Cesar Chavez Public Charter School

Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy opened with a dream to provide DC youth with a quality high school education focused on public policy. In 1998, Irasema Salcido founded the first school in a grocery store basement with 60 eager students.

From the beginning, the goal was the prepare students to pursue a college education and take an active role in addressing important social issues in their communities.

Now, 20 years later, Chavez Schools provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, a unique public policy program, and a safe and supportive learning environment with comprehensive support services. 

Chavez Schools’ mission is to prepare students to succeed in competitive colleges and to empower them to use public policy to create a more just, free, and equal world.