“My school introduced me to a bigger world. My teachers’ passion was infectious. They drove me to want to
learn more about everything. And I could do that, because I had no distractions to keep me from pursuing my goals.”
—Lauren Gaston-Hawkins, WSF Alumna,
Yale University, Class of 2010
About Us
The mission of the Washington Scholarship Fund is to expand and improve educational options in Washington, D.C., by enabling low-income District families to have a choice in where they send their children to elementary, middle, and high school — and thereby to fulfill the promise of equal educational opportunity for all.
The Need in D.C.
WSF - along with the families we serve - is thoroughly excited about, and proud to be a part of, our City’s renewed commitment to genuine school reform. In fact, Mayor Adrian Fenty has made comprehensive education reform a priority during his administration.
Children learn best in well-matched learning environments that tap their unique talents and abilities, and so all of the District's parents must have opportunities to choose the right schools for their children. This is particularly important for students in many local schools that have not been able to meet our children’s educational needs.
D.C. parents are demanding – and they rightfully deserve – high-quality educational options for their children. Public schools, charter schools, and scholarships to attend non-public schools (the focus of our work) all must be available for District parents looking to exercise informed choice as to the best learning environments for their children.
Our Approach
In an effort to expand better educational options in the Nation’s Capital, WSF operates two distinct scholarship programs: the D.C Opportunity Scholarship Program (D.C. OSP) and the Signature Scholarship Program (SSP).
More than just a "check-cutting" operation, our dedicated team of Family Support Specialists provides comprehensive services to families.
Our Results
Extensive Educational Network
Over 120 D.C.-area schools are educating more than 2,300 of our students in Kindergarten through grade 12 in both of our programs during the 2007-2008 school year.
Community Commitment
We have distributed in total nearly $63.2 million in privately- and publicly-funded scholarships.
A Culture of Excellence
90% of our high school graduates have gone on to college.
Soaring Local Demand
The D.C. OSP has received more than 7,000 applications since the program began - five applications for every available scholarship slot.
Long-term Impact
Since 1993, we have funded over 6,800 students attending local non-public schools of their choice.