Burke Life
Life at Burke
How does the day go?
We open early and close late. Doors open starting at 8 AM, and students can socialize in the Commons, study in the Library, or enjoy our outdoor spaces until 8:30 AM.*
On a typical day, students have four class periods, with 2nd period, community period, and lunch running consecutively – providing a midday opportunity for field trips, lab work, and experiential learning in DC. Everyone has different cognitive highs and lows during the day, so we use a rotating schedule to move different classes through different time slots.
Each day, we have a community period from 11:15 AM to 12 PM, dedicated to assemblies, grade meetings, home rooms, affinity groups, and more – so students always have time to connect with friends, both within and outside their own grade.
Everyone has lunch at the same time, and students can purchase a meal plan from Vignola Gourmet or bring lunch from home. We have an open campus in the high school, so students also take full advantage of the carry-out and food truck options lining Connecticut Avenue (within a specific radius of campus).
At 3:30 PM, classes wrap up for the day – but most students stay on campus for rehearsals and sports practices, while others set up shop in the computer lab or an art studio. We also offer proctored study halls until 5:30 PM, and the buildings don't close until 6:30 PM.
* Notice the later start time? That's new. The 2020-21 school year required some creative scheduling – and a few changes worked so well that we decided to keep them in the new school year. Some typical components are (just temporarily!) on hold due to Covid safety protocols, such as open campus and lunch service.
On a typical day, students have four class periods, with 2nd period, community period, and lunch running consecutively – providing a midday opportunity for field trips, lab work, and experiential learning in DC. Everyone has different cognitive highs and lows during the day, so we use a rotating schedule to move different classes through different time slots.
Each day, we have a community period from 11:15 AM to 12 PM, dedicated to assemblies, grade meetings, home rooms, affinity groups, and more – so students always have time to connect with friends, both within and outside their own grade.
Everyone has lunch at the same time, and students can purchase a meal plan from Vignola Gourmet or bring lunch from home. We have an open campus in the high school, so students also take full advantage of the carry-out and food truck options lining Connecticut Avenue (within a specific radius of campus).
At 3:30 PM, classes wrap up for the day – but most students stay on campus for rehearsals and sports practices, while others set up shop in the computer lab or an art studio. We also offer proctored study halls until 5:30 PM, and the buildings don't close until 6:30 PM.
* Notice the later start time? That's new. The 2020-21 school year required some creative scheduling – and a few changes worked so well that we decided to keep them in the new school year. Some typical components are (just temporarily!) on hold due to Covid safety protocols, such as open campus and lunch service.
Annual Events & Celebrations
The Trimester System
While most courses – such as, English, Math, World Language, and Science – are year-long, our trimester system (Fall/Winter/Spring) enables significant variety and choice throughout the year. As early as middle school, students can select different visual and performing arts courses for each trimester; by the upper grades, students have a wide range of trimester-length electives, including independent studies and senior seminars.
Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.
4101 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20008 | Phone: 202-362-8882 | Fax: 202-362-1914