DC Parents, Teachers Sound Alarm Over Proposed Closure of Ward 7 Elementary Schools

The District of Columbia's proposal to close three elementary schools in Ward 7 has ignited fierce opposition from parents, educators, and neighborhood advocates who argue the move will devastate already underserved communities on the city's east side.

At a packed community meeting last week at Anacostia High School on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, more than 200 residents voiced their frustrations with DCPS leadership over plans to consolidate Stanton Elementary, Woodridge Elementary, and Birney Elementary—schools serving predominantly low-income, Black families in neighborhoods stretching from Congress Heights to Benning Ridge.

"These schools are the heart of our community," said one attendee, a longtime Ward 7 resident who teaches at a nearby after-school program. "You're not just closing buildings. You're telling our children their neighborhood isn't worth investing in."

District officials have cited declining enrollment—Stanton Elementary enrolled just 287 students this year, well below capacity—as the primary driver of the consolidation proposal. The move would redirect approximately $12 million annually toward expanding services at nearby schools and addressing aging infrastructure across the system's 123 elementary campuses.

Yet community members counter that declining enrollment reflects years of disinvestment rather than diminished demand. Parents point to crowded conditions at consolidation destinations and note that Benning Ridge and Congress Heights have seen population increases over the past five years, according to Census data.

"The District keeps talking about efficiency," said one Ward 7 education advocate who has organized community forums. "But efficiency for whom? These schools are walkable anchors for families who can't afford the transportation costs of sending kids across town."

Teacher representatives have raised additional concerns about job losses. The proposed closures would eliminate approximately 35 full-time positions, according to union estimates, compounding recruitment challenges the District already faces in east-end schools.

The DCPS Board of Education is expected to vote on the consolidation proposal in August. Community members say they plan to submit formal objections and demand greater input on any future closures, citing their exclusion from early planning discussions.

"We weren't consulted," another parent noted. "If the District is serious about equity, decisions affecting Ward 7 schools need to happen with us at the table, not to us."

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