Building Dreams Recent News
Washington School for Girls Receives $3.5 Million Investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
Washington, D.C. — October 23, 2024 — The Washington School for Girls (WSG) is proud to announce a $3.5 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. This transformative investment will propel the school’s mission to support and educate girls in Southeast Washington, D.C., providing essential resources to enhance both academic opportunities and the physical infrastructure of the school.
Students Interview WC Smith Construction
The construction of the Washington School for Girls' new building at 1865 Mississippi Ave SE in DC is an awe-inspiring spectacle unfolding before the eyes of our middle school students. Since the groundbreaking in May, the daily transformation of the site has become an integral part of the students' educational experience. As they arrive at school each day, they witness the tangible progress of their future learning environment taking shape. This real-time demonstration of planning, engineering, and teamwork provides an invaluable learning opportunity, allowing students to see firsthand how large-scale projects come to life. Recently, students interviewed members of the construction team to learn more about the project.
WSG Breaks Ground on Permanent Home at THEARC
May 1, 2024, Washington, D.C. – Today, the Washington School for Girls (WSG) – an all-scholarship independent Catholic School serving girls in third through eighth grade, primarily from DC's Wards 7 and 8 – broke ground on its 33,000 square-foot, $25 million expansion at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), in partnership with Building Bridges Across the River.
Building Dreams Timeline
2025
Estimated completion
May 1, 2024
WSG, BBAR, and WC Smith officially break ground on the new campus building
March 1, 2024
All regulatory and financial approvals won, enabling the project to move forward
October 2023
WSG’s Building Dreams Campaign reaches $10M benchmark
June 2022
WSG launches the Building Dreams Capital Campaign
January 2022
WSG begins a feasibility study to evaluate the capacity to fundraise for a new building at THEARC
2021
WSG forges partnerships with Building Bridges Across the River, WC Smith, and Palmer Sanchez Architects to begin brainstorming and envisioning a unified campus building
2020-2022
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for more functional learning spaces becomes increasingly evident. Limitations on current facilities make social distancing challenging, and the value of in-person learning is reaffirmed.
February 2020
The WSG Board passes a strategic plan with campus unification as a key pillar, and approves a facilities subcommittee to evaluate current and future facility needs.
2018-2019
The WSG community seeks and earns reaccreditation from the Middle States Association’s Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. The rigorous process includes in-depth evaluation of the WSG program across all areas, and includes feedback from all community stakeholders, including staff, students, parents, alumnae, school leadership, and community supporters. Across the board, stakeholders identify space constraints as the biggest limiting factor to current and future success.
2015-2018
WSG expands programming to include robust family support, graduate support, learning specialists, and additional elective courses. Classrooms are shared, offices and auxiliary rooms are converted to learning spaces, and closets are converted to offices to accommodate increased space needs.
2014
WSG adds 3rd grade program, reaching capacity at The View Campus
2013
WSG moves to OLPH to prepare for the future addition of a 3rd grade program
May 2012
WSG earns accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools for the first time.
September 2005
WSG’s middle school grades, 6, 7, and 8, open at the newly completed campus at THEARC. WSG was one of the original tenants. WSG’s new elementary grades, 4 and 5, move into the Washington View Apartments on Douglass Road.
1997-2005
WSG begins planning for its new home at THEARC, an innovative collaborative community center bringing together organizations in education, arts, recreation, and wellness. WSG’s growth quickly outpaces the available space at THEARC, and leadership begins exploring campus options for planned expansion into additional elementary grades.
September 1997
WSG began an after-school tutoring program at 1811 Alabama Avenue, SE, in a converted residential apartment space provided by the William C. Smith Company (Now WCSmith)
April 11, 1997