School Without Walls High School
School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school in Washington, DC operated by DC Public Schools. Founded in 1971, it serves approximately 600 students from all eight wards with college-preparatory academics, AP courses, arts, athletics, and 40+ clubs.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What School Without Walls High School does
School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school located at 2130 G Street NW in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, DC, operated by the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system. Founded in 1971 and now serving approximately 600 students in grades 9–12 drawn from all eight wards of the District, the school admits students through the DCPS centralized magnet school application process. School Without Walls has been ranked the #1 high school in Washington DC and #69 nationally by U.S. News & World Report as of October 2025 and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
The school's core offerings include an extensive Advanced Placement program across humanities, sciences, mathematics, and world languages; an award-winning music program (Choir, Orchestra, Stage Band, Jazz Band) that earned first place across multiple ensembles at OrlandoFest 2026; competitive athletics including DCIAA championship teams in volleyball and cross country; over 40 student clubs; visual arts including photography exhibited at the National Press Club; and dual enrollment with George Washington University. The technology stack consists of standard K-12 digital infrastructure — Canvas LMS and Microsoft Teams for instruction, Aspen for student information, and Clever for single sign-on — with a distance learning platform established during COVID-19, supplemented by a COVID-19 asymptomatic testing partnership with DC Health and Children's National Medical Center announced in March 2021.
As a public institution, the school charges no tuition. Primary funding flows through the DCPS budget allocation — the FY22 Initial Budget was $6,255,700, equating to $10,426.17 per pupil, which the school has publicly flagged as below the 2013 Adequacy Study recommendation and the lowest per-pupil figure among DCPS high schools. Supplemental funding is raised by the School Without Walls Home and School Association (SWWHSA), a registered 501c3 nonprofit (EIN 52-02303014), through an annual Family Contribution Campaign targeting $57,000 (suggested $250 per student) and an annual auction that generated $41,127 in 2020. School leadership comprises Principal Sylvia Isaac (permanently appointed April 2021 after serving as Interim Principal), Assistant Principal Megan Hanley, Athletic Director/Registrar Kip Smith, and HSA President Sandra Moscoso, with Music Teacher Christopher Alberts recognized as 2026 DC Teacher of the Year.
School Without Walls High School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- School Without Walls High School
- Legal name
- School Without Walls High School
- Website
- https://swwhs.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school in Washington, DC operated by DC Public Schools. Founded in 1971, it serves approximately 600 students from all eight wards with college-preparatory academics, AP courses, arts, athletics, and 40+ clubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
School Without Walls High School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)
Keywords
Where School Without Walls High School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
School Without Walls High School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- DCPS Public Funding: Primary government funding through District of Columbia Public Schools budget allocation. School has historically been underfunded relative to other DCPS high schools with FY22 Initial Budget total of $6,255,700. Per pupil funding at $10,426.17 which is lower than 2013 Adequacy Study recommendation of $10,584.
- HSA Fundraising and Donations: Home and School Association conducts annual fundraising campaigns and virtual auctions. 2020 Virtual Auction generated $41,127. Annual Family Contribution Campaign targets $57,000 with suggested contribution of $250 per student.
- 501c3 Charitable Donations: SWWHSA is a registered 501c3 nonprofit (EIN 52-02303014) that accepts tax-deductible donations to support teacher professional development, programs, student clubs, athletics, supplies and technology.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | No-cost public education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
School Without Walls High School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school in Washington, DC that delivers college-preparatory education to approximately 600 students in grades 9-12. The school offers rigorous AP coursework, award-winning music ensembles (Choir, Orchestra, Stage Band, Jazz Band), competitive athletics, visual arts, and over 40 student clubs, supported by a dual-enrollment partnership with George Washington University.
Product overview
School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school in Washington, D.C. that provides a comprehensive college-preparatory education. The school offers a unified academic program combining rigorous AP coursework, award-winning arts and music programs, competitive athletics, and over 40 student clubs. The school utilizes digital learning platforms including Canvas and Microsoft Teams for instruction, and maintains an active fundraising program through its Home and School Association (HSA).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SWWHSA (School Without Walls Home and School Association): The parent-teacher organization for the school, operating as a registered 501c3 nonprofit
Products and services
- College Preparatory Academic Program Comprehensive college-preparatory high school curriculum covering humanities, sciences, mathematics, and world languages for grades 9-12 students, ranked #1 in DC and #69 nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
- Advanced Placement (AP) Courses Extensive AP program offering courses including AP World History, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature, AP Research, AP Music Theory, AP French, AP Latin, AP Spanish, AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, AP US Government, AP US History, and AP Chemistry for college-bound students.
- Music Department Program Award-winning music program featuring four ensembles (Choir, Orchestra, Stage Band, Jazz Band) recognized nationally, with all three main ensembles taking 1st place at OrlandoFest 2026 and Superior Ratings awarded.
- Athletics Program Competitive athletic program including volleyball, cross country, ultimate frisbee, cheerleading, and eSports teams competing in DCIAA championships, with 2025 championships in Volleyball and Girls & Boys Cross Country.
- Student Clubs and Extracurricular Activities Over 40 student clubs and activities including Math Club, Latin Program, Drama Club, Ethics Club, Poetry Club, Debate Club, Thrift Club, Youth and Government, and Chess Club.
