Planning for growth at Calle Ocho reached an important milestone this month with the filing of an integrated bond application to, in part, finance the purchase and reconstruction of the property at 817 Varnum Street NE. Kitty-corner to the existing Calle Ocho Campus at 4401 8th Street NE, this proposed new building would allow Mundo Verde to construct the additional classrooms needed to serve approximately 160 rising 4th and 5th graders in the Fall of 2024.
Ascension HealthCare, also the owner of Providence Hospital, has indicated not only its support for this proposed transaction, but also that it is excited to partner with Mundo Verde to leverage shared values around education and environmental sustainability. The bond will also provide greater stability for the school by making possible the purchase of the existing Calle Ocho campus, which is currently leased space.
In addition to enabling the school to continue to grow with its students, the proposed use would ensure easier access and improve traffic flow and congestion on both Varnum and 8th Street, while also significantly increasing outdoor space available for students and the community to pursue hands-on environmental and project-based learning. Pending successful financing and securing additional approvals, the planned build would also bring to the Calle Ocho campus services and facilities aligned with those at the J.F. Cook campus, such as a working and teaching kitchen for on-site preparation of meals and snacks.
With this planned growth, Mundo Verde continues to deliver on its commitment to make high quality education available to students and families in the nation’s capital who have often not had this opportunity. Mundo Verde forecasts construction beginning in early 2023, with the goal to welcome students in time for the 2024-2025 school year. This is the culmination of an in-depth planning process begun by the Mundo Verde board and school leaders in 2017 engaging members of the local community, Mundo Verde families, staff, and appropriate local officials.
About Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School
Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School is an Expeditionary Learning School and Washington D.C.’s first sustainability-focused public charter school. The school’s mission is to foster high levels of academic achievement among a diverse group of students by preparing them to be successful and compassionate global stewards of their communities. The educational model focuses on sustainability and biliteracy and currently serves approximately 1040 students mostly from Wards 4, 5, and 6. The school anticipates operating at full scale by the 2024-2025 school year, serving approximately 1200 students in PreK-5th grades across both campuses.
About Ascension
Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions and zero waste by 2040, establishes it as a leader in sustainability among healthcare organizations. Visit https://healthcare.ascension.org/ for more information.