Parkside Campus History
César Chávez Public Charter School for Public Policy was founded on the vision of developing young people who will make this country a better place by influencing public policies that affect their communities. The first school opened in September 1998 with 60 ninth graders and continued to add a grade each year. In 2004, to meet ongoing demand for the Chávez program, Founder Irasema Salcido opened a second campus that included a middle school program under the leadership of Susan Flora. The school started with 200 students in September 2004 in a church in NW Washington, DC before doubling in size and moving across town to its permanent home in Ward 7/NE DC for the 2005-2006 school year. The school grew to capacity in 2006-2007 with 700 students in grades 6-12. In June 2007, the campus graduated its first class and continuing the Chavez tradition, 100 percent of the graduates from Parkside were accepted to college.
The school’s mission is to challenge students with a rigorous curriculum that fosters citizenship and prepares them to excel in life. The school will use public policy themes to guide instruction and will provide students direct experience with organizations working in the public interest.
Like the original high school, the Parkside Campus is envisioned as a unique institution that provides DC youth a first rate public high school education and unparalleled opportunities to become active citizens dedicated to improving their communities through civic involvement. Five characteristics define the unique position that the Chávez Schools hold:
- Inclusive Program
- Demanding Standards
- Innovative Public Policy Curriculum
- Supportive Learning Environment
- Outstanding Faculty and Staff
In the spring of 2007, the Chavez Parkside campus received full accreditation from the American Association for Liberal Education. The school was commended for its efforts to found and develop a successful charter school with attention to mission and academic objectives, curriculum, assessment, special education, teacher quality and governance.