Who We Are

Sela Public Charter School, opened in 2013 in Ward 4, is DC’s only Hebrew Language immersion school. Named as a Tier 1 by the DC Public Charter School Board and a Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education in 2022, Sela has a diverse student body and staff that reflects the multicultural and vibrant dynamics of the nation’s capital. The school offers an academically rigorous curriculum, including daily Modern Hebrew studies, that leads to a high level of language proficiency.

“Global citizenship” education is a key school focus. It includes the development of student skills in communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. We emphasize building empathy, emotional intelligence, multiple perspective taking and learning about other cultures.

Sela is proud of its inclusive and diverse community. We serve students from all backgrounds, including students with special needs and English Language Learners. Sela is an intentionally diverse community with an ever-expanding definition of inclusivity. We are committed to ensuring representation of all backgrounds, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, religions, abilities, cultures, languages, gender and sexual identities, and other characteristics, in our faculty, families, and students. 

 

Sela is an affiliate of Hebrew Public, a national network of Hebrew Language schools.

Sela Logo

The school’s name, Sela, is derived from the Hebrew word for “rock” or “foundation.” Sela PCS is founded on a steadfast commitment to ensuring that all students have access to a strong foundational education that ensures high levels of academic achievement.

Our ​Five Pillars

​INNOVATIVE

INNOVATIVE

Sela PCS is the first Hebrew Language Immersion Public Charter School in the District of Columbia. Sela PCS has an innovative learning culture and will continue to innovate as it grows.

DIVERSE

DIVERSE

The students, teachers, board of directors and administration of Sela PCS reflect the diversity of the nation’s capital. Sela PCS recruits students and staff from all backgrounds and celebrates their diversity.

EXCELLENCE​

EXCELLENCE​

Sela PCS is committed to high academic standards for all students. We strive for excellence in everything we do from recruitment of teachers to our students’ academic achievement.

GLOBAL

GLOBAL

The combination of language acquisition and 21st century skills equips our students to encounter people and cultures beyond our borders, enriching their lives and preparing them to be global citizens.

TRUSTWORTHY

TRUSTWORTHY

Families and students can count on Sela PCS to fulfill its obligation to bring them a first-class education in a safe, nurturing environment where we cultivate a life-long love of learning in our students.

Our Philosophy

Sela PCS is committed to ensuring that all of its students experience the diverse offerings of our school while ensuring high quality academic achievement for its students in a dual-language immersion setting.  Sela is guided in its innovative language-based program by the following philosophical principles and beliefs:

  • ​​We believe that all children, regardless of background, learning abilities and physical capacities, can and should contribute to the creation of a positive, supportive learning community for all.
  • We believe that all children are capable of reaching high levels of academic excellence and social-emotional growth, and that one proven way of enabling their success is by purposefully providing a structure where children of varying backgrounds learn from, and with, each other.
  • We believe that it is crucial for all children to have the opportunity to gain fluency in more than one language and culture and that dual-language learning supports academic achievement and enhanced cognitive skills.
  • We believe that in the global world in which our children are growing up, it is crucial to provide them with the skills that they will need to take an active and responsible role in the world.​
Sela PCS is an affiliate school of Hebrew Public receiving support in Modern Hebrew language instruction and Israel Studies