ACADEMICS
Course Offerings
SWWHS offers a robust courses across the following eight departments: Art Department, Humanities, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education and Health, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages. * Important * courses are offered based on student demand and can only be offered if a minimum of 15 students enroll.
Advanced Placement
SWWHS offers a multitude of Advanced Placement courses. Every sophomore is required to take AP World History to fulfill the second World History credit requirement and every junior is required to take AP English Language and Composition.
All students are required to take the AP Exams for the AP courses they take. DCPS has covered the cost of all exams taken in recent years.
>>Click here for SY25-26 courses <<
Senior Project overview
The Senior Project class is a required course for graduation from School Without Walls. This course provides a rigorous, college‑preparatory experience in which students complete a series of assignments connected to one central research argument or thesis. Through this process, students strengthen their skills as critical thinkers, thoughtful writers, and scholarly researchers in preparation for college.
The final Senior Project showcases both academic and creative abilities and gives students an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned during their time at School Without Walls. It represents the culmination of their academic journey and the impact of community and global learning on their development.
The Senior Project includes five major components: an interview with an expert, a research paper, a product, a portfolio, and a presentation. Students must demonstrate proficiency on both the research paper and the presentation in order to graduate from SWW and to participate in any School Without Walls graduation events.
For questions, please contact Senior Project Coordinator Jenine Pokorak at jenine.pokorak@k12.dc.gov.
GWU Early College Program - Associate of Arts Degree
The GWECP- AA affords highly motivated and academically talented students the opportunity to pursue an associate of arts degree from The George Washington University. Sophomores are encouraged to apply. Details here.
High School Internship Program (HISIP)
What is the High School Year Internship? Office of Youth Programs The High School Internship Program (HSIP) is administered by the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES). HSIP provides District youth, ages 14 – 21 who are in grades 9 – 12, with valuable internship experiences in the private and government sectors. This year’s program will be administered in two (2) semesters, fall and spring. During the application period, youth may select which semester best suits their needs. Applicants should consider extra-curricular activities, course loads, and graduation requirements when selecting their preferred semester. Note: Interns can only participate in one semester, per calendar year. More information here.
Internship
Students are required to complete an internship prior to graduation. In this course, students will obtain an internship in the community to strengthen their job skills, expose them to the world of work, and build professional relationships. As an intern, students will explore areas of interest to gain experience with networking, following deadlines, and improving written and spoken communication in a professional setting. Students’ abilities to plan ahead, multitask, and show flexibility and creativity will be huge assets during the Internship course.
Internships take place Junior or Senior year. Students must complete 60 hours of internship work along with related coursework, such as reflections, resumes, and a portfolio.
Please reach out to your school counselor or the internship coordinator directly with any questions.
Grade Bumps
A grade bump—more formally known as “weighted grading” or “value-added grading”— increases a student’s numeric grade by a full point for courses designated by DCPS/OSSE as advanced or college level. For example, if a student gets an A in an eligible course, the numeric grade received is not the standard 4.0 but a 5.0; for a B, the student receives a 4.0, not the standard 3.0; and so on. These bumped grades can significantly increase a student’s grade point average (GPA).