The mission of School Within School is to support and develop children’s potential through a uniquely child-centered, collaborative learning environment. SWS was founded in 1995 by teachers who sought to apply the principles of the Reggio-Emilia approach to early childhood education. The SWS Reggio-inspired program is a project-based approach to education which enables children to influence the direction of their learning. The project approach allows us to use the Common Core State Standard as a framework for delving deeper into long-term learning experiences.
Visiting SWS
If you are interested in enrolling your child at SWS, we encourage you to join us for an in-person open house. Families receive an overview of the school from our principal, tour the school, meet some current SWS parents, and hear more about SWS and the Reggio Emilia program. No RSVP is required for these open houses.
Open Houses for 2025-2026 School Year:
Dates and times yet to be determined – but we typically have one in late January and two in February!
For more information, please contact our SWS Recruitment Committee Chair – Dani Gaines ([email protected]).
Enrolling Your Child at SWS
As a city-wide school, all openings at SWS are allocated through the DCPS lottery through My School DC.