A small, alternative school, YouthBuild PCS offers 16- to 24-year olds who have dropped out, aged out, or been expelled from traditional high schools, a unique second chance. In an intimate, supportive environment, students take classes in English or Spanish, earn a GED, acquire the skills to be successful in college or the workplace, and navigate the transition to adulthood. And this is no mean feat: 100% are low-income; roughly 30% qualify for special education; approximately 25% are experiencing homelessness; 20% are parents themselves; another third speak little or no English; and most begin with extremely low math and reading skills. Students alternate between the classroom, construction site (building affordable housing units), and service learning opportunities (creating community gardens and cleaning up local rivers). Young people who often feel that they have nothing to offer leave YouthBuild PCS with a different perspective: “I built that,” they say. They have built even more.

COVID-19 Update: The academic program is fully virtual at present. New students participate in one day of in-person orientation to ensure that they're able to use their Chromebooks and successfully access their student email and learning platforms before they begin connecting from home. If they are comfortable, they also have the option to come in-person during their construction rotation. Chromebooks have been provided for all students who need them.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 1

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; Columbia Heights; Mt. Pleasant; Shaw; Petworth

Age Groups Served: Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24)

Population(s) Served: Individuals with Disabilities; Individuals who identify as LGBTQ; Individuals living with HIV/AIDs; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Men/Boys; Women/Girls; Students; Veterans/Military Families; Immigrants/Refugees; All

Schools They Work In: We are a DC Public Charter School.


  • Number of children you prepare for success in school annually:   122
  • High school graduation rate (or GED completion rate) of your students:  
    50% of students who entered the school year with at least a 9th grade reading level as measured by the CASAS, passed the GED
  • Percentage of graduating students successfully placed in either the workforce or a post-secondary education institution within 3 months of completing the school year:   77%
  • Student-to-teacher ratio:   15 to 1

Awards & Recognition

Evaluated as a Tier 1 school since 2017

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for YouthBuild Public Charter School is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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