Program areas at DCB
Founded in 2004, DC Bilingual offers an innovative dual immersion spanish and english learning program for all students, regardless of their home language. Through the Charter School's rigorous academic curriculum, comprehensive arts, technology, food and wellness programs, and celebration of diverse cultures, DC Bilingual students learn the skills and values needed to become influential participants in their community. Dcb's philosophy and teaching model reflect the Charter School's belief that students develop to their full academic potential when they have access to ambitious instruction and a full range of services differentiated for each student's individualized needs. Our co-teaching model allows instructors to balance directly with small group and 1:1 instruction. Our teachers deliver a unique, dual language immersion model - a form of language instruction that brings together students from all backgrounds to experience learning in spanish and english. Throughout the School day, students gain skills, knowledge, and an understanding of academic concepts through communicating in english and spanish. Dcb complements the Charter School's core curriculum with a vibrant performing and visual arts program, an innovative food and wellness program, access to transformation opportunities, and deep community engagement. As a result of our programs and practices, the DC Public Charter School board ranks DC Bilingual a tier 1 School, among the top performing elementary schools in the city. Recent accomplishments include the following: - in 2023, DC Bilingual 3-5 grade students received the highest parcc scores in School history, indicating higher-than-average scores compared to DC schools. - in 2023, DC Bilingual pre-k classrooms received their highest class assessment scores in School history - indicating high-quality programming for our youngest learners. - as we continue to grow in our newly expanded facility, DC Bilingual added 129 new students this School year. 51% of these students qualified for 'equitable access' preference, which indicates students in most need are being prioritized in the enrollment process. - completed expanding our historic School building by 27,000 square feet and welcomed nearly 100 additional students into our classrooms for high- quality Bilingual education (2022). - DC Bilingual students in grades 3rd - 5th outscored students from the same age group on standardized tests for math & literacy. For those classified as special education or english-language learners, DC Bilingual students ranked among the top-performing Public Charter schools in DC (2021-2022). - DC Bilingual adopted the equitable access preference to ensure students who will benefit most from our programming have a fair chance to enroll. More than 40% of newly enrolled students this year qualified for this preference (2022). - the Colorado league of Charter schools performed a case-study analysis of DC Bilingual's nearly 100% teacher retention rate during the "great recession," concluding that DC Bilingual's inclusive work environment and powerful sense of community have led us to become a model teacher- supportive environment. - DC Bilingual was named a u.s. department of education national green ribbon School (2021). - DC Bilingual was named as a "leveler" School for our exceptional work improving academic outcomes for at-risk students (DC policy center, 2019). - DC Bilingual was named an all-star School (one of ten in DC Public schools city wide) for our students' strong academic growth on the city- wide parcc assessment (office of the state superintendent of education, 2019). - DC Bilingual was recognized as a "bold improvement School" for our commitment and success in helping DC's most at-risk students achieve outstanding academic growth (empower k12 and education reform now, 2018). - DC Bilingual was ranked as one of the strongest instructional cultures among DC Charter schools by our staff (top 25% of all DC Charter schools). (the new teacher project, 2018). - DC Bilingual was awarded the gilda allen best School garden award (office of the state superintendent of education, 2017).