Join the Community of Washington Latin

Free and accessible to families from all eight wards of the District, the school seeks students of good character who are eager to learn and willing to work. Washington Latin is open to any DC student.  We are an open enrollment public charter school; there are no admissions requirements except DC residency.

We have two campuses in DC.

  • Our established 2nd Street Campus is located at 5200 2nd Street NW and serves 740 students in grades 5-12.
  • Our second location, the Anna Julia Cooper Campus, opened in 2022 at 711 Edgewood Street NE. The Cooper Campus is currently serving grades 5-8 and will add a grade each year to reach the full complement of grades 5-12. All Cooper grades will move in the 2025-26 school year to our permanent home at 4301 Harewood Road, the former Kirov Academy of Ballet. 

How to Apply

MySchoolDC – Common Lottery

Washington Latin participates in MySchoolDC, the District-wide common lottery for K-12 education.

Washington Latin – 2nd Street Campus generally accepts new students in grades 5-9 ONLY; we do not accept new students after 9th grade due to the Latin language requirement for graduation. The largest number of openings is for 5th grade (95 slots).

 

Washington Latin – The Anna Julia Cooper Campus opened in 2022 with 5th and 6th grades. We are adding a grade each year until we reach our full complement of grades 5-12 in 2028-29. In the 2025 lottery for the 2025-26 school year, we will accept students in grades 5 (95 spots) and any open seats in grades 6-9. The largest number of openings is for 5th grade (95 slots).

 

Check our How to Apply Quick Start Guide to submit an application through MySchoolDC.

Washington Latin Preferences

  1. Siblings of enrolled students
  2. Children of faculty (full-time and DC residents)
  3. Siblings of matched students

We also participate in the Equitable Access Preference to set aside seats for students who qualify (see below for more information.)

To qualify for the enrolled sibling preference, the sibling must already be enrolled and attending the school before the lottery runs, per  MySchoolDC policy. A prospective student will have the same preference category for a full year (until the next lottery) and cannot move from “matched sibling” to “enrolled sibling” – even if the matched sibling completes the enrollment process and thus is enrolled.

Note the younger sibling of a Washington Latin 12th grader will NOT receive sibling preference, again following MySchoolDC policy. Likewise, the older sibling must remain enrolled at Washington Latin in order for the preference to be applied. 

More information about how the lottery works is available at MySchoolDC. More information on our admissions preferences can be found in this admissions policy.

Equitable Access Preference

Washington Latin welcomes all DC students!

Washington Latin participates in MySchoolDC’s Equitable Access Preference, which allows us to set aside seats for students who are considered at risk, defined in DC as those who:

  • Are experiencing homelessness
  • Are in the DC foster care system
  • Are receiving DC government benefits such as SNAP (food stamps) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

We want to make sure that our schools – both campuses – are accessible to families across DC and in all circumstances. Students who qualify for this preference will be matched with Washington Latin FIRST, so it makes the chances of a match with our school much higher than in the regular lottery.

How do eligible families use this preference?

On the last screen of the application, you see this statement:

“One or more of the schools you listed on your application may offer an Equitable Access preference for applicants that have met the preference criteria as measured by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. Please click below to give consent to My School DC to coordinate with OSSE to determine if your child should receive this preference and transmit that information to the school.”

Learn more about this and other lottery preferences at myschooldc.org

Open Houses for 2024-25

  • Meet members of our administration and faculty, parents, and students
  • Learn what a Classical Education for the Modern World means
  • Find out about applying through MySchoolDC, including our preferences and ways to increase the likelihood of a match to Latin
Our open houses are held at both campuses and provide information on both 2nd Street and the Cooper Campus. These events begin at 6:30 pm and include student-led tours and time for you to ask questions. Students and parents are welcome! The locations are below:
  • 2nd Street Street Campus: 5200 2nd Street NW (2nd and Hamilton). Metro: Fort Totten. Street and lot parking (free).
  • Cooper Campus: 711 Edgewood Street NE (Edgewood near Franklin Street Bridge). Metro: Rhode Island. Street and lot parking (free, though somewhat limited)
  • All open houses begin at 6:30 pm.
Due to high demand across DC, please sign up for a single Open House this lottery cycle! 
The information shared will be similar – no need to attend more than one! 
  • VIRTUAL Open House Thursday, November 21, 6:30 pm ZOOM WEBINAR *recording will be posted here
  • Tuesday, December 3 @ 2nd Street Campus
  • Tuesday, December 10 – @ Cooper Campus
  • Tuesday, January 14, 2024 – @ 2nd Street Campus; Upper School focused (both campuses featured)
  • Thursday, February 6 – @ Cooper Campus
  • Thursday, February 27 – @ Cooper Campus

To register, please RSVP with THIS FORM

See you soon!

Learn more about us!

Use the resources below to learn more about a day in the life of a Latin student!

Questions? Contact us!

Complete the form below and we will reply as soon as possible.

2 + 11 =