British International School of Washington vs Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School

	B British International School of Washington Washington Dc, United States	E Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School Washington Dc, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $19,700 - 47,930	Fees / year $0 - 24,044
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)	Curriculum IB (PYP)
Pupils	Pupils 550	Pupils 707
Typical class size	Typical class size 12	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, French, Spanish
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location British International School of Washington is located at 2001 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States, in the heart of Georgetown. The entrance is on the courtyard side of the building, off Whitehaven Street, with the Wisconsin Avenue doors designated as emergency exits. The school sits at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Whitehaven Street NW and is accessible from major routes via I-495 and the Key Bridge.	Location The school operates two campuses in Washington, DC. Brookland Campus is located at 3700 Oakview Terrace NE, Washington, DC 20017. East End Campus is located at 5600 East Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20019. Both campuses are in Northeast Washington, DC.
Stages	Stages The school serves ages 2–18 (Early Years through Secondary) in a single building that houses all year groups.	Stages PK3-5 (Pre-K through 5th grade).
School type	School type The British International School of Washington is a premier private international school in Washington, DC and is part of the Nord Anglia Education family.	School type Public Charter School
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than 70 nationalities are represented among BISW students.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support There is a learning support center on campus and BISW assesses learning support needs to tailor support for students.	Additional learning support English Language Learner (ELL) support and language support services; target language teachers are native speakers or fluent in French or Spanish; ACTFL Can Do statements guide language progression and the ACCESS assessment supports planning.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Arrivals begin at 8:00 AM. Primary school day begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:20 PM. Secondary school day begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:40 PM.	School day structure Pre-K provides instruction in the target language 90% of the time and English 10% of the time; classes are mixed-age for 3- and 4-year-olds with a two-year cycle. Kindergarten through grade 5 follow the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program curriculum in two languages, with about 50% of time in English and 50% in the target language.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school provides a bus service to families within a reasonable distance, with morning and afternoon routes to MD, DC, and VA areas including Alexandria, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Downtown DC, DC Northwest, Falls Church, and McLean. Sign up online.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Application Fee: USD 190 (one-time, non-refundable). - Enrollment Deposit: USD 2,000 (due each year to secure enrollment or re-enrollment; this deposit is applied as an advance tuition payment and is subtracted from a later tuition payment). - New Enrollment Fee (one-time): USD 2,700 (non-refundable; payable before the first year of enrollment). - Refundable Security Deposit: USD 1,000 (due in the first year of enrollment to the secondary school; held to cover loss or damage). Annual tuition by year group — 2026/27 school year (USD) - Pre-Nursery (Part Time): USD 19,700. - Pre-Nursery (Full Time): USD 33,890. - Nursery: USD 37,300. - Reception: USD 37,300. - Year 1: USD 40,070. - Year 2: USD 40,070. - Year 3: USD 40,970. - Year 4: USD 40,970. - Year 5: USD 40,970. - Year 6: USD 40,970. - Year 7: USD 45,270. - Year 8: USD 45,270. - Year 9: USD 45,270. - Year 10: USD 46,960. - Year 11: USD 46,960. - Year 12: USD 47,930. - Year 13: USD 47,930. Per-term tuition (2026/27) — amounts shown per academic term - The school year is organised into three academic terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). Per-term figures below are the annual tuition divided by three to reflect term charges. - Pre-Nursery (Part Time): USD 6,566.67 per term (USD 19,700 ÷ 3). - Pre-Nursery (Full Time): USD 11,296.67 per term (USD 33,890 ÷ 3). - Nursery: USD 12,433.33 per term (USD 37,300 ÷ 3). - Reception: USD 12,433.33 per term (USD 37,300 ÷ 3). - Year 1: USD 13,356.67 per term (USD 40,070 ÷ 3). - Year 2: USD 13,356.67 per term (USD 40,070 ÷ 3). - Year 3: USD 13,656.67 per term (USD 40,970 ÷ 3). - Year 4: USD 13,656.67 per term (USD 40,970 ÷ 3). - Year 5: USD 13,656.67 per term (USD 40,970 ÷ 3). - Year 6: USD 13,656.67 per term (USD 40,970 ÷ 3). - Year 7: USD 15,090.00 per term (USD 45,270 ÷ 3). - Year 8: USD 15,090.00 per term (USD 45,270 ÷ 3). - Year 9: USD 15,090.00 per term (USD 45,270 ÷ 3). - Year 10: USD 15,653.33 per term (USD 46,960 ÷ 3). - Year 11: USD 15,653.33 per term (USD 46,960 ÷ 3). - Year 12: USD 15,976.67 per term (USD 47,930 ÷ 3). - Year 13: USD 15,976.67 per term (USD 47,930 ÷ 3). Billing schedule & payment terms - The Enrollment Deposit (USD 2,000) is due each year to secure a place; it is applied as an advance tuition payment and subtracted from a future tuition payment. Mid-year enrollments are charged pro-rated tuition based on the published annual schedule. - Specific billing dates, payment deadlines and detailed payment-instruction documents are used to issue invoices and to explain how the enrollment deposit is applied. The school's 2026–27 academic calendar shows the three-term structure used for scheduling charges. