Mayor Bowser Launches First-Ever DCPS Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career

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(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee launched the Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career, a personalized guide that will be sent via mail and available online to all ninth through eleventh grade students to give them an in-depth look at their progress toward graduation, as well as recommended action steps for success toward graduation, college, and career. The guide comes as DCPS prepares to launch two new early college programs at the newly modernized Coolidge High School in Ward 4 and Bard DC in Ward 7.

“The launch of this innovative DCPS Student Guide is another way we are empowering students and equipping students and their families with the information they need to stay on track to graduate and be successful after high school,” said Mayor Bowser. “We committed to increasing transparency in our schools, and this guide builds on that work by making DCPS’ graduation standards more accessible to students and families.”

The Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career is the first of its kind in DCPS and positions the District as a leader in providing high school students with the information they need to progress toward graduation and plan their next steps. The guide considers academic performance, standardized test scores, and personal interests to give students detailed information on what their future paths could look like.

“This guide will provide our students and their families with clear, personalized information to understand the steps they need to take to earn a diploma, learn about college and career opportunities aligned with their interests and aspirations, and develop a plan to hit the ground running once they graduate,” said Chancellor Ferebee. “I would like to thank the students, families, partners, and staff who provided input on this guide for working with us as we continue to transform how we are supporting students.”

Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee also highlighted new investments and initiatives in the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal to support DCPS students and families, including:

• 2.2 percent increase to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula
• $4.6 million in technology to provide a laptop or device for every student in grades 3, 6, and 9
• $6 million to expand school-based mental health services
• $1.6 million for the Connected Schools initiative to establish schools as neighborhood hubs with wraparound supports including job training, family wellness, and housing assistance referrals
• $52 million to expand child care and early childhood education opportunities at the old Randle Highlands, old Miner, and Thurgood Marshall Schools
• $1.3 billion over the next six years in school modernizations

The Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career will create more opportunities for counselors, students, and families to partner as students determine their future goals. No two students’ guides are the same – it is customized to the student’s grade level, courses, diploma or certificate pathway, post-secondary plans, and test scores.

The Student Guide to Graduation, College, and Career builds upon the work done over the past year to tailor supports to students and provide them with the resources they need to be successful. Over the last year, DCPS has:

• hosted resource fairs at all comprehensive high schools to ensure students have what they need in and out of the classroom to thrive;
• met with students individually so they know the steps to take to meet DCPS’ standards of excellence;
• trained staff on policies and practices related to graduation, college, and career;
• updated graduation, promotion, retention, and secondary grading policies;
• expanded summer school options; and
• updated the credit recovery program.

For more information, visit the public deck here. To continue DCPS’ commitment to transparency, DCPS also provided an update on students’ progress toward graduation here.