Dunbar Hs

Dunbar High School emphasizes “rigorous and joyful” learning in a nurturing environment, with the goal of helping every student reach their full potential. The school frames its work through an Afrofuturistic approach that treats education as a key to opportunity, while prioritizing strong relationships and instruction that develops independent thinkers and creative problem-solvers who are prepared for college, careers, and civic life.

Dunbar High School’s website directs families to complete DCPS enrollment online (via Aspen/EnrollDCPS): returning families use their Aspen Parent Portal credentials, and new-to-DCPS families request/create an Aspen account before starting the enrollment packet. Families submit the completed packet with required supporting documents uploaded (the school notes proof of residency/DC residency as part of required documentation) and should receive a confirmation email once the submission is reviewed and accepted/declined; the school also lists a registrar/enrollment specialist contact and encourages in-person help during weekday hours. For students seeking to attend Dunbar as a new school through the citywide process, applications are submitted through the My School DC common lottery by ranking schools; for SY 2026–27 the Grades 9–12 deadline was February 2, 2026, results/waitlist positions are posted March 27, 2026, and lottery-match enrollment is due by May 1, 2026 (with school re-ranking allowed until March 13, 2026 at 5 p.m.). If there are more applicants than available seats, My School DC creates a waitlist and schools make offers in order; enrolling at your matched school does not remove you from waitlists, and waitlists reset each school year. Dunbar’s listed lottery priority (preference) categories are: (1) Sibling Attending and (2) Sibling Offered; waitlists are ordered by these preference groups and then by random lottery number within each group (with post-lottery applicants added after on-time applicants).