Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School
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Meet Academy of Hope

For more than 40 years, Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School has been committed to providing high-quality adult education and services that change lives and improve communities. With our three campuses located in Washington, D.C., we serve residents aged 18 and older through programs that help learners complete their high school education, earn diplomas, prepare for college, obtain career certifications, and advance in meaningful work. Today, Academy of Hope supports more than 1,100 adult learners annually—a fourfold increase since becoming a public charter school in 2014.

Our mission is to support adult learners in changing their lives and transforming their communities by offering education and career training that creates direct pathways to economic mobility.

We see adult education as the greatest lever for generational change—from building wealth and stability to improving outcomes for children and families.

“This is a family kind of place. You can tell that at graduation.”

WhoWeAre2

While Washington, D.C. is known for having one of the highest rates of graduate and professional degrees in the country, 1 in 5 adults in the city still struggles with basic literacy and numeracy—challenges that make it difficult toread a newspaper, complete a job application,  or access digital tools. Many of our learners had to pause their education due to systemic barriers like racial inequity, economic hardship, illness, or caregiving responsibilities. Others already hold a high school diploma but still face low-wage jobs or underemployment.

Whether they enroll to pursue a dream deferred, support their families, or step into a new career, our graduates inspire us every day. Their perseverance and purpose challenge systems of inequality and prove a simple truth: talent is everywhere—opportunity is not. At Academy of Hope, we believe adult education is not just an educational intervention—it’s a transformational force for equity, justice, and generational change.

What’s Special About Academy of Hope?

Our services are free for DC residents and offered in the daytime and evening, both in-person and online

Our caring and encouraging staff, including a Student Success and Academic Engagement Team, offer judgment-free support and wraparound services, such as distributing healthy food and transportation stipends

We have career tracks with hands-on training in healthcare, IT, and hospitality and tourism.

We work with learners at all levels, whether they need courses in beginning literacy, reading and math, GED preparation, college transition or beyond

As one of only a few adult public charter schools in the United States, our direct research and corresponding advocacy campaigns prioritize the needs of Black and brown adult learners

Board

Staff

Graduates

Our Impact

Since our founding in 1985, over 1,100 adults have graduated from Academy of Hope with a high school credential. 8,000 more have improved their reading, writing, math or computer skills.

See our last graduation!

For more than 40 years, we’ve harnessed the power of education to transform our communities and
have:

  • Increased the helped 1,100 adults in DC earn high school credentials
  • Helped learners advance professionally: 60% of our graduates continue to post-secondary education or vocational training
  • Provided a path to economic mobility by offering workforce programs in healthcare, IT, and hospitality and tourism: Graduates of Academy of Hope are 5x more likely to have a salaried career than when they entered 
  • Filled jobs in the healthcare and technology
    industries and strengthened the economy: In
    the 2024-25 school year, 51 learners and alumni reported finding employment in their respective fields after earning their credentials.
  • Offered 168 AoH high school and workforce alumni the tools and resources they need to achieve their educational and career goals through our Hope Forward alumni program. 66% achieved employment outcomes after completion of the program.

“It’s not just about the diploma but setting people on a path that they have the skills and preparation to earn family-sustaining jobs beyond high school. What do Black and brown residents need to fulfill their dreams? AoH is doing that work.”

We’ve also served as an advocacy leader, winning tangible victories in our region:

  • Led a three-year advocacy campaign that resulted in the DC Council approving $1.98 million in transportation assistance for adult learners and increased the Adult Learner Transit Subsidy Program (ALTS) to $100/month

  • Successfully advocated for the Council to provide stable funding for all DC adult charter schools during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Participated in the first ever DC Council roundtable on adult education

  • Launched the Academy of Hope Foundation, an independent nonprofit which will support graduates with job placement and college transition and eventually expand AoH regionally and nationally

  • Continued attendance at the Coalition for Adult Basic Education’s (COABE) annual Flood the Hill events and local Advocacy Days at the John A. Wilson Building to share the vital role adult education plays in strengthening our nation’s workforce and expanding economic opportunity.

Here are more ways to learn about our impact:

Our Values

Community
Academy of Hope fosters an atmosphere where individuals can be completely present as their authentic selves. We promote caring for one another. We believe we are stronger together and that representation for the people we serve matters.
Acceptance
AoH respects the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. We remain open-minded as we acknowledge each individual’s complex identities and our collective differences. To us, every person is worthy and we expect teachers, staff, learners, and community members to come as their true selves.
Respect
We believe that every human is deserving of respect and respect is an action. Respecting someone means engaging, learning, and trying to understand individuals’ experiences. At Academy of Hope we encourage self-love and a deep understanding, appreciation, and regard for our communities.

To see this value in action, read our Bullying Prevention Policy.
Empowerment
We purposefully recruit and engage community members who recognize and appreciate the power in every person. Our community is committed to actively listening and amplifying voices and lived experiences that are often unheard as a means to propel change.
Service
Our ultimate goal is to serve all learners responsibly. We strive to be good stewards of the trust learners place in us by consistently reviewing our practices, programs, and structures to ensure we are advancing learners’ stated best interests.

Become a Learner

Academy of Hope offers FREE programs to DC residents over the age of 18. Enroll today and begin your journey toward your education and career goals!

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