Reimagining the High School Experience
Under Mayor Bowser’s leadership, the District has invested more than $30 million in recovery dollars to reimagine high school and expand experience-based learning opportunities that align with what DC high school students are studying and with what DC-area employers need. This includes a $9 million recovery investment in the Advanced Technical Center, a $12 million investment in the DC Futures Program, and expansions of the Advanced Internship and Dual Enrollment Programs. Collectively, these investments aim to increase engagement and provide clear pathways from high school to college or careers.
Creating Pathways to College and Career
In February 2022, OSSE launched the DC Futures Program. Made possible by a $12 million investment by Mayor Bowser, DC Futures provided up to $8,000 in tuition, coaching and
financial supports to nearly 1,300 DC residents pursuing their first associate or bachelor’s degree in high-demand career fields at the University of the District of Columbia and the University of the District of Columbia Community College, Catholic University of America, or Trinity Washington University. DC Futures, along with existing postsecondary support options, including the DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program and the Mayor’s Scholars Undergraduate Program, further expands access to college for thousands of DC residents each year.
Opening the Advanced Technical Center
OSSE kicked off the 2022-23 school year by opening the Advanced Technical Center (ATC), a centrally located, open-enrollment education center currently on the Trinity Washington University campus, where DCPS and charter school students entering grades 9-11 can participate in high-quality career and technical education programs while remaining enrolled in their high schools.
Created through a $9 million recovery investment by Mayor Bowser, the ATC gives all DC high school students access to high-quality career and technical education at one central location. In the 2022-23 school year, the ATC enrolled students representing every ward in the District, with more than 40 percent residing in Wards 7 and 8. The ATC offers three four-year programs in cybersecurity, health information technology and general nursing. Students in every program can receive college course credit at no cost in addition to high school course credit, an industry credential and paid internship opportunities. In the first semester of the ATC, students earned 415 college credits worth more than $350,000.
Improving Graduation Rates
The District saw a 2 percent increase in the four-year graduation rate for the 2021-22 school year. According to OSSE data, 74.9 percent of students in District of Columbia high schools graduated in four years compared to 72.6 percent the prior school year.
Graduating from high school is a key part of a DC student’s pathway to success – whether they go to college or pursue a career. We’re proud of this fourth straight year of growth and continue to focus on how we can reimagine the high school experience to provide learning environments that prepare our students for life after high school. Since OSSE began using the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate in the 2010-11 school year, the graduation rate for the District of Columbia has increased by 16 percent.
Expanding Dual Enrollment
OSSE expanded high-quality dual enrollment opportunities for students in both public and public charter schools in the District of Columbia in 2022 to more than 450 students. Participants experienced the academic rigor of college courses and understand what is required for success in college. High school students participating in the District of Columbia Dual Enrollment Program enroll in approved college courses at postsecondary institutions and may earn college and/or high school credit.
Expanding CTE Access to More Middle School Students
As we increase efforts to reimagine high schools through CTEprogramming, OSSE launched a $1.5 million grant to giveDistrict middle school students a chance to explore CTE and set a foundation for success in high school CTE courses. In the fall of 2022, OSSE awarded 17 public and public charter middle schools more than $1.5 million to create career exploration or industry-focused courses and support activities for more than 3,800 public and public charter students over the next two years. Schools plan to incorporate various industries and local partners to create and support their CTE courses and programming. Some courses include Urban Agriculture, Robotics, Digital Arts and Technology, and Computer Science. Campuses plan to incorporate Career and Technical Student Organizations, such as SkillsUSA, HOSA Future Health Professionals, and Technology Student Association. LEAs also plan to partner with local and national partners such as Capital Experience Labs, Apple, TRIBL Records, NASA, the National Black Farmers Association, Microsoft, Nepris, and more to support CTE programming.
Offering Hands-On Experience in High-Demand Fields
In the spring of 2022, OSSE launched the Advanced Internship Program (AIP), the District’s first internship program to provide high school students with both paid work experience and high school credit. In the first year of AIP, more than 60 eligible high school seniors were placed into paid and creditbearing internship opportunities aligned to the scholars’ CTE program of study. During the spring pilot, students worked more than 11,712 hours, earning almost $180,000 and gaining valuable skills.