- Visual Arts Program Visual arts program featuring photography and other visual media, with student work exhibited at venues including the National Press Club.
- College Counseling and Dual Enrollment Guidance counseling with college preparation support and dual-enrollment partnership with George Washington University enabling students to earn college credit while in high school.
- Mental Health and Wellness Services Student mental health support including counselor services, social worker assistance, behavioral health workshops, and partnerships with GWU's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences for wellness programming.
- Annual HSA Auction Fundraiser Annual fundraising event conducted via BidPal platform by the Home and School Association to support student programs; 2020 Virtual Auction generated $41,127.
Quantifiable outcome
- U.S. News & World Report #69 National Ranking
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use School Without Walls High School
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
School Without Walls High School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
School Without Walls High School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- U.S. Department of Education (Blue Ribbon Program)flagshipSchool Without Walls Stage Band performed at the National Blue Ribbon Schools Ceremony, recognizing the school as a National Blue Ribbon School.
- George Washington University (Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences)coreCollaboration with GWU's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences to provide student workshop on 'Well Being for Busy Teens: Coping with the New Normal' addressing mental health and stress management during pandemic conditions.
- DC Health and Children's National Medical CentercorePartnership for COVID-19 asymptomatic testing program. DC Health provides roving nurses for testing; Children's National Medical Center's CSS team trains school nurses. Weekly random sampling of 10% of in-person student population.
- Heritage STEM Camps Foundation (HSCF)minorSTEM foundation provides venture capital competition for students. Derek Emons won second place prize of $500 with his GreenThumb pitch.
- Point Made LearningcoreContracted to guide school community through facilitated discussions about systemic, institutional, and interpersonal racism in America using innovative content and highly skilled moderators. Part of school's anti-racist curriculum commitment.
- Harvard/MIT Math TournamentminorAnnual competitive mathematics tournament. SWW Math Club participated in November tournament and won a mini-puzzle competition.
- Chinese EmbassyminorStudents performed at Chinese Embassy New Year Gala on January 31, showcasing cultural programs and international engagement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
School Without Walls High School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McKinley Technology High School: DCPS magnet high school with a STEM/technology focus and selective admissions; comparable DC magnet competitor for college-bound applicants within the same DCPS enrollment system.
- Benjamin Banneker Academic High School: DCPS magnet high school in Washington DC with selective admissions and a college-preparatory focus; competes with SWWHS in the same DC magnet admissions lottery for top students.
- Duke Ellington School of the Arts: DC public magnet secondary school with a specialized arts/conservatory focus; directly comparable as a DCPS magnet serving citywide applicants and competing for the same creative, college-bound student pool.
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology: Public magnet high school in Fairfax County, VA, consistently ranked among the top STEM schools nationally; competes with SWWHS for elite applicants across the DMV and shares the selective-magnet, college-prep model.
Regional players
- KIPP DC: DC charter school network operating multiple college-prep campuses; competes in the DC public-school choice ecosystem for families evaluating magnet versus charter options.
- DC International School: DC public charter secondary school with an IB-for-all model and international focus; comparable alternative for DC families seeking selective college-prep education.
Broad incumbents
- BASIS Independent Schools: National network of high-achieving college-prep campuses that competes with elite public magnets for top DMV families; broader portfolio but overlaps in AP rigor and college-outcomes positioning.
- Georgetown Day School: Independent DC private school with a progressive college-prep mission and high college outcomes; alternative path for DC families weighing magnet versus private enrollment.
- Sidwell Friends School: Premier DC private school with elite college placement; competes for the same high-achieving DC families as SWWHS and represents the private-school alternative to the magnet track.
- National Cathedral School: Elite DC private school with strong college placements and arts/athletics programs; comparable competitive alternative for the same high-achieving DMV families.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
School Without Walls High School social profiles
Digital presenceSchool Without Walls High School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
School Without Walls High School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
School Without Walls High School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
School Without Walls High School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about School Without Walls High School
What does School Without Walls High School do?
School Without Walls High School is a public magnet high school in Washington, DC that delivers college-preparatory education to approximately 600 students in grades 9-12. The school offers rigorous AP coursework, award-winning music ensembles (Choir, Orchestra, Stage Band, Jazz Band), competitive athletics, visual arts, and over 40 student clubs, supported by a dual-enrollment partnership with George Washington University.
Is School Without Walls High School a public or private company?
School Without Walls High School is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was School Without Walls High School founded?
School Without Walls High School was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is School Without Walls High School based?
School Without Walls High School is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does School Without Walls High School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. DCPS Public Funding is the primary driver. The others are HSA Fundraising and Donations and 501c3 Charitable Donations.
Who are School Without Walls High School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McKinley Technology High School, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Regional players are KIPP DC and DC International School. Broad incumbents are BASIS Independent Schools, Georgetown Day School, Sidwell Friends School and National Cathedral School.
Does School Without Walls High School have an API?
No public API is recorded for School Without Walls High School.
What industry is School Without Walls High School in?
School Without Walls High School's product category is Public Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAD, Public High Schools, with a secondary code of EDAJAAAF, Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE). Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.