As the first African-American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, The Right Rev John Thomas Walker took to heart his parents’ belief that education is the door to opportunity. That belief now informs the spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, and artistic development of boys in K through 5th grade at the school that bears his name. A tuition-free, rigorous academic program on the campus of THEARC, it provides boys of all faiths with a 7:30am to 6pm program, three meals a day, and 11 months of academic, cultural, and recreational activities – an essential combination given that 50% of children east of the river live below the poverty line. The boys may face an uphill battle, but they won’t face it alone. You can help turn boys into young men whom Bishop Walker would have been proud to know.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 8

Where They Operate: DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; MD-Prince George's County; Neighborhoods East of the Anacostia River

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Ethnic Groups Served: African American

Population(s) Served: Men/Boys; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members

Schools They Work In: Bishop Walker School is an independent tuition-free school.


  • Number of children you prepare for success in school annually:   90
  • Number of meals served annually:   More than 42,000 meals annually
  • Academic success level of your students (% performing at or above grade level, etc):  
    82% of 3rd graders performing at or above expectation in Literacy and 74% of 3rd graders performing at or above expectation in Math
  • Hours of tutoring, mentoring, or class-time you provide annually:   1,980 per student
  • Hearing, speech, and language screening:   Provided for all 90 students

Awards & Recognition

Provisional membership in Independent Education, September 2014 - Present
COSEBOC Award Winner, April 2015 - Present

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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