Catalyst Project

Welcome to the Catalyst Project! Over the past year, the district has made significant progress in offering more exciting educational options to students and families. 

As part of our effort to provide every student with a top-notch education at a compelling school, the Catalyst Project transforms and improves schools by developing school-wide cultures that effectively support students, educators, and communities, and aligns initiatives around one common theme.

We offer three types of programs:

• Arts Integration
• STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
• World Cultures

The Catalyst schools strive to:

1. Engage all students

Whether it’s by engaging students’ imaginations through the arts, inspiring their curiosity through science or engaging them through exposure to new cultures, the heart of the curriculum at DC Catalyst Schools is to inspire and motivate students through active learning.

2. Develop educators

Professional development for teachers, teacher collaboration, leadership training, and co-planning across grades and disciplines are core elements in the design of DC Catalyst schools. Partnerships with local experts provide summer professional development opportunities and year-long coaching while connections to other DC Catalyst schools provides frequent opportunities for collaboration across the city.

3. Enhance communities

Adopting a DC Catalyst theme affords a school the chance to build community around its distinct core focus. Opportunities abound for unique after-school activities, school-wide projects, or parent and community events that can be built from the new theme. This sense of community also extends to other schools with the same DC Catalyst theme, and is a resource for all schools in the District.

Dig deeper into the Catalyst school options for your child.