DC Bilingual Public Charter School (DCBPCS)

Founding Institution:  CentroNía (formerly Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center) founded and manages DC Bilingual

Location:  DC Bilingual is located at CentroNía: 1420 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009

DC Bilingual Director: Wanda Perez

Program: DC Bilingual Public Charter School (DC Bilingual) is a public charter school located in Columbia Heights and open to all students who reside in the District of Columbia. DC Bilingual implements a dual language (Spanish and English) program that will enable students to meet high academic expectations and develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a joy of learning.
DC Bilingual currently enrolls approximately 200 students in Pre-K (3 and 4 year olds) through 3rd grade. The school will add a grade each year through 5th grade in 2009. School hours for all students are 8:30am to 3:30pm. A before and after school program (which becomes all-day during school vacations and summer) is available from 7:00am to 8:30am and 3:30 to 6:00pm for a sliding scale fee.

Admissions & Enrollment:
Anyone who is a resident of the District of Columbia may apply for admission.

For the 2008-2009 school year, DC Bilingual will add approximately 50 students, thereby expanding to 250 students in PreK through 4th grade. DC Bilingual is currently accepting children for Pre-K (children who will be at least 3 by September 31, 2008) through fourth grade. Enrollment requirements for DC Bilingual are the same as those for DC public schools.

Educational Focus: Bilingualism and biliteracy (dual-language immersion);
                               Critical thinking and problem solving;
                               Joy of Learning;
                               Traditional academic subject matter;
                               Multiculturalism;
                               Technology as a learning tool:
                               The performing and visual arts; and
                               Health and physical development