The School
Mary H. Plummer Elementary School, located in Ward 7 of Southeast Washington, DC, is a Title I public school within the District of Columbia Public School system (DCPS). Plummer serves just over 400 students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. A clear majority of the student population is identified as Black (91 percent), while a small percentage is of Hispanic/Latino descent (9 percent) (DCPS, 2016). 6 percent of students are English Language Learners, with Spanish being the primary language spoken at home.
All of Plummer's students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, signifying that students come from low-income families. Class sizes are relatively small, averaging about 17 students per class. Additionally, 13 percent of Plummer’s student population receives some kind of special education services, including academic support, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy (DCPS, 2016).
Students at Plummer enjoy a vibrant aftercare program which is supported by The Fishing School. The Fishing School provides afterschool programming for first through fifth grade students, including homework help and extracurricular activities, like theater. Plummer also enjoys a partnership with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). NOBLE provides volunteer services during the annual Back to School Night, and also sponsors holiday programming in December and an outdoor carnival in the spring.
The school building was renovated in the summer of 2014, so it is bright and inviting. The front entrance welcomes students and visitors with a large, colorful “PLUMMER” sign, and the floor tiles are arranged in patterns to resemble fish, flowers, and butterflies. Each classroom has wall-to-wall windows, letting in plenty of natural light. You’ll often see student work adorning the walls of both classrooms and hallways. The staff also enjoys decorating classroom doors, especially for the holiday season.
The school building was renovated in the summer of 2014, so it is bright and inviting. The front entrance welcomes students and visitors with a large, colorful “PLUMMER” sign, and the floor tiles are arranged in patterns to resemble fish, flowers, and butterflies. Each classroom has wall-to-wall windows, letting in plenty of natural light. You’ll often see student work adorning the walls of both classrooms and hallways. The staff also enjoys decorating classroom doors, especially for the holiday season.