Thurgood Marshall Academy, a college-preparatory public charter high school, upholds Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall’s legacy of equal opportunity through our commitment to providing an excellent education for all students, preparing them to succeed in college, and instilling in them an understanding of democracy and the ability to advocate for themselves and others.
Located in historic Anacostia, Thurgood Marshall Academy is open to all DC students. We serve nearly 400 students, over 90% of whom live in Wards 7 and 8, communities with the most poverty and fewest resources in the District. Almost 100% of our students are African-American and over 75% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Thurgood Marshall Academy emphasizes elements of law and justice throughout the curriculum. Our goal is not that every student becomes a lawyer, but that students develop their own voices and learn the skills lawyers have—the ability to solve complex problems, think critically, and advocate persuasively. These skills will serve them well in high school, in college, and in the world of work for a lifetime.
The average ninth-grade student enters Thurgood Marshall Academy with skills three or four grade levels behind. In order to improve their skills, students receive twice as much English and math instruction (90 minutes of each per day) as they would in a traditional public school. Our program works. For the past three years, our students’ scores on DC’s required standardized tests were amongst the highest in the city for all open enrollment high schools. Our students’ average SAT score exceeds that of African American students in the District and our students’ Advanced Placement passing rate is 11% higher than that of all DC public and charter school students.
The education students receive at Thurgood Marshall Academy extends far beyond the classroom. Enrichment opportunities include tutoring and legal-based programs at the District’s leading law firms, recreational and educational activities with adult mentors, engaging afterschool programs, and service projects to improve our local community. Our athletes compete on teams in the Washington Charter School Athletic League and host opponents in our new state-of-the art athletic center.
Our expectation of excellence and our steadfast commitment to helping each student are at the heart of our success at Thurgood Marshall Academy. Our high expectations works—for the seventh year in a row, 100% of our graduates have been accepted to college. Over 95% of alumni enroll in college within one year of graduation and more than 75% of Thurgood Marshall Academy’s over 300 graduates are either still enrolled in college or have already earned a post-secondary degree.