Monument Academy Public Charter School in Washington, District of Columbia on DonorsChoose

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Our Out of School Time programming is embedded into the school day, requiring all students to participate in both an academic and a gross motor activity. I chose to offer dance, not only because I teach for Parks and Recreation, but also because I personally needed the outlet while navigating my son's medical decline.\r\n\r\nWith limited space, I began with 15 girls. For many of them, this was the first time they had something they felt good at—the first time they could simply \"be\" instead of merely exist. Almost immediately, their behavioral incidents began to decline. Their self-love, self-advocacy, and self-efficacy grew as they experienced success on their own terms. These were girls who often fought one another, yet they put their differences aside while dancing. That unity followed them back into the classroom: their grades rose, their confidence returned, and for the first time in a long time, they felt hopeful.\r\n\r\nBecause of this progress, I launched an expanded program outside of the OST window, centered on restorative justice and ballet to reinforce the meditative practices taught in our Dialectical Behavior Therapy curriculum. Out of 52 girls, 43 now participate. The impact has been profound—our school culture is shifting, and incidents of fighting and bullying have dramatically decreased.\r\n\r\nOne of the most powerful moments of this journey was our participation in the MLK Day Parade. Our girls had a phenomenal time—convening with other dance lines, connecting with city-based organizations, and experiencing what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. They also had the opportunity to meet local policymakers, including DC Councilmembers, delegates, ANC commissioners, mayoral candidates, and more. 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About this school

Monument Academy Public Charter School is an urban public school in Washington, District of Columbia that is part of District of Columbia Public Charter School Board. It serves 127 students in grades 5 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 8.5:1. Its teachers have had 27 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 5 - 8

127 Students

15 Teachers

500 19th St NE

Washington, DC 20002 View local requests

http://www.monumentacademy.org/

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Monument Academy Public Charter School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Monument Academy Public Charter School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Monument Academy Public Charter School Demographics

74%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

99%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Monument Academy Public Charter School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 8, 2026

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