Burke Life
Student Activities
From our "no cut" policy to our extracurricular schedule, we foster an environment where students can explore, collaborate, and try new things – be that in 6th, 9th, or 12th grade. Whether you are brand-new to cross country or well-versed in technical theater, Burke will be your space to grow.
We design our schedule to: 1) enable students to try a wide variety of extracurriculars and discover what they most enjoy and 2) build time for arts, clubs, and affinity spaces into the school day, both to affirm their significant value and to lessen the constraints on after school hours.
We design our schedule to: 1) enable students to try a wide variety of extracurriculars and discover what they most enjoy and 2) build time for arts, clubs, and affinity spaces into the school day, both to affirm their significant value and to lessen the constraints on after school hours.
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Dance Team | Fall 2025
photo credit: EC R. '29
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Student Organizations
List of 4 items.
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Affinity Spaces
Asian Student AssociationBlack Girls MeetBlack Student UnionBoys Leading BoysFaith in FocusFeminist CooperativeFusion (multiracial students)Latine/Hispanic Student UnionJewish Affinity GroupQueer Student AssociationSelf Advocacy for Neurodivergent & Disabled YouthWhite Allies for Values of EquityYoung Black Men
"Affinity groups help create a “brave space” in which people can explore issues of shared identities and experiences; they can affirm their emotional and intellectual responses to being part of a distinct subset of the larger school community." - Ashley Greene, The Churchill School and Center in New York City -
Student-Run Clubs
These clubs meet on Fridays during the morning community period.
Updated: September 2024Baking ClubBasketball ClubChess ClubMS Cooking and Baking ClubCrochet ClubDungeons & DragonsDance TeamDrama ClubEntrepreneurship ClubFashion ClubFilm ClubFlag Football ClubGeorge Orwell ConsortiumMake-a-Wish ClubMath ClubMunch n' MingleMovie ClubOxford Comma Club GoldPhotoshoot ClubScience ClubSkateboarding ClubStock Market ClubStudents Demand Action -
Publications
The Cageliner (newspaper) - meets during lunch once per "cycle" and monthly after school; enables participation in other clubs
Yearbook - meets during Friday clubs period -
Additional Programs
Debate Team
Founders’ Day Team
Leadership Program
Student Government Association
Extracurricular Overview
| Sports teams, theatre | practice and rehearse after school with occasional weekend commitments |
| Bands, choruses | are classes and meet during the school day with some evening and off-campus performances |
| Affinity Groups | meet during the morning community period on a rotating basis |
| Clubs, Yearbook | meet during the Friday clubs period |
| It's Academic, Leadership Program, Newspaper, Student Government | meet on their own schedule, which may include after school and lunch |
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Bound for Bonding
Each fall, students in 6th-11th grade disperse across the DC region (or well beyond, in the case of our juniors), enabling them to build cohesion within their grade and form some new connections.Read More -
Burke on the Road: VA & GA
Hampton, VARead More
More than twenty Burke students from 9th-11th grade traveled to Hampton University's 45th Annual High School Day in April, where they could tour campus, visit residence halls, browse academic and student activities fairs, and experience the HU Marching FORCE. Founded in 1868, Hampton is an historically black research university and home to Hampton University Museum, "the nation's oldest African-American museum." Shout-out to Dennis H. for leading and making possible this HBCU campus trip. -
Wicked for the Win (a Founders' Day Fairy Tale)
With benevolent weather on our side, the Founders' Day student leaders ran a joyous and highly efficient Founders' Day on May 1, with a villainous theme. Named for Captain Hook, Cruella, and Gaston (among others), the inter-grade teams competed in a range of relays at Howard Field in the morning, including bobbing for non-poisoned apples and scaling a giant inflatable castle. They then moved indoors for collaborative games and competitions before the grand finale: the Lip Sync Battle in the Atrium, wherein teams danced to famous villain songs mixed with contemporary hits.Read More -
Culture Day Returns
On May 8, we celebrated our 2nd Annual Culture Day with vibrance, creativity, music, dance, and (of course) fantastic food.Read More -
Alumni Spotlight: Nik Alexander '16
At our April 17 assembly, we welcomed back Nik Alexander '16, now a graduate student at the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, focusing on "deconfliction and management of systems on other celestial bodies," and a 2024-25 Axiom Space fellowship winner. Nik is also Managing Editor of Space Scout, a volunteer-run news organization focused on the space industry.Read More -
Shabbat Shalom!
