D.C. and Virginia
About Us
Talent and potential are distributed equally across children, but opportunity is not. Today, 25 percent of D.C. children live in poverty—in a region that’s home to half of the top 10 wealthiest counties in the United States. With lifetime earnings closely linked to educational attainment, unequal access to an excellent education can give rise to entrenched poverty that lasts for generations. The path to an excellent education for every child starts with great teachers in classrooms and leaders working to create systemic change. Here at TFA D.C. and Virginia Region, we work to develop leaders committed to ensuring all children reach their potential.
Although they sit just a few miles apart, only 11 percent of schools in D.C.’s Ward 8, east of the Anacostia River, receive a 4- or 5-star rating on their school performance report cards compared to 100 percent of schools in affluent Ward 3. In Virginia, less than 40 percent of 4th graders test proficient in literacy, and Black students score more than 10 percentage points behind their white peers on every standardized test.
Today, more than 3,300 Teach for America alumni in our region help D.C. and Virginia to be among the country's fastest-improving urban school districts. Join them—and us—as we reimagine what’s possible for our children.
Our Community
Our Community
In addition to being the seat of our federal government, Washington, D.C. has also long been a center for Black American culture, arts, and community organizing. Northern Virginia has a growing Latino population and is expanding with new corporate offices and tech companies. In a city that boasts the highest proportion of residents with graduate degrees and in suburbs that have long been among the most affluent in the country, systemic poverty and racism have shaped—and continue to affect—the communities we serve.
Living Here
Living Here
When you join us, you’ll see neighborhoods rich in culture, markets and coffee shops of Capitol Hill, the Latino influence of Columbia Heights, pop-up eateries of Union Market, the vibrant neighborhoods of U Street and Dupont Circle, and the lush, suburbs of Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. There are various family-friendly options across D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Washington, D.C., is one of the most walkable cities in the country, and the Metrorail, Metro Bus, BikeShare, and local car-sharing systems make travel accessible and environmentally friendly. D.C. also consistently ranks among the top cities in the nation for having the most outdoor parks per resident—from hiking in Rock Creek Park to fishing in the Potomac River, there are ample ways to explore outside.
Teaching Here
District of Columbia
District of Columbia
We partner with the DC Public Charter Board and District of Columbia Public Schools.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
We partner with Alexandria City Public Schools.
Builders wanted.
Our Alumni
Our Alumni
The alumni community is thriving in D.C. and Virginia, with over 3,300 alums today. There are over 600 alumni educators, and 100 alumni school/system leaders in D.C. Our alumni also include State Superintendents, Chancellors, and Deputy Mayors for Education, all creating a leadership force that continues to fuel change, impacting over 7,360 students in the region.
Connect on Social Media
Our Board Leadership
Learn more about our region's leadership by clicking the link below.
Support Our Work
Teach For America D.C. and Virginia is working to bring more teachers to our community during a national teacher shortage. Through your support, we are able to magnify our impact on students to ensure that every child in the DMV has an opportunity to attain an excellent education. Your generosity allows us to expand opportunities for children in classrooms across our communities by providing teachers and leaders that inspire and motivate our students, equipping them with the opportunities they need to achieve their dreams.
