by Marie LeBlanc, Community Partnerships Coordinator

Last month, a group of 11th and 12th grade students from Cardozo High School put the final touches on a house near the corner of 13th and Colorado Ave NW. A final doorknob and a coat of paint marked the end of a two-year process of building a new home from the ground up — and a landmark achievement for students at the Academy of Construction and Design at Cardozo, supported by the DC Construction Trades Foundation.

The DC Construction Trades Foundation is a Catalogue nonprofit that works in partnership with DC Public Schools to support the Academy of Construction and Design at Cardozo Senior High and to extend the Academy’s educational outreach programs to other District middle and high schools. The ribbon cutting ceremony that took place at 5734 13th Street NW on December 6th celebrated the work of the Academy’s students, as well as a dedicated group of instructors, staff, school and industry partners, and sponsors who guided the house construction from the groundbreaking in October 2010.

Through the Build a House, Build a Future program, career and technical education students learn about carpentry, electrical, HVAC and other technical specialties while part of an active construction site. As part of an integrated academic schedule, students draw lessons in math, carpentry, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading and practical science studies from a real-world setting, learning from experienced teachers and volunteers from area construction companies.

Not only is the house itself a standing monument to students’ success, but the Academy’s students are more successful in school and more go onto college or directly into the industry after graduating (about two-thirds of graduates enter college and one-third begin working in the field). These are remarkable statistics for a program who reaches out to students who are at high risk of dropping out, truancy and not graduating from high school at all.

In the coming semester, students will continue utilizing their skills –hopefully as part of the current renovation of Cardozo High School. According to DC Construction Trades Foundation, “agreements are being finalized with DCPS Career and Technical Education that will enable Academy students in carpentry and electrical classes to participate in the renovation of Cardozo that is currently in progress. Hands-on training sessions guided by Academy instructors and the professional builders will be scheduled after the new semester begins next week.” The ribbon cutting ceremony held in December also generated significant buyer interest in the A-CAD house, and an expert Realtor is helping the board of directors manage the selling process.

For more information on DC Construction Trades Foundation, and other alternative programs for high school students, check out the Catalogue’s website!