Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School

What Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School does

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School (Stokes School) is a tuition-free, publicly funded DC charter school serving pre-kindergarten through 5th grade (PK3–5) at two campuses: Brookland in Ward 5 (3700 Oakview Terrace NE) and East End in Ward 7 (5600 East Capitol Street NE). Founded in 1998 by Linda Moore and named after her mother, an Arkansas elementary teacher, the school operates on a dual language immersion model delivering instruction in English/French or English/Spanish — 90% in the target language at Pre-K and approximately 50/50 English and target language from kindergarten through grade 5. The core academic platform is the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), supplemented by an inquiry-based Pre-K program, a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSSS) for academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs, the Peace of Mind mindfulness curriculum, a school garden program, and an in-house chef-led Stokes Kitchen food service.

The school is accredited by Middle States Association, holds IB World School authorization and the Label FrancEducation designation, and is staffed by 78 employees, with 53 staff tenured five-plus years and 28 ten-plus years. Revenue derives primarily from DC government per-pupil charter funding, supplemented by USDA child nutrition program reimbursements (NSLP, SBP, SFSP, CACFP), pay-as-you-go lunch ($4.50/meal), and private donations via a dedicated Giving page. Enrollment is channeled through the MySchoolDC common lottery and supported by open houses, building tours, ParentSquare communications, and an active PTA and volunteer program. In 2025 the school published its first formal multi-year roadmap, the "Leading With Love" Strategic Plan covering 2025–2030, focused on expanding reach, operational capacity, and community belonging.

Name

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School

Legal name

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School

Website

https://ewstokes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School is a tuition-free DC public charter school operating two campuses that deliver English/French and English/Spanish dual language immersion with the IB Primary Years Programme to pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students in Washington, DC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJACAC

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Charter K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDAJACAI

Charter Language Immersion & Bilingual Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Charter K–12 Schools

Keywords

• Dual language education
• Elementary charter school
• Primary education services
• Language immersion programs
• International baccalaureate curriculum

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Funding: As a DC public charter school, the primary revenue source is per-pupil funding from the District of Columbia government based on enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School provides tuition-free public charter elementary education for PK3 through 5th grade students across two Washington, DC campuses. Its core program combines the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme with full dual language immersion in either English/French or English/Spanish, supported by social-emotional learning, special education services, and daily in-house meals.

