May 22, 2026
As we head into Memorial Day weekend, I want to share a few good news items about our students and the people, teams, and agencies that work every day to support families and young people in DC.
This week, we learned that the College Board named 10 high schools in DC to the 2025 Advanced Placement program School Honor Roll for both participation and results. In fact, the Class of 2025 had the strongest Advanced Placement results the District has ever seen.
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More graduates took AP exams than anywhere else in the nation – with 63.1% of DC graduates taking at least one AP exam while in high school, well above the national average of 37%.
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DC also led the country in the growth of students scoring a 3 or higher – 31.3% of DC public school graduates – making them eligible to receive college credit.
We also got good news about our parks: the District of Columbia was named the nation’s #1 big city park system by the Trust for Public Land for the sixth consecutive year — a testament to our continued investments in parks, pools, and recreation facilities across all eight wards.
And speaking of our #1 park system – even though it looks like it will be a rainy weekend in DC, tomorrow, Saturday, May 23, DPR will open 17 outdoor pools and 35 spray parks across all eight wards. Outdoor pools will open as long as conditions remain safe for lifeguards to monitor the pools and as long as there is no lightning.
Thank you to all the people and partners working to create these opportunities for our young people and keeping DC a great place to raise a family.
Have a fun, safe Memorial Day weekend.
Registration for DCPS Afterschool Programs for the 2026-27 school year is now open through the MOST-DC portal at MOST.dc.gov. The District is offering afterschool programming at sites across all eight wards, with options ranging from academic support and STEM to arts, recreation, and social-emotional learning.
Programs are first come, first served. While some high-demand programs may already have waitlists, other programs still have openings. Log in today, update your student consent information, and get enrolled.
Visit MOST.dc.gov to get started.
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Get ready for a citywide culinary and cultural celebration like no other. From June 14-28, EAT250: America at the Table will celebrate America’s 250th! EAT250 will unite restaurants, leading chefs, embassies, museums, and cultural institutions across the District to explore the migration and tradition that shape how America eats.
Anchor programming will include activations in the Union Market District, public programming throughout the city, and chef collaborations.
More than 100 restaurants will also participate through special menus and dining experiences celebrating the many cultures and cuisines that define the American dining landscape.
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is here, bringing a full weekend of community, celebration, and culture to the District. Check out the Health & Wellness Pavilion at the Westin DC Downtown. Free and affirming, the Pavilion offers HIV/STI testing, PrEP on Demand, Rapid ART Start, DoxyPEP, massages, yoga, vaccines, and more. And every service provider visit enters you into a raffle for prizes including tickets, gift cards, and hotel stays.
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When: Representatives from DC Health will be available Friday, May 22, 3:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. & Saturday, May 23, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
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Where: The Westin DC Downtown, 999 9th Street NW, Meeting Rooms 8-16
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More information:
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The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash, recycling, and food waste on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. Collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday. For example, households that normally receive trash and recycling collections on Monday will be serviced on Tuesday.
Learn more about modifications to District services here.
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