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable at this school; the British International School of Washington operates as a day school. No boarding fees are charged. Other costs and supplementary fees - Potential obligated supplementary fees: additional Learning Support where provision exceeds 3 hours per week. - Required supplementary costs: school uniform (cost varies by items purchased). - Optional supplementary costs (pay-as-needed): additional overnight or multi-day trips (e.g., MIT visit, Juilliard camps, Global Games, Primary Camps, World Scholars Cup, ski trips, overnight sports tournaments), IB/IGCSE retakes or remarks, SAT/ACT/SAT II or other non-compulsory assessments, school bus transportation, after-school childcare and vacation programs, externally run clubs, individual music lessons, private tutoring, and school portraits or graduation photos. Refund information - The Application Fee (USD 190) and the New Enrollment Fee (USD 2,700) are non-refundable. The Enrollment Deposit (USD 2,000) is applied as an advance tuition payment rather than returned in cash. A Refundable Security Deposit (USD 1,000) is held to cover potential loss or damage and is refundable subject to the school's conditions for return. Mid-year tuition is charged on a pro-rated basis for students who enroll part-way through the year. Fee payment options - Online Payment Portal (for tuition and incidental payments). - Wire transfer (bank transfer) instructions are provided for families who prefer to pay by bank transfer. All amounts above are shown in USD and are for the 2026/27 academic year. Annual tuition figures are presented as published; per-term amounts are the annual tuition divided by three, consistent with the school's three-term academic calendar.	Fee details Application fees - There is no separate application fee charged by Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School for students applying through the My School DC common application and lottery; families apply via the My School DC system. Tuition fees (by year group / term / overall) - For District of Columbia resident students, there is no tuition charged: Stokes School operates as a D.C. public charter school and does not assess annual tuition for resident scholars. - For non-resident students, the school notes that non-residents may be required to pay tuition under District law; specific non-resident tuition amounts or per-term schedules are not published as a standard annual tuition schedule on the school's public materials. Families subject to non-resident tuition should consult the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) and the school's enrollment office for the exact charge and billing arrangements. Published school-year / per-term fees - School meals: Breakfast, snack and after-school supper are provided free to all students. Lunch is available at USD 4.50 per meal. This USD 4.50 per-meal rate applies when families purchase lunch rather than qualifying for free or reduced-price benefits. Families are encouraged to submit applications for free or reduced-price meals if eligible. Billing schedule and payment terms - Meal billing is handled according to the school's meal program and Meal Charge Policy; lunch is charged at the per-meal rate above and the Meal Charge Policy governs collection of unpaid meal charges and delinquent accounts. Families are directed to complete the school's meal application to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Specific monthly or term billing cycles for paid lunches are not listed in the public summary; families should contact the school operations staff for account setup and payment timing. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. Stokes School is a day public charter school with Brookland and East End campuses; there is no boarding program or boarding fee listed. Other costs and fees (uniforms, supplies, extracurriculars, trips, aftercare) - Uniforms / dress code: The school's family/student handbook and school policies contain the school's dress-code/uniform expectations and any related guidance; specific uniform purchase costs are not published as a standardized school fee. Families should expect routine costs for required uniforms, school supplies, and occasional class or field-trip fees where applicable. - Optional programs and extracurriculars: Fees for optional or third-party programs (for example some after-school offerings, field trips, or enrichment providers) may be charged