Product overview

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School is a dual-immersion public charter school serving PK3-5 students in Washington, DC with two campuses (Brookland and East End). The school operates a unified educational platform centered on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program combined with full language immersion in English/French or English/Spanish. The core academic program is supported by specialized services including Pre-K programming, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSSS), Stokes Kitchen food services, Peace of Mind mindfulness curriculum, and the Stokes School Garden program. Students receive approximately 50% instruction in English and 50% in the target language from kindergarten through grade 5, with Pre-K receiving 90% target language instruction. The school is accredited by Middle States Association, Label FrancEducation, and International Baccalaureate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) An inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework for PK3-5 that builds conceptual understanding and develops students as caring, active participants in lifelong learning. The program emphasizes the IB Learner Profile with 10 attributes including Inquirers, Thinkers, Knowledgeable, Principled, Communicators, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced, Reflective, and Open-minded.
• Dual Language Immersion Program (English/French and English/Spanish) A full immersion language program where students learn to think, speak, read, write, and learn in two languages. In Pre-K, instruction is delivered 90% in the target language and 10% in English; from kindergarten through grade 5, approximately 50% of instruction is in English and 50% in the target language.
• Pre-Kindergarten Program A full immersion preschool program for children ages three and four in French or Spanish, featuring a mixed age group of 3- and 4-year-olds with a cycle of eight units of inquiry across the year. Classes have native or fluent target language teachers who create age-appropriate learning environments.
• Multi-Tiered System of Supports and Services (MTSSS) A framework providing different levels of support based on students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Includes English Language Learner services, Student Support Services (SST), 504 Plans, Special Education programs, school counseling, and Home Hospitalization Instruction.
• Stokes Kitchen Food Service Program In-house food service serving three healthy meals daily, including breakfast, lunch, snack, and supper. Professional chefs prepare meals using minimally processed ingredients from local farmers. Accommodates dietary restrictions including gluten, dairy, egg allergies, and vegetarian options. Participates in National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, and Supper Program (CACFP).
• Peace of Mind Mindfulness Curriculum A social-emotional learning program combining mindfulness-based instruction, conflict resolution, and social justice for early childhood through middle school. Students learn mindfulness skills, kindness, empathy, compassion, gratitude, brain science related to emotions, and conflict resolution.
• Stokes School Garden Program An experiential learning program connecting students to urban agriculture. The garden functions as a bridge between science and social studies, addressing food security, nutritional access, and waste management while providing hands-on learning opportunities tied to curriculum units.
• School Health and Wellness Services Includes physical education (minimum 150 minutes per week), health education (80 minutes per week for grades 2-5), school nurse services (hearing, eyesight, immunization, scoliosis screenings), and nutrition education designed to develop lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Baccalaureate (IB World School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is an authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for grades PK3-5. This partnership provides the curricular framework and ongoing professional development for teachers.
• Middle States Association of Colleges and SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school is accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, meeting rigorous standards for educational quality.
• MySchoolDCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe school participates in the DC common lottery system operated by MySchoolDC, which handles applications and enrollment for public and charter schools in the District.
• Peace of Mind Program (Linda Ryden)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe school implements the Peace of Mind mindfulness-based social-emotional learning curriculum created by Linda Ryden, with ongoing training and support from program trainers.
• USDA Child Nutrition ProgramscoreOthersThe school participates in National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Supper Program (CACFP) through the USDA.
• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShieldminorOthersThe school offers health insurance through CareFirst BCBS as part of employee benefits package.
• Guardian (Dental)minorOthersThe school offers dental insurance through Guardian as part of employee benefits package.
• National Vision AdministratorsminorOthersThe school offers vision insurance through National Vision Administrators as part of employee benefits package.
• TIAAminorOthersThe school manages its retirement plan through TIAA, offering tax-deferred savings and diverse investment options for employees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DC Bilingual Public Charter School: DC public charter providing Spanish/English immersion education PK3-5 with a social-justice lens. Closest peer in mission, model, and grade band, competing head-to-head in the same lottery.
• Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School (LAMB): DC public charter offering Spanish/English bilingual Montessori education PK3-6. Competes for the same Spanish-immersion families in the MySchoolDC lottery.
• Briya Public Charter School: DC public charter school with a Spanish/English two-generation model serving early childhood through elementary. Competes in the same lottery for bilingual-family demand.
• Capital City Public Charter School: DC public charter school offering PK3-12 with inquiry-based and social-justice oriented curriculum. Comparable progressive-pedagogy positioning in the same DC lottery.
• Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School: DC public charter school providing Spanish/English dual-language education with a sustainability focus, PK3-5. Direct overlap on immersion model, DC charter structure, and lottery enrollment.
• Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School: DC public charter school offering Chinese/English immersion from PK3-5 with IB PYP framework. Most direct competitor — same city, same grade band, same lottery system, and same immersion-plus-IB positioning.
• DC International School: DC public charter school with a multilingual (French, Spanish, Chinese) IB program serving PK3-12. Comparable immersion-plus-IB model within the same DC charter and lottery ecosystem.
• Two Rivers Public Charter School: DC public charter serving PK3-8 with a focus on dual-language (Spanish/English) and project-based learning. Comparable size, geography, and dual-language positioning.

Broad incumbents

• BASIS Independent Schools: Network of private, college-preparatory schools with rigorous academic programs. Comparable IB-aligned rigor and structured curriculum, though tuition-based rather than public charter.
• KIPP DC: Multi-campus DC charter network (PK3-12) with a broader portfolio across multiple schools. Not language-immersion focused, but a major incumbent in the same DC charter lottery and operating environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCge0g3yVkklCc_D60yLEa9A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ewstokespcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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