On Friday, April 11, the Jewish Affinity Group (JAG) hosted their first "Shabbat-Luck" (Shabbat + Potluck) for more than 50 students, faculty, staff, and Burke families in the Atrium.Read More -
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Celebrate and Commemorate
Led by Lailah B. '25 and Troy T. '25, the Black Student Union hosted an ambitious and memorable assembly for Black History Month, centered on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Black Greek-letter organizations.Read More -
Founders' Day Underway
Managed by 10th-12th grade Leadership Program students, Founders' Day takes place each April, featuring lip sync battles, relay races, and whimsical competitions. Most crucially, each team includes students from every grade plus faculty and staff members – enabling bonds to form across the school.Read More -
Pep In Our Step
An impressive array of talent was on display at the pre-Blackout Pep Rally, which opened with varsity basketball player and stand-out instrumentalist Hilliard N. '26, performing the national anthem on violin. Next, the Dance Team (captained by Camilla T. '25 and Nora S. '25) elevated the energy with "Toxic" by Britney Spears, followed by performances from Band 8 and Intermediate Band 9/10.Read More -
Rising Leaders
Friday, February 7 marked the annual 9th Grade Leadership Retreat, managed by select juniors and seniors in the Leadership Program.Read More -
Community and Artistry
Community engagement and artistic exploration are both core to the Burke experience – and not infrequently, the two beautifully intersect.Read More -
Forming Bonds
From September 19-20, our 6th-11th graders traveled around and beyond the DC region, enjoying quality time with classmates and advisors. Our middle schoolers, who all have overnight trips coming up this winter and spring, spent a day lakeside in Edgewater, MD, followed by an active day at The St. James for 6th-7th grade and a serious hike on the Billy Goat Trail for the 8th grade.Read More -
Student Spotlights
Highlighting students' creative and athletic pursuits outside the classroom.Read More -
Let's Go Clubbing
Read MoreAt the Club Expo, that is. On Friday, September 13, student leaders set up tables and displays from the Commons to the Library, encouraging fellow students to sign up for their organization – and often enticing them with treats (or "elements" in the Science Club's case). -
All Together Now
Read MoreOn the second day of school, we gathered in the Bengal Den for Opening Assembly, led by this year's Student Government Association Co-Presidents Taylor S. '26 and Jack J. '26. -
Sustainability in Philly
The 7th grade has returned from their annual overnight in Philadelphia, centered around sustainability and conservation. Following an early departure, they spent the morning at the Philadelphia Zoo, explored Bartram’s Garden and searched for microplastics in the Schuylkill River, and visited the Magic Gardens before spending the night at Temple University.Read More -
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Founders' Day 2024: Game On!
Dreamed up in 1999, and revamped in 2008, Founders' Day remains an anticipated tradition during the spring months. Led by a team of 11th and 12th graders, this year's event boasted a board game theme, with inter-grade teams named for Ticket to Ride, Chess, Connect 4, and Monopoly, among others.Read More -
Student Spotlight: Eliza G. '25 and Olivia M. '25
This past April, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Mid-Atlantic Region) recognized Eliza G. '25 and Olivia M. '25 for their work with Student Visionaries of the Year, a seven-week philanthropic leadership program supporting LLS' mission to cure blood cancers. The team representing Burke collectively raised over $46,266 for the cause. Congratulations!Read More
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