separately when those activities are offered; such fees are assessed only for optional services and are not a substitute for general tuition. Details and current prices for optional program fees are provided by the school when each program is offered. Refund information - Meal refunds and handling of unpaid meal charges are governed by the school's Meal Charge Policy and related federal/state program rules; the Meal Charge Policy describes the school's approach to insufficient funds and delinquent accounts for school meals. Refund rules for other fees (for example for optional paid activities or program withdrawals) are covered in the school's Family and Student Handbook or in the specific program terms; families should consult the relevant policy or program agreement for precise refund deadlines and penalty rules. Fee payment options - The school's publicly posted pages do not list a single, published payment portal or exhaustive list of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, check, cash). For meal accounts and any payable programs, families should contact the campus operations staff to arrange payment and confirm accepted payment methods and online account options. Contact for operations: - Brookland Operations Manager: Mirsa Lopez — 202-265-7237. - East End Operations Manager: Nancy Cruz — 202-975-2100. Concise summary (what a parent needs to know) - There is no application fee for families applying through the My School DC common application. - Resident students pay no annual tuition; the only standard per-student public charge published by the school is the per-lunch fee of USD 4.50 when not eligible for free or reduced-price meals. - Boarding is not offered. Additional charges (uniforms, supplies, optional activities, aftercare) may apply from time to time and are handled separately. Families should contact the campus operations staff for payment arrangements, precise program fees, and any account or refund questions.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Primary School follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and the National Curriculum for England (NCE). Lower Secondary follows the International Middle Years Curriculum and the English National Curriculum. IGCSE is offered in Upper Secondary (Years 10-11). The IB Diploma Programme is offered in Upper Secondary (Years 12-13). English and Mathematics are taught in alignment with the English National Curriculum.	Curriculum details The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for PK3-5. The academic program is structured around a dual-immersion model where students learn language (English and Spanish or French) through the content areas. The IB program exists worldwide and promotes high-quality, challenging international education. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The PYP curriculum framework emphasizes inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning with a student-centered approach and ownership of learning. IB Learners strive to be inquirers, thinkers, knowledgeable, principled, communicators, caring, risk-takers, balanced, reflective, open-minded.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes and team teaching with a learning specialist assigned to each grade level.
Exam results	Exam results IB Diploma Programme pass rate for the Class of 2025 was 97%. The average IB score was 34.9. IB subject results average 5.3. IB score range was 40–45, with 16% achieving the highest range.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Offers from top universities in the UK, US, Europe, Canada, and other international locations.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions The British International School of Washington enrolls students aged 2 to 18 in an inclusive, non-selective setting, with rigorous programs that require commitment. To join BISW, submit an inquiry, schedule a campus tour or virtual meeting, attend a taster day if offered, complete the online application, nominate teachers for evaluations if applicable, and schedule a cognitive abilities test if applicable. BISW offers rolling admissions and mid-year enrollments to streamline the process for families worldwide. Key admission dates for 2026–27 include Open House on March 11, 2026; March 25, 2026; April 1, 2026; and June 17, 2026.	Admissions The school participates in the My School DC common application and lottery. Open House events are offered for the 2026-2027 application season at the Brookland Campus and East End Campus. Language immersion teaches in two languages: English and French or English and Spanish. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for PK3–5. Applications are accepted from all DC residents. Pre-kindergarten requires a child to be three by September 30 of the first pre-kindergarten year and to be able to use the bathroom with minimal assistance; kindergarten requires turning five by September 30 of the kindergarten year.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Lottery results are released on March 28, 2025. If matched, enrollment must occur by May 1, 2025. After that date, the school will begin making offers to the waitlist as space allows.
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