Eastern High School is a public

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

The school is located in the

Hill East Neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States, are distinguished by their history, culture, architecture, demographics, and geography. The names of 131 neighborhoods are unofficially defined by the D.C. Office of Plann ...

neighborhood at the intersection of 17th Street and

East Capitol Street East Capitol Street is a major street that divides the northeast and southeast quadrants of Washington, D.C. It runs due east from the United States Capitol to the DC-Maryland border. The street is uninterrupted until Lincoln Park then cont ...

NE. Eastern was a part of the

District of Columbia Public Schools The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is the local public school system for Washington, D.C. It is distinct from the District of Columbia Public Charter Schools (DCPCS), which governs public charter schools in the city. Compositi ...

restructuring project, reopening in 2011 to incoming first-year students and growing by a grade level each year. It graduated its first class in 2015. In addition, Eastern was designated an International Baccalaureate school in 2013 and awarded its first IB diploma in 2015. Eastern is part of the

. It was founded in 1890 as the Capitol Hill High School. It was later relocated and rebuilt in the

Collegiate Gothic Collegiate Gothic is an architectural style subgenre of Gothic Revival architecture, popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries for college and high school buildings in the United States and Canada, and to a certain extent Europ ...

style and renamed Eastern Senior High School. It is one of the oldest continuously operating high schools in the District of Columbia. The campus is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

History

Early years

Eastern High School, as it is known today, was founded in 1890 under the name Capitol Hill High School. It was established in the Peabody Elementary School building at 5th and C Streets NE. The school served an all white student body with an enrollment of 170 students and a teaching staff of seven individuals. As time progressed, the school gained popularity, prompting its relocation to a new site at 7th and C Streets S.E. in 1892. Alongside the move, the school underwent a name change to Eastern High School, and its student body continued to expand. In 1909, the community rallied for the construction of a new school building, ultimately selecting the current location in 1914–1915. However, the onset of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

caused a delay in the construction process. Snowden Ashford, a municipal architect, was chosen to create the blueprint for the new school. The Eastern Alumni Association strongly encouraged Ashford to deviate from his preferred

Elizabethan The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The Roman symbol of Britannia (a female per ...

and

style and instead design the new school in the more popular Colonial Revival style. However, Ashford's vision ultimately prevailed. He completed the designs for the school in 1921 and subsequently resigned from his position as Municipal Architect. Eastern High School became the last public school in the District to be constructed in the Collegiate Gothic style. Albert L. Harris, who succeeded Ashford, oversaw the final design and construction of the school. The new Eastern High School building, built by the Charles H. Tompkins Company Incorporated in 1923, was situated at 17th and East Capitol Streets N.E. Charles R. Hart, who was principal of Eastern High School from 1918 to 1945 led the school during its new building construction. In memory of the alumni who died in the

Spanish-American War Spanish Americans (, ''hispanoestadounidenses'', or ''hispanonorteamericanos'') are Americans whose ancestry originates wholly or partly from Spain. They are the longest-established European American group in the modern United States, with a ...

and

, a memorial flagstaff was erected in front of the building. The old Eastern High School building was eventually demolished to make way for Hine Jr. High School. When the students moved to the new facility, the enrollment exceeded 1,000. As the surrounding neighborhood of Eastern High School continued to grow, the school's capacity reached 3,000 students by 1934. To address the overcrowding issue, students who lived east of the

Anacostia River The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid-Atlantic states, Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County, Maryland, Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Ch ...

were redirected to

Anacostia High School Anacostia High School is a public high school in Anacostia, in the Southeast (Washington, D.C.), Southeast quadrant of the District of Columbia. History In August 2009, Friendship Public Charter School partnered with DC Public Schools to manage ...

