Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

1240 RANDOLPH STREET NE
Washington, DC 20017

www.shiningstarspcs.org

Charter School 199 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

Shining Stars Montessori Academy Public Charter School (SSMA) is a unique educational institution located in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Committed to the Montessori philosophy, the school focuses on fostering independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning in children. By providing a prepared environment that emphasizes hands-on exploration and multi-age classrooms, the academy tailors its instruction to meet the individual developmental needs and interests of each student, ensuring they progress at their own pace.

Beyond its academic rigor, Shining Stars is deeply rooted in the concept of "educating the whole child." The school’s mission integrates social-emotional development with core subjects, often highlighting the importance of community and global citizenship. By serving students in the early childhood and elementary years, SSMA creates a supportive foundation that encourages creativity, respect, and self-discipline, preparing students for success both within the classroom and in their future educational endeavors.

199

Total Students

19.5

Full-Time Teachers

10.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS
Demographic	Student Count
White	20
Hispanic	37
Black	132
Asian	7
American Indian	3

Black
132 (66.3%)
Hispanic
37 (18.6%)
White
20 (10.1%)
Asian
7 (3.5%)
American Indian
3 (1.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS
Phone:	(202)723-1467
Website:	http://www.shiningstarspcs.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	199
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	10.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 82

Kindergarten 37

Grade 1 20

Grade 2 9

Grade 3 17

Grade 4 18

Grade 5 10

Grade 6 6