Ballou Hs

Ballou High School’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that all students can learn through an intensive academic program delivered in a nurturing, structured, and safe environment that emphasizes empathy and community support. Their approach centers on rigorous, standards-based instruction plus ongoing assessment and data-informed collaboration (PLCs) to monitor learning, intervene as needed, and prepare students for college, careers, and global success through career pathways and real-world opportunities.

Ballou High School’s website primarily directs families to enroll by coming to the school (3401 4th St SE, Washington, DC 20032). (balloudc.org) For DCPS high school admissions, students can enroll directly at their DCPS in-boundary/right-to-attend (feeder) high school, or apply to Ballou through the My School DC common lottery (you can rank up to 12 high schools). (myschooldc.org) Key dates for SY 2026-27 include: application opens December 15, 2025; lottery deadline for Grades 9-12 was February 2, 2026 (with post-lottery applications starting February 3, 2026); results/waitlist positions are released March 27, 2026; and the lottery-match enrollment deadline is May 1, 2026. (enrolldcps.dc.gov) To enroll, families should be prepared to verify DC residency and submit required school health/immunization forms as part of enrollment. (osse.dc.gov) If Ballou has more applicants than seats, My School DC creates a waitlist ordered by the school’s priority groups and then random lottery number (and post-lottery applicants are added after lottery applicants within the relevant preference group); Ballou’s listed lottery priority categories are (1) Sibling Attending and (2) Sibling Offered, and enrolling at a matched school does not remove a student from other waitlists. (myschooldc.org)