Subsequent Years

In 1954, the

U.S. Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on question ...

made a significant decision regarding the desegregation of public schools. Specifically, in the case of '' Bolling vs. Sharpe'', the court declared that the practice of racial segregation within the DC public school system was unconstitutional, as it violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Consequently, new school boundaries were established to address this issue. Subsequently, during the autumn of 1954, the first African-American students who were previously attending Cardozo (Central) and Spingarn High schools were transferred to Eastern, resulting in an African-American student population of 1.4%. However, within a span of ten years, Eastern underwent a transformation, with the African-American student population reaching an overwhelming majority of 99%. During the 1960s, significant milestones took place at Eastern High School, primarily involving its African-American student population. In 1964 Mr. Madison W. Tignor became the first African-American principal to serve Eastern. Recognizing the lack of curriculum that represented the Black experience and culture, students formed a collective called the Modern Strivers. In 1968, supported by the community, they founded the Freedom School, which employed committed educators. This institution offered Eastern students the chance to participate in classes off-campus that focused on Black History and culture in addition to their regular coursework. In the 1980s, the school underwent its first modernization phase. This included the installation of new windows, flooring, and parabolic troffer lighting in classrooms, as well as the addition of new stairwells, paint, fire doors, bathrooms, and the restoration of the auditorium, along with an overhaul of the elevator. Furthermore, significant improvements were made to the gymnasium. Unfortunately, a devastating fire broke out in the gymnasium on July 16, 1984, resulting in damages of approximately $1 million and causing a 2-year delay on the gym's completion. Eastern High School was renowned for its exceptional marching band and its world-renowned choir. The Blue And White Marching Machine has graced national stages and even performed at presidential inaugurations. The Eastern High School choir, under the direction of Dr. Joyce Garrett, has captivated audiences at major national events, impressing Presidents Reagan, Clinton, George Bush Sr., and

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

. They have also showcased their talent on televised performances, providing backup vocals for popular artists, and have even embarked on international tours. Notably, in 1988, the Eastern choir participated in the International Youth Music Festival held in

Vienna, Austria Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

, where they achieved the remarkable feat of securing the second place silver medal. 1988-Vienna-Celebration cropped-800x554

Admissions

Attendance Boundaries

In 2021, DC's redistricting of Wards moved Eastern from Ward 6 to the

neighborhood in Ward 7. The school's boundaries and feeder patterns, however, have remained the same. Neighborhoods within Eastern's boundaries include

Capitol Hill Capitol Hill is a neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., neighborhood in Washington, D.C., located in both the Northeast, Washington, D.C., Northeast and Southeast, Washington, D.C., Southeast quadrants. It is bounded by 14th Street SE & NE, F S ...

, Carver Langston,

Kingman Park Kingman Park is a residential neighborhood in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., the United States capital city. Kingman Park's boundaries are 15th Street NE to the west; C Street SE to the south; Benning Road to the north; and Anacostia ...

, Navy Yard, and

Southwest Waterfront The Southwest Waterfront is a neighborhood in Washington, D.C. (Southwest), Southwest Washington, D.C. The Southwest quadrant is the smallest of Washington's four Address (geography)#Quadrants, quadrants, and the Southwest Waterfront is one of on ...

Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools feed into Eastern: * Amidon-Bowen Elementary School * Brent Elementary School * J.O. Wilson Elementary School * Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School * Maury Elementary School * Miner Elementary School * Payne Elementary School * Peabody Elementary School (Capitol Hill Cluster) * Thomson Elementary School * Tyler Elementary School * Van Ness Elementary School * Watkins Elementary School (Capitol Hill Cluster) The following middle schools feed into Eastern: * Eliot-Hine Middle School * Jefferson Middle School Academy * Stuart-Hobson Middle School (Capitol Hill Cluster) The following K-8 schools feed into Eastern: * Browne Education Campus * Capitol Hill Montessori School @ Logan

Athletics

The school offers ten different athletic programs.

Notable alumni

Eastern High School's list of notable alumni by category.

Academia

* Maude E. Aiton (1894), educator * Calvin Beale (1941), demographer * Alvin C. Graves (1927), physicist * Gilbert Hunt (1934), mathematician * Mary Eleanor Spear (1915), statistician * Ibrahim K. Sundiata (1962), historian * Betty Lee Sung (1944), author, scholar, activist

Arts and entertainment

Gayle Adams Gayle Adams is an American urban contemporary and house music musician, who is best known for her hit singles " Love Fever", "Stretch'in Out" and "Your Love Is a Lifesaver." She recorded two albums for the dance-oriented Prelude record label in ...

