Independent. Progressive. College Prep. Grades 6-12.Founded in 1968.
our mission: Burke consciously brings together students who are different from one another in many ways, actively engages them in their own education, holds them to high expectations, gives them power and responsibility, and supports and advances their growth as skilled and independent thinkers who step forward to make positive contributions to the world in which they live.
average class size
12
student-teacher ratio
6:1
teachers with advanced degrees
77%
represented zip codes
59
students from DC
64%
blocks from the Metro
2
students of color
40%
new students from public schools
46%
new students from private schools
48%
new students from international schools
6%
1/10
creative, curious, and independent thinkers
Class Spotlight: MS & HS Arts
Off The Wall Art
Students in Kay C.'sAdvanced Digital Media 11/12 course added an interactive element to the 2nd floor Commons this month. Passersby can use their Burke iPads to scan the QR code under each image to trigger an augmented reality (AR) experience, which lets us "see the real-life environment right in front of us with a digital augmentation overlaid on it."
Pictured: image triggers by Maria R. '26 and Willem O. L. '26.
Yes, They Rule In Constitutional Law, 11th and 12th graders have been researching cases currently before (or recently decided by) the US Supreme Court. In a series of gallery walk-style presentations last week, students discussed their predictions on how the court will rule and how they think the court should rule.
Led by Lailah B. '25 and Troy T. '25, the Black Student Union hosted an ambitious and memorable assembly for Black History Month, centered on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Black Greek-letter organizations.
Our Class of 2029 has returned from their 8th grade capstone trip to Alabama, where they moved from Birmingham to Selma and Lowndes County to Montgomery. They began at the Sixteenth St. Baptist Church, where they met with Dr. Carolyn McKinstry, an author, activist, and witness to the bombing of the church in 1963.
If you haven't recently, stroll up the Hobbes stairs, through the 2nds floor Commons, and around the 1st floor of Calvin and peruse works from Advanced Ceramics, Art Explorations 6, Ceramics 9/10, Digital Art 7, Digital Media 9/10, and Drawing 9/10, among others.
Pictured (clockwise from top left): works by Ashli J. '26, Margot G. '27, Elsa H. '27, Noelle T. '25, and Henry S. '30.
Filmmaker Stella B. '30 will be featured inSeed to Roots at the Weinberg Center for the second year in a row! This Frederick-based showcase offers "young performers and visual artists the opportunity to develop their talents while paying tribute to Black heritage."
Managed by 10th-12th grade Leadership Program students, Founders' Day takes place each April, featuring lip sync battles, relay races, and whimsical competitions. Most crucially, each team includes students from every grade plus faculty and staff members – enabling bonds to form across the school.
"Nanomaterials, natural and human made, are characterized by size, measured in nanometers. A nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter - about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a single hair." - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
On February 5-7, Ashli J. '26, Ash H. '26, Angela W. '27, and Carter A. '27 represented Burke at the 2025 NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit, while Curtis H. (History) took part in the concurrent NNSP Conference on Community & Civic Engagement.
In the spirit of the February holiday, Amy C. (MS Science) and. Kay C. (Visual Arts) teamed up with the 7th grade to animate scientifically accurate beating hearts with Procreate software.
Gothic Trials While reading Frankenstein, 9th graders in Nate D.'s class held a mock trial to determine responsibility for the death of William Frankenstein. Nate reports, "Victor Frankenstein and the Creature were charged with the crime, and students were cast as attorneys, clients, and judges. Evidence from Mary Shelley's text was crucial in building a case. Attorneys delivered opening and closing statements in the trial, while each client answered questions in direct and cross examination. Judges presided over the trial and issued a final verdict at the end. All had a chance to practice public speaking, and they even dressed up for the occasion."
Back-to-back for the Bengals! The boys' team earned the PVAC Championship banner this year on Tuesday, February 10, at The St. James in Springfield; the girls' team just missed a repeat of last year's win with a close 2nd place finish. 8th grade stars Flynn G. '29 and Addison L. '29 placed 1st and 3rd for girls' individual scores, and Max F. C. '25 and. Jack J. '26 tied for 3rd on the boys side
On January 31, cheered on by a large and enthusiastic crowd at UDC's Henderson Complex, Girls Varsity took the lead from the jump and won 45-19 over Field School, with stellar play from Burke lifer Miriam K. G. '25 and eight different athletes scoring.
8th grade: The grade's leadership group reached out to Matthew Whittaker '04, inviting him to speak with the full grade in advance of their week-long trip to Alabama next month. Matthew talked about his favorite musicians and how music of the 1950s and 1960s played a role in the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Bengals took to the pool at Lowell School last week, where top finishes included Ari K. '29 and Morgan L. C. '30, 1st and 2nd in 96 Yard IM boys and girls races respectively. With 20 swimmers in the middle school, the future looks bright for Burke swimming. (Also working the Lowell meet? Dana M. '19!)
an egalitarian, democratic, and participatory approach to education
Alum '22
I appreciated the opportunities for class discussion at Burke, and the small-class environment. Getting to know my teachers well and feeling comfortable enough to answer questions in class at Burke was formative for me. [I could then] translate that skill to college, where I felt confident enough to approach the professor to ask a question or start a conversation.
Alum '23
Burke’s English department is fantastic and I’m a very strong writer because of it.
Alum '24
If I could give a gift to everyone on this planet, it would be the opportunity to learn the way we are taught here.
Alum '24
From brilliant mentorship to top-notch curricula, I have no doubt that all my teachers at Burke have prepared me to use my math skills to change the world.
Alum '97
Burke's capacity to empower students to stand up for what's right, challenge assumptions, and approach problems thoughtfully is more important than ever.
Alum Parent '21, '22
The teachers at Burke know how to connect with their students and give them a voice. They bring real-world issues into the classroom, create authentic learning experiences, teach with purpose and intention, and are masters of their craft.
Student '25
Burke welcomes everyone and encourages you to try new things and hang out with everyone, regardless of their grade. I knew that transferring to a new school for my junior year was going to be hard, but Burke made the transition smooth.
Student '30
Burke makes school awesome.
Student '28
Burke doesn't just allow you to be yourself; they give you the materials you need to express who you are.
Faculty
Burke students default to respecting each other, and the impact that has on the learning environment, for everyone, is astronomical.
Amy '28
Started in 8th Grade - "Burke is an extremely welcoming place."