Burke Life
Life at Burke
How does the day go?
We open early and close late. Doors open starting at 7:30 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 five class periods, with community period, 3rd 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.
Our daily community period from 10:20-11 AM rotates among assemblies, grade meetings, homerooms, 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 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 specified radius of campus) and decide where to eat and relax.
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, head to an open art studio, or chat with friends in the Atrium. We also offer proctored study halls until 5:30 PM.
* Notice the later start time? That's new. The pandemic required some creative scheduling – and a couple changes worked so well that we decided to keep them.
On a typical day, students have five class periods, with community period, 3rd 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.
Our daily community period from 10:20-11 AM rotates among assemblies, grade meetings, homerooms, 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 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 specified radius of campus) and decide where to eat and relax.
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, head to an open art studio, or chat with friends in the Atrium. We also offer proctored study halls until 5:30 PM.
* Notice the later start time? That's new. The pandemic required some creative scheduling – and a couple changes worked so well that we decided to keep them.
Annual Events & Celebrations
Field Trips & Conferences
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.
Sample Schedules
List of 3 items.
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12th Grade - 2021-22
Full-Year Courses:
Advanced Art History
Advanced Topics in Spanish
AP Biology
Calculus AB
English Electives:
Ethics & Literature (Fall)
Existential Crisis (Winter)
Supernatural Fiction (Spring)
Trimester Courses:
Senior Seminar in Human Rights (Winter)
Clubs:
Asian Student Association
Student Government - Grade Rep
Yearbook
After-School:
Fall Play
Winter Musical -
9th Grade - 2021-22
Full-Year Courses:
Advanced Algebra 2
Earth Systems Science
English 9: Genres
History 9: The Ancient World
French 2
Trimester Courses:
Chorus (Spring)
Health, Values & Ethics (Winter)
High School Learning Strategies (Fall)
Introduction to Computer Science (Fall)
PE (Winter)
Visual Arts: Collage 9/10 (Winter)
Visual Arts: Drawing & Painting (Spring)
Clubs:
Black Girls Meet
Crafts Club
After-School:
Soccer - Varsity (Fall)
Track & Field (Spring) -
7th Grade - 2021-22
Full-Year Courses:
Language Arts
Life Science
Math 7 with Advanced Topics
PE 7
Spanish 7/8
World Geography & Cultures
Trimester Courses:
Directions & Avenues (Fall, Spring)
Health, Values & Ethics (Winter, Spring)
Instrumental Music (Fall, Winter)
Clubs:
Drama Club
Jewish Affinity Group
After School:
Middle School Cross Country (Fall)
Middle School Musical (Spring)
Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.