(1970), musician *

Monta Bell Louis Monta Bell (February 5, 1891 – February 4, 1958) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Biography Monta Bell first appeared in theatrical venues with Washington D.C. Summer stock theatre, stock companies and then ...

(1909), film director, producer, screenwriter *

Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle ...

(attended), actor, comedian * The Choice Four (1969), all-male vocal group * Y'Anna Crawley (1995), singer, songwriter * Pat Flaherty (attended), actor, athlete * Kevin LeVar (1995), singer, songwriter *

DJ Kool John W. Bowman Jr. (born March 20, 1958), better known by his stage name DJ Kool, is an American rapper who produced several popular rap singles in the late 1980s. As a performer, he is best known for his 1996 hit single " Let Me Clear My Throat" ...

(1976), disc jockey, rapper * Bert Sadler (1893), photographer * Frank Wright (1950), painter

Government and politics

* Sheila Abdus-Salaam (1970), lawyer, judge * Vernon D. Acree (1937), administrator * Bennett Champ Clark (1908), judge, politician * Gail Cobb (attended), D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who was killed the line of duty *

Isaac Fulwood Isaac "Ike" Fulwood Jr. (April 28, 1940 – September 1, 2017) was an American police officer who served as the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia from July 1989 until September 1992. Chief Fulwood inherite ...

(1959),

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, generally simply referred to as the Chief of Police, is the head of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, Metropolitan Police Department of Was ...

(1989–1992) * Calvin H. Gurley (1972), D.C. perennial candidate * George Huddleston Jr. (1937), lawyer, politician * Franklin McCain (1959), civil rights activist, member of the Greensboro Four * Edna G. Parker (1948), tax court judge * Jane Menefee Schutt (1929) civil rights activist * Gladys Spellman (attended), politician * Brandon Todd (2001), former D.C. councilman

Media and journalism

George D. Beveridge George D. Beveridge (January 5, 1922 – February 14, 1987) was an American journalist praised for his coverage of the Washington politics, government, and regional development, and described by ''The Washington Post'' as "an expert on this city ...

(1940), journalist * Stephen Early (1907), journalist * Eleni Epstein (1943), fashion journalist * Jackie Martin (1921), photojournalist * Andy Ockershausen (1947), radio executive * Eugene Scott (1999), journalist * Krissah Thompson (1993), journalist

Military

* George S. Blanchard (1938), U.S. Army general * Lester A. Dessez (1914), U.S. Marine Corps general * Alexander D. Goode (1929), U.S. Army chaplain who was killed in the line of duty * Cecil D. Haney (1974), retired U.S. Navy admiral * Ernest E. Harmon (1911), aviator * Charles T. Lanham (1920), U.S. Army general *

Anthony McAuliffe General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe (2 July 1898 – 10 August 1975) was a senior United States Army officer who earned fame as the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division defending Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge ...

(1916), U.S. Army general *

Earle Wheeler Earle Gilmore Wheeler (13 January 1908 – 18 December 1975), nicknamed Bus, was a United States Army general who served as the chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1962 to 1964 and then as the sixth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of St ...

(1928), U.S. Army general

Sports

* Robin Campbell (attended), U.S. Olympian * Jerry Chambers (1961), former NBA player * Al Chesley (1975), former NFL player * Frank Chesley (1973), former NFL player * Vince Colbert (1964), former MLB player * Mark Johnson (1989), former boxer * Jimmy Jones (1958), former NFL player * Gilbert Kelly (1896), football player * Mike Martin (1979), former NFL player * Charles Mooney (1969), retired boxer * Josh Morgan (attended), former NFL player * Art Perry (1964), former NCAA coach * Jamorko Pickett (2016), basketball player * James Ratiff (1977), basketball player * Thomas Robinson (attended), basketball player * Kelvin Scarborough (1983), basketball player * Dallas Shirley (1931), basketball referee * John Smith (1924), MLB player * Mike Wilcher (1979), former NFL player

Notable faculty

References

External links

* {{DC High Schools District of Columbia Public Schools Educational institutions established in 1890 Public high schools in Washington, D.C. 1890 establishments in Washington, D.C. School buildings completed in 1923 National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Hill East East Capitol Street