John Stanford International School (JSIS) is a public elementary school in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system, located at 3815 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C., United States. The school serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
History and Naming
The school was named in honor of John Stanford (1909–1998), who served as superintendent of DC public schools from 1975 to 1983 and was noted for his advocacy of educational reform and community involvement.
Curriculum and Programs
JSIS is distinguished by its dual-language immersion program, offering instruction in both English and Mandarin Chinese, as well as an English‑Spanish immersion option. The immersion model integrates language learning across core subjects such as mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition to language immersion, the school emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, project‑based learning, and the development of global citizenship competencies.
Student Body
Enrollment figures reported in recent DCPS data indicate that the school serves roughly 600 students, representing a diverse demographic composition reflective of the surrounding Northwest D.C. community.
Facilities
The campus includes modern classrooms equipped for technology‑enhanced instruction, a library/media center, a science laboratory, a music and art suite, and outdoor play areas. Recent renovations have added spaces to support the school's language immersion and STEM initiatives.
Recognition
John Stanford International School has received commendations from local and national education organizations for its language immersion outcomes, academic performance, and community engagement. It has been cited in DCPS district reports as a model for multilingual education.
Governance
As a DCPS school, JSIS is overseen by the District of Columbia Board of Education and administered by a principal and a team of faculty and staff who are certified teachers in their respective subject areas and language immersion specialties.
Community Involvement
The school maintains active partnerships with parents, local businesses, and cultural organizations. Volunteer programs and extracurricular activities often focus on cultural exchange, language practice, and STEM enrichment.
All information presented reflects publicly available data from the District of Columbia Public Schools, school publications, and reputable education reporting sources.
