H.D. Woodson High School

Washington, DC

Graduating “Passion Activators” equipped with career certifications and associate degrees.

Over 50 years ago, community members in Northeast DC demanded a local high school. Black architect and advocate Howard Dilworth Woodson made it happen with an impressive seven-story high-rise building nicknamed the “Tower of Power.”

A new campus has been constructed since then, making it the first newly constructed high school in over 40 years in the district and a point of neighborhood pride. Along with having an impressive LEED-certified, sustainable campus and leading STEM programs, the Woodson Warriors have some of the strongest athletic teams in the DC area, including championship-winning football and basketball teams. In 2023, the Council of the District of Columbia symbolically designated the street in front of the school as “Woodson Way.”

Woodson is keeping its traditions alive while redesigning its education model to better meet the needs of today’s young people. The school is part of DC+XQ, a multi-year partnership to reimagine the high school experience in the nation’s capital. This community-led initiative has brought together students, educators, families, and school community members with bold ideas for what is possible for DC’s high school students. Each school’s redesign is unique because every community is different.

Learn More about the DC+XQ partnership.

During the DC+XQ redesign journey, students chose the phrase “Passion Activators” to describe their vision for all graduates. This form of meaningful, engaged learning means cultivating their interests, exploring future career paths, and using their skills and passion to improve their communities.

Since Woodson joined the second cohort of DC+XQ schools in the summer of 2023, the redesign team piloted “Passion Fridays,” a weekly afternoon block of micro-courses connected to students’ interests and real-world career fields. Offerings include podcasting, fashion design, sports analytics, swimming and rowing, yoga, and mindfulness. Additionally, a new Legacy, Learning & Leadership (L3) class was co-developed by students, teachers, alums, and community members for first-year students to develop strong bonds and learn about Woodson’s history.

Upper-level students can choose between career-aligned academies and preparation options in engineering, IT, finance, computer science, digital media, graphic design, and early childhood education. Instructors are trained in project-based learning to incorporate hands-on opportunities throughout the school day and prepare students for college, high-demand careers, or other postsecondary options. Internships, apprenticeships, travel opportunities, and industry certifications expose students to potential interests, making schoolwork feel refreshed and relevant.

Amid a palpable buzz for the L3 class and Passion Fridays, Woodson’s “On-track for graduation” rate for 9th-grade students increased during the 2023-24 school year, with a decrease in suspensions, truancy, and absences.

“Just because where you come from is a place where opportunities don’t present themselves, doesn’t mean you can’t open doors for yourself.”

Anthony

Woodson Student

“The opportunity to be able to interact with not just our own individual school teams, but other school teams and district leaders as well as central services, it’s been a remarkable experience.”

William Massey

Woodson Principal

“The college opportunities we’re able to fund are so incredible and speak to the idea that education revolution is possible and that all students deserve the highest quality experiences.”

Rachel Curry-Neal

Woodson Redesign Director

“It’s a great day for community. It’s a great day for Woodson. It’s a great day to kick off our next 50 years, the redesign program, and everything else to get us to be great for the next 50 years.”

John Cotten

Class of 1981 and member of the Woodson Alumni Council

“Students enjoy Passion Fridays, where they are able to sign up for a club or group of their interest. It’s teaching them something different, outside of the box, and outside their regular course areas. Students know they have to keep their grades up to participate, so it motivates our students as far as academics are concerned. Kids are learning lifelong skills that could benefit them and their futures.”

Miesha Perry Thompson,

Woodson Coach and Educator

XQ Tools and Resources in Action

All high schools taking part in DC+XQ used XQ’s Design Journey to bring the community together around a vision for redesign. They also used XQ’s Educational Opportunity Audit to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, including student transcripts. The EOA helps schools identify student opportunity gaps to facilitate change, ensuring all students are given equitable opportunities to succeed.