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Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School

United States, Washington DC

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Mandarin, English
Fees $0 - 24,104
Ages 3 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 701
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, English
Typical class size 15
Strengths Performing Arts, Languages, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School is a public, two-campus Chinese-English immersion school in Washington, DC, serving ages 3 through 11. The school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) within an immersive bilingual model. PK3–PK4 receive 100% Mandarin instruction; K–1 blend Mandarin (about 75%) and English (25%), with English Language Arts taught for 180 days; Grades 2–5 use a 50/50 Mandarin–English model with instruction delivered on alternating days. The program fosters globally minded learners through inquiry-based learning and the IB learner profile. The Elementary Campus is located at 220 Taylor Street NE, DC 20017, with the Early Years Campus nearby; together they occupy a three-acre LEED-certified site featuring Founders Forest, a one-acre outdoor nature center, supporting environmental learning. REEF provides on-site before- and after-school care. The school emphasizes a values-based community, welcoming families seeking a rigorous, multilingual science and humanities education within a public charter framework for families.

220 Taylor St NE, Washington, DC 20017, United States

The Essentials

Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School has 701 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in Mandarin, English.

Location
Two campuses in Washington, DC: Elementary Campus at 220 Taylor Street NE and Early Years Campus at 4350 First Street NE, DC 20017. The campuses are in Ward 5, near the Brookland-CUA Metro station.

Stages
PK3–5

Type
Public Charter School

Additional learning support
Special education services and English Language Learner support are provided.

School day structure
School hours are 8:05 a.m.–3:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:05 a.m.–1:05 p.m. on Friday. Extended hours run from 7:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m. before school and 3:40 p.m.–5:45 p.m. after school on MTWTh (and 1:05 p.m.–5:45 p.m. on Fridays).

Bus service
Bus service via DDOT route D74 (Brookland-CUA).
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school provides lunch; it participates in the DC Youth Meals Program; free/reduced lunch forms are available; lunch payments are processed online.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Directors, including a Board Chair Quinton Ng; it operates as a public charter school in Washington, DC.
Fees

Annual tuition at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School ranges from USD 0 to USD 24,104 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- There is no application fee charged by Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School for entry; all new applications are submitted through the My School DC common lottery system (no per-school application charge).

Tuition fees (by year group / school year)

- For District of Columbia resident students attending Washington Yu Ying PCS: there is no tuition and no mandatory school attendance fee; the school is a public charter school and does not charge tuition or mandatory payments for DC resident enrollment.

- For non-resident students (i.e., students who are not DC residents) a non-resident tuition charge may apply. The OSSE Nonresident Tuition Payment Scale for school year 2025–2026 (used where applicable) lists annual non-resident tuition amounts by grade group as follows: 2025–2026 rates — Pre-K3: USD 20,194; Pre-K4 & Kindergarten: USD 19,591; Grades 1–5: USD 15,070; Grades 6–8: USD 16,276; Grades 9–12: USD 18,385. For public charter schools an additional facilities fee applies (USD 3,850 for SY 2025–2026). These non-resident and facilities amounts are billed in addition to any applicable program-specific charges for students who qualify as non-residents. (If 2026–2027 OSSE nonresident rates are needed, those should be checked when published; the figures above are the OSSE SY 2025–2026 schedule.)

Per-term / per-year detail

- DC resident students: Annual tuition per student = USD 0 (no per-term tuition). Mandatory per-term or per-year tuition charges are not assessed for DC resident students.

- Non-resident students: the OSSE schedule above is expressed as an annual amount by grade band (annual total). Where charged, the OSSE annual total and the charter facilities fee are the baseline tuition-related amounts; billing frequency (term/month) for non-resident invoicing follows the enrollment agreement and OSSE/authorizer billing procedures.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- There is no school tuition billing for DC resident students.

- Optional and program fees (for example: before- and after-care, paid meals for non-eligible students, and fee-based extracurricular activities or individual field trips) are billed separately from enrollment and are collected by the responsible program or vendor. Washington Yu Ying uses the REEF aftercare registration system for before/after-school care and E-Funds for lunch and fee payments; those systems manage their own registration and