A district-wide partnership to transform high school learning.
DC+XQ is a multi-year, community-driven partnership between DC Public Schools (DCPS) and XQ to rethink what high schools can be and then come together to make those visions a reality.
The partnership brings tools, funding, and ongoing coaching and professional development to students, educators, families, and school community members as they envision new possibilities for DC’s high school students. We provide teams with the resources, time, and space outside of their daily operations to step back and reflect on what’s working and what’s not, dream boldly, and create sustainable change for today’s high schoolers—and the future.
While the overall goal is for students to graduate high school ready to meet college, career, and life with confidence, each school team is carving its own path. All participating high schools begin with an Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis (EOAA) to help them understand opportunities for growth within their own school. School teams visit and remain connected to XQ schools across the country to get inspired and see what’s possible. With the help of experts across industries and disciplines, each DC+XQ school develops a core design concept—rethinking programming, classes, and partnerships to deliver high-quality learning experiences for all students.
DC+XQ is our first-ever district-wide collaboration. Working in our nation’s capital provides an exciting example with opportunities to demonstrate what is possible for high school education.
DC+XQ engaged with thousands of school community members who generously shared their ideas for high school redesign. Each school team used XQ’s Design Principles and Learner Outcomes to develop a redesign concept that captured their community’s assets and dreams. Student voice is at the center of every redesign, with students serving as team members and co-designers of their learning pathways.
Whether it’s rethinking the timing of the school day, creating new course opportunities, taking the learning outside the classroom, or entirely new innovations to elevate the student experience, nothing is off-limits. DC+XQ supports local high schools to ensure that every student is prepared to succeed.
Six DC Public Schools are part of the redesign journey:
Calvin Coolidge High School
Where students graduate as champions of sustainable practices, transforming themselves and the world.
Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC)
Empowering students to build agency and actively shape their learning experiences through collaborative design
Dunbar High School
Dunbar is creating a learning utopia rooted in a proud school legacy of excellence and innovation.
Francis L. Cardozo Education Campus
Preparing every student to graduate with an entrepreneurial mindset.
HD Woodson High School
Graduating “Passion Activators” equipped with career certifications and associate degrees.
Ron Brown College Preparatory High School
XQ Tools and Resources in Action
All high schools taking part in DC+XQ used XQ’s Design Journey to create a vision for redesign. They also used XQ’s Educational Outcomes Audit & Analysis (EOAA) to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, including student transcripts. The EOAA helps schools identify areas of improvement to ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed in college, careers and in real life.
“This is a step forward in our work to reimagine what is possible for our schools and students while ensuring we are preparing our young people for college and career pathways.”
Dr. Lewis Ferebee
Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools
