School Without Walls High School

School Without Walls High School (SWW) is a small public magnet high school in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is colloquially referred to by students and faculty as "Walls".

The high school is based on a concept in urban education that encourages students to use the city as a classroom. SWW offers a college-preparatory academic curriculum with 22 AP courses. Applicants must earn a 3.0 GPA and meet or exceed expectations on the PARCC exam during their eighth-grade year

The school was established in 1971 following the model of the Parkway Program in the School District of Philadelphia. The goal was to create a learning environment that offered an alternative to the conventional programs. They started with fifty students, six teachers, and one administrator.

Walls was named a National Blue Ribbon School September 9, 2010, one of only 304 schools nationwide. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes and honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools whose students achieve at very high levels or have made significant progress and helped close gaps in achievement, especially among disadvantaged and minority students.

“School Without Walls will every provide every student with a rigorous, college preparatory, humanities program that incorporates global and local resources in an experiential and interdisciplinary methodology to teaching and learning.

Students will have opportunities to engage in virtual international, national, and local opportunities, engage in classes where instruction is relevant to student lives, and receive instruction to ensure college readiness.

In addition, the school philosophy values the following ideas.

  • Students first
  • Teaching and learning are a joint venture among students, educators, parents, and the community
  • The intellectual, emotional, social and physical development of students is interrelated
  • All cultures and people are unique and should be valued and respected for what they are and what they can become

The School Without Walls High School is a Public university located in Washington, DC.
The School Without Walls High School was founded in 1971.
The current president of School Without Walls High School is Richard Trogisch.

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