One of the District’s public charter schools is closing its doors, citing low student enrollment and bleak finances.
Thea Bowman Preparatory Academy, which serves 130 students in grades 5-8 on its Northeast campus, told the D.C. Public Charter School Board that it will cease operations at the end of the school year.
“We will work closely with our parents to identify next year’s placement options, and continue our efforts in providing our students quality instruction for the remainder of the school year,” said Craig Powell, chairman of the academy’s board of trustees. “The school has notified the families of their decision and will work with the PCSB to ensure an orderly closure.”
The charter school board will hold a community forum in the next two weeks to help place students in new schools, board officials said.
“Charter school closure is never an ideal outcome”, said Brian Jones, chairman of the charter school board. “We are committed to ensuring that taxpayer investments are protected both during a school’s operation and after its closure.”
