“Benjamin Banneker Academic High School to Relocate to the Former Shaw Junior High School”

900 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Muriel Bowser and interim DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Amanda Alexander announced that Benjamin Banneker Academic High School will relocate to the site of the former Shaw Junior High School. In making this announcement, the Mayor also committed to working with the Shaw and DCPS communities to open a new middle school that aligns with the District’s enrollment needs.

“Families and students are succeeding at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, and, now, we are proud to take this step toward increasing access to a highly sought-after program,” said Mayor Bowser. “As families continue to choose our public schools, we’re going to continue working with the community to provide high-quality options – at every level – that set our young people up for success.”

DCPS is planning to open the new Banneker at Shaw Junior High School by school year 2021-2022. The relocation is expected to increase programming capacity by 300 students.

“At DC Public Schools, we are committed to building on programs that are helping our students succeed,” said interim Chancellor Alexander. “Banneker is proving what is possible for our young people and I am thrilled to open its doors to more students. Congratulations to Banneker Principal Anita Berger, and all of the school’s students and staff.”

“When I began my career at DCPS in 1993, I never imagined being a Principal of a school filled with a phenomenal group of hard-working teachers, staff, and students,” said Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Principal Anita Berger. “This modernization will give us the opportunity to build on the successes we’ve seen and ensure even more students are beating the odds in Washington, DC. I thank Mayor Bowser for her commitment to our students and the Banneker community for their steadfast support.”

Community engagement will be central to the relocation and expansion effort and DCPS will be working with the Department of Parks and Recreation to design and build community benefits at the new location. On November 15, 2018, the DC Council Committee on Education will hold a public roundtable, and the School Improvement Team process and other engagement activities will begin this fall.

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School opened for students in 1981 as an alternative high school where students in ninth through twelfth grades can engage in rigorous and varied academic experiences. The school has been an International Baccalaureate World School since 2001. In 2018, Banneker was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon school.”

800 Euclid Street, NW