In an apparent effort to compete with the District’s growing number of thematic charter schools, this morning DCPS announced the reorganization of 13 campuses into “theme-based catalyst schools,” meaning that they will have an overall curricular emphasis in one of three areas: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Arts Integration, or World Cultures. At a morning press conference, Mayor Adrian Fenty described the purpose of the project as “to provide compelling options for students and families at their neighborhood schools, so that in every Ward quality and choice becomes a reality.”

At the catalyst schools, all scholastic, extra-curricular, and community activities will be designed through its thematic lens. While some DCPS campuses already offer particular areas of specialization, such as Duke Ellington School of the Arts, or McKinley Technical High School, the catalyst schools won’t require auditions or an academic prerequisite in order to attend. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee emphasized that professional development and specialist training will aid educators at the schools as they transition into their themes over the 2009-2010 school year.

The initiative is financed by the D.C. Education Fund through support from the Philip L. Graham Fund, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation and the CityBridge Foundation. In order to be selected, individual schools had to submit a proposal specifying how one of the catalyst themes might be integrated into their overall instruction and school cultures. The complete list of catalyst schools is as follows:

STEM: Beers Elementary School (Ward 7), Burroughs Education Campus (Ward 5), Emery Educational Campus (Ward 5), Langdon Education Campus (Ward 5), Malcolm X Elementary School (Ward 8), Whittier Education Campus (Ward 4)

Arts Integration: Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School (Ward 6), Sousa Middle School (Ward 7), Takoma Educational Campus Preschool (Ward 4), Tyler Elementary School, (Ward 6)

World Cultures: Columbia Heights Education Campus (Ward 1), Eaton Elementary School (Ward 3), Payne Elementary School, (Ward 6)