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The media has been focusing on a certain D.C. school as of late because of its instructional model. But after taking a closer look, parents hold the school in high demand because of its instruction, but also because it’s an open, safe, and diverse community that makes learning fun.

Two Rivers Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. has been the subject of increased media attention since it is the most in-demand charter school in the entire district. Its wait list is 1,381 children long, and has very few seats available to parents annually. As the local ABC affiliate noted, the school is harder to get into than Harvard. What makes seats at Two Rivers the most sought-after in D.C.?

The media points to the school’s expeditionary learning and project-based curriculum, which are used to engage students at a higher level. At a tour of the school this week, CER staff was able to see the project-based model in action. Kindergartners were learning about insects, second graders were conducting physics experiments, and fourth graders were mapping the Anacostia Watershed.

With the increased press pointing to project-based curriculum as the main draw, we wondered – what are parents actually saying about why they chose Two Rivers Public Charter School? CER staff brought this up with Jessica Wodatch, the school’s executive director. As it turns out, parents are looking for something else in the school that they choose for their child. Jessica says parental demand for Two Rivers is high due to the school’s welcoming, safe, and open community, and the diversity of the school. She said of the school’s instructional model, “Parents don’t come for the expeditionary learning, but they stay for it.”

Many parents are going to have the ability to stay with Two Rivers, as the school is opening a second campus in the fall to help address its long wait list. It is clear that the school is listening to what parents are saying, and paying attention to what parents want and need – not the media noise surrounding it.