, parkour, rock climbing, and swimming, as well as adventure and cooperative challenges.
Registration for Spoken Word Workshop is now open.
Spoken Word will consist of a five-week classroom residency in which students interested in the written, the spoken and the rhythmic word will be introduced to various strategies for better public speaking, clarity in writing and creativity in performance. Each week, students will experience a different facet of their artistry.
Students who need an opportunity to re-take courses required for graduation can take advantage of these summer course offerings by working with their school counselor to be enrolled and scheduled in credit recovery classes to receive up to 2 credits to get back on track for a timely graduation. Credit recovery is available for most required core classes. Please note that credit recovery can only be taken if the student has previously attempted and failed the original version of the course. Students should work directly with their school counselors to be scheduled.
Off-track high school students, especially potential summer graduates, will have an opportunity to earn original high school credit. These opportunities will be limited, and students should work with their school counselor to find out how to take advantage of this opportunity.
- Eligible students: Current PK4 to 12th grade students who are newcomer English learners
- When: July 10 – August 4, 2023, weekdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Elementary Locations: Bancroft ES, John Lewis ES, Noyes ES
- Middle School Locations: Brookland MS, Ida B. Wells MS
- High School Locations: Cardozo EC, Columbia Heights EC, Coolidge HS, Jackson Reed HS, Roosevelt HS
- Questions? ELSAP.dcps.summer@k12.dc.gov
The English Learner Summer Academic Program (ELSAP) is a DCPS program specifically for students in still developing basic proficiency in English. Language development will be integrated with hands-on content and literacy development. This is a program for students who are learning English as a second/additional language. Students will be notified by their school if they are eligible to participate
Elementary English Learners can also participate in Summer Acceleration, and a virtual option will be available for high school students.
- Alumnos admisibles: Alumnos actuales de PK4 a 12º curso que son estudiantes de inglés recién llegados
- Cuándo: Del 10 de julio al 4 de agosto de 2023, los días laborables de 9:00 a 13:00 horas
- Escuelas primarias: Bancroft ES, John Lewis ES, Noyes ES
- Escuelas intermedias: Brookland MS, Ida B. Wells MS
- Escuelas secundarias: Cardozo EC, Columbia Heights EC, Coolidge HS, Jackson Reed HS, Roosevelt HS
- ¿Preguntas? ELSAP.dcps.summer@k12.dc.gov
El Programa Académico de Verano para Estudiantes de Inglés (ELSAP) es un programa de DCPS específicamente para estudiantes que aún están desarrollando un dominio básico del inglés. El desarrollo del lenguaje se integrará con el contenido práctico y el desarrollo de la alfabetización. Este es un programa para estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés como segundo idioma/idioma adicional. Los estudiantes serán notificados por su escuela si son elegibles para participar.
Los estudiantes de inglés de primaria también pueden participar en la Aceleración de Verano, y habrá una opción virtual disponible para los estudiantes de secundaria.
This four-week program is limited to students who have been identified by the student’s IEP team. Students with IEP’s with ESY written into their services will be contacted by their schools later this spring.
Page updated: March 22, 2023
