The Cooper Campus officially cut the ribbon on our new facility in Northeast DC on October 31, 2025 in the sunlit lobby of our new Middle School building!
On the last day of October 2025, Washington Latin cut the ceremonial ribbon of our new facility in Northeast DC. This day represented the culmination of our organization’s greatest challenge to date: expanding to create a second campus to serve an additional 740 students in grades 5-12. The result is the Anna Julia Cooper Campus, currently serving grades 5-9 and reaching the full complement of grades by the 2028-29 school year.
A Reimagined Campus in Northeast
Washington Latin Public Charter Schools opened its second campus in the summer of 2022, initially serving grades 5 and 6 in its first year. The campus opened in a temporary facility located in the Edgewood neighborhood while our search for a permanent facility that could accommodate the full campus continued.
In August of 2022, that permanent home was identified: 4301 Harewood Road NE, also in Ward 5, formerly the Kirov Academy of Ballet. This site was purchased by Washington Latin and then subdivided in order to share the location with Washington Yu Ying PCS (which has built a new, separate facility to expand their enrollment.) Over the course of three years, Washington Latin planned this reimagining, working closely with STUDIOTWENTYSEVENARCHITECTURE. Construction was handled by the same team that had so successfully helped us to create our first campus home on 2nd Street: MCN Build and Project Manager Tom Porter.
The result is a beautifully designed site that includes a new building that primarily houses the Cooper Middle School, and renovated the existing historic structure, which will primarily serve as our Upper School. The new structure takes full advantage of the views of DC, with large windows and two rooftop decks. Students and faculty alike enjoy the bright airiness of the building, especially after several years in temporary quarters that did not have many windows!
The historic structure, which dates to the early 1900s and originally built as a monastery, has been renovated to accommodate our Upper School program, some offices, as well as spaces shared with the Middle School, such as the library, athletic facilities, and performing arts venues. Where possible, we preserve the historic building character while ensuring its functionality. We have been able to create a range of classroom sizes to allow for a variety of options for classes and small group working spaces. Latin’s performing arts program has moved into the existing performance spaces, reflecting our commitment to these elements of the curriculum and student experiences.
Crucial Support from Partners
Our expansion has been made possible by key partners and funders, including the our own Board of Governors, the DC Public Charter School Board, EdForward DC, the Charter School Growth Fund, OSSE, and many other donors and partners. We are grateful for their support, both in financial as thought partners throughout every step of our expansion.
Join us in supporting the Cooper Campus!
Help us close the final culminating phase of the Classical For All Campaign. Invest in DC education and make a lasting impact. Visit our Classical for All campaign page to learn more!
