District of Columbia International School

The Parks at Walter Reed, 1400 Main Drive NW, Washington, DC 20012. The school is located at Delano Hall on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus, with the main entrance at the corner of 16th Street NW and Main Drive NW and the back entrance at Aspen Street NW and 14th Street NW. Buses D31, S2, and S4 travel on 16th Street to Delano Hall; 52, 53, and 54 travel on 14th Street to Delano Hall; 70 and 79 travel on Georgia Avenue to the opposite side of the campus (a 7-minute walk to Delano Hall). The nearest Metro station is Takoma (Red Line; the 53 bus from Takoma takes about 5 minutes to Delano Hall, with a 19-minute walk from Takoma).

Middle and high school (grades 6–12)

Public charter middle and high school

Targeted academic support in grades 11–12 to prepare for IB assessments

Middle school: English and Math every day; language track (French, Spanish, or Chinese) daily; electives on alternating days. High school: English, Math, language, Science, and History every day; electives, arts, and PE on alternating days.

Buses: D31, S2, and S4 on 16th Street to Delano Hall; 52, 53, and 54 on 14th Street to Delano Hall; 70 and 79 on Georgia Avenue to the other side of the campus (7-minute walk to Delano Hall)

The school is an IB World School offering an International Baccalaureate for All program. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) serves grades 6-10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) or Career Programme (CP) serves grades 11-12. Language tracks include French, Spanish, and Chinese, with daily language study and electives often taught in the target language. English is the language of instruction for core subjects, and the IB framework emphasizes inquiry-based learning, student agency, and global mindedness. The IB program integrates language development with rigorous, college-preparatory coursework and culminates in IB assessments and related certificates.

Graduates earn a DCI Diploma, an IB Diploma, an IB Career-related Certificate, course-specific IB certificates, and/or an IB Bilingual Diploma. The school is rated Tier 1 by the DC PCSB and consistently outperforms the city PARCC averages. Final examinations are part of the program and prepare students for university and life beyond.

Graduates attend a range of colleges and universities; many universities offer college credit for IB coursework and give preference in admissions to IB Diploma candidates.

DCI supports social-emotional learning through the IB framework and a daily Approaches to Learning class that builds social skills and study strategies. The IB program emphasizes environmental stewardship, social justice, and language and culture to develop responsible global citizens. Student Agency & Technology gives students voice and ownership in their education, aligning with SEL goals. The IB learner profile emphasizes balance, reflection, and effective communication as core dispositions. The Mental Health Department provides a comprehensive counseling program addressing social, emotional, and academic needs, supported by a vision that emphasizes emotional balance and reflective growth.

DCI uses a Response to Intervention (RtI) model to address instructional concerns and reduce inappropriate referrals to special education. Students' progress is monitored at each stage of intervention, with supports provided in small groups or individually in general education or in special education. DC International School conducts Child Find to identify and evaluate all eligible students aged 11 to 22 for special education and related services. The policy requires initial evaluations within 60 days of consent and outlines referral procedures and parent safeguards. Target populations include homeless students, those in CFSA custody, and youth rehabilitation services; coordination with CFSA, DBH, and Mary's Center is maintained. The staff contact for questions about services is the Director of Student Support Services, Kimberly Colley.

Language learning is a daily requirement at DCI; students take their language class every day. DCI offers three target languages—Spanish, French, and Chinese—with language immersion of 25-50% in these languages. Electives and some content courses may be taught in the target language, while courses in English remain available when students are not yet ready for content in the target language. The program aims to improve English proficiency and intercultural competence and prepare students for tomorrow's workforce. Proficiency is measured on the ACTFL scale.

The Mental Health Department provides a comprehensive, data-responsive, and developmentally appropriate counseling program addressing social, emotional, and academic needs. The vision emphasizes the IB learner profile, with communication, reflection, and emotional balance as key elements. Counseling services support students across grade levels and align with IB values to promote wellbeing and resilience. The department operates within the school's IB framework to support the whole child. The department's approach is to empower students to develop skills for balanced, healthy growth.

DCI maintains a Child Find policy to identify, locate, and evaluate all students with disabilities between ages 11 and 22. Points of Contact for concerns about Child Find include the Director of Student Support Services, Kimberly Colley, with phone and email. Outreach efforts include information at school events, publication in handbooks and calendars, and annual conferences. DC International School coordinates with external agencies such as the CFSA, the Department of Behavioral Health, and Mary's Center. Referrals and initial evaluations follow procedures that require consent, with timelines (initial evaluation within 60 days) and protections for parental rights. Staff receive annual training to ensure adherence to Child Find responsibilities.

Admissions are open to all DC residents and occur through the My School DC lottery; families cannot apply directly to DCI. DCI accepts applications for Grades 6-9 and offers language tracks in Chinese, French, and Spanish; applicants may apply to one, two, or all three language tracks. Students from DCI member elementary schools have priority for sixth grade admissions; member schools are DC Bilingual PCS, E.W. Stokes Community Freedom PCS, Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS, Mundo Verde PCS, and Washington Yu Ying PCS. There are preferences (Sibling, Children of Staff, Founders); if seats remain after member-school priority, they may be offered to general lottery applicants; there are no prerequisites, no prior IB experience, no minimum GPA, and no minimum language proficiency required.