Petworth

E.L. Haynes Public Charter School Opens New High School in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo via EL Haynes

From a press release:

On Thursday, March 7, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School celebrates a tremendous milestone for our city: The Grand Opening of E.L. Haynes High School. Taking place at the newly-completed campus located at 4501 Kansas Avenue, NW, the event includes welcoming remarks from DC Mayor Vincent Gray, words from Councilmember Muriel Bowser, the perspectives of one of our E.L. Haynes High School students, and a keynote address from Maria Gomez, Founder and President of Mary’s Center and a recent winner of the Presidential Citizen’s Medal.

Washington, DC faces an education crisis. In our city, fewer than half of high school students graduate within five years. Fewer than one third of our students attend college within 18 months of graduation, and fewer than ten percent graduate from college within five years. E.L. Haynes High School presents an exciting opportunity to change this trajectory and create a brighter educational future for our students.

Founded in 2004 and designated a Tier One High-Performing School by the DC Public Charter School Board, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School currently serves 950 students from grades pre-school through ten and is recognized locally and nationally for advancing student achievement.

E.L. Haynes High School fulfills the school’s college preparation promise and meets a critical need for Washington, DC – a non-selective public high school designed so that every student will successfully complete a rigorous program that is typically provided to an elite few in the US. The 33,000-square-foot addition adjoins 12,000 existing square feet of space, enabling E.L. Haynes High School to grow to serve 400 students. The facility includes science labs, a high school regulation size gymnasium, specialized spaces for the arts, a technology lab for video game design and programming courses, and an indoor/outdoor cafeteria.

The project team included architects Shinberg Levinas and general contractor Forrester Construction. Grants from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB), and support from The Campaign for E.L. Haynes Public Charter School funded the project.

EL_Haynes_petworth
Photo via EL Haynes

Post Magazine Profiles Friends of the Soldiers’ Home

By Prince Of Petworth

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The Post Magazine published an interesting article “Can Soldiers’ Home residents and urban gentrifiers overcome barbed wire?”:

Behind James are 272 acres of rolling green pasture, with some of the highest ground in the city. There are park benches that look onto the Capitol, forested pathways of spruce and pin oaks, honking geese wobbling out of fishing ponds, and a members-only nine-hole golf course and driving range.

In front of James, on this day last year, is an iron fence topped with three rows of barbed wire crowned with concertina coils, typically used to lock down prisons.

Read the full article ” target=”_blank”> here.

Fahrenheit Condos coming to “Goins Building” in Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth


Georgia and Shepherd Street, NW

Back in Oct. 2012 I heard that the building formerly home to Goins restaurant had been purchased and they were looking for a tenant to fill a combined 4,000 Sq. Ft. restaurant on the ground floor. Still no word on the restaurant but a big banner has gone up announcing the new condos going into the top floors. It will be the Fahrenheit Condos. Stay tuned for more news on the retail/restaurant space when a tenant is found.

Ed. Note: There is already a Fahrenheit condo building located at 2650 15th St, NW next door to the Celsius building. It appears a Kelvin has still not opened anywhere…

New Pawn Shop Opening Near Red Derby

By Prince Of Petworth


3714 14th Street, NW

Dear PoPville,

There is a new Quickcash pawn shop opening on 14th street by Red Derby. A business like this will encourage petty crime as there will be a new place to sell stolen property. Is there a way to keep a business like this from opening?

Tues. Afternoon Rental Option – Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 536 Taylor Street, NW:


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The listing says:

“This lovely semi-detached house is waiting for you. Talking about character and charm…It flows throughout the entire house. Three bedrooms, one full bathroom with original skylight, ceiling fans, hardwood floors, sliding pocket doors, fireplace, new windows, washer & dryer; eat-in gallery kitchen, large backyard with grill and furniture, off street parking.”

This 3 bed/1 bath is going for $2,400/Mo.

PoP Ed. – Underrated DCPS school: Powell Elementary

By Prince Of Petworth


1350 Upshur Street, NW

The following PoP-Ed. was written by Jonathan O’Connell, a Petworth dad.

PoP-Ed. posts may be submitted via email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail please include PoP-Ed. in the subject line.

Since it’s time for D.C. parents to make their school lottery and charter choices I wanted to point out that one of the most underrated DCPS elementary schools, particularly for preschoolers, is in Petworth — Powell Elementary.

Obviously I am biased because my three-year-old goes there, but having toured 10-15 DCPS, charter and private schools (and having used nanny shares and private day cares) I seriously believe believe Powell is one of the best preschool options around. The principal, Janeece Docal, is an absolute force of nature. The preschool and pre-K teaching team has been together a few years and was one of the earliest in the city to adopt the Tools of the Mind curriculum (sort of Montessori light) that is now spreading all over the place. They are incredibly responsive, thoughtful and thorough. I would be happy having my kids literally in any of the classrooms.

Here’s what preschool and pre-K students at Powell get: Instruction from two teachers, in English and Spanish. Recess every day. Separate art, music, library and gym classes. And field trips: In five months at the school my daughter’s class has made pizza at Pete’s Apizza, visited the Botanical Gardens and talked food and shopping at Yes Organic Market. They bring in a yoga instructor some days.

I think a lot of middle class parents are turned off by Powell for two reasons: 1) data and 2) the look of the building. I love data so have been through it and the test scores are bad compared to a lot of suburban schools. I understand. But Docal is a turnaround agent and the students that have had her the entire time aren’t even out of first grade yet. There’s a reason the private foundation Fight for Children made Powell its only DCPS awardee last year.

The building needs upgrades but is on the list for school modernization and expansion for which there is now a petition. Powell already has one of the most important things I wanted, which was a bathroom for each PS/PK room with its own toddler-sized toilet so the kids don’t have to go in the hallways with the big kids. It’s not dated open classroom format. Plus, it’s across the street from Upshur Park — tons of green space.

Why I am writing this? First, I just can’t believe the disconnect between what I’ve experienced at Powell and what people say about schools east of the park (and what is in the School Chooser). Annoying. Am I certain my kids will go all the way through Powell? No. There is a lot of improvement to be made in the upper grades. And Principal Docal could leave, which would be the worst. But I really couldn’t ask much more from my neighborhood preschool program.

Tues. Afternoon Rental Option – Columbia Heights/Petworth

By Prince Of Petworth

This rental is located at 3704 13th Street, NW:


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The listing says:

“Spacious 3BR home with sunny den in 3 level home, parking for one car in & nice patio back yard in rear! Hardwood floors, 1.5 baths, washer-dryer, large windows, all just steps from Columbia Heights and pet-worth metro!! There is a large basement with access to the back yard.”

This 3 BD/1 Full, 1 Half BA is going for $3,000/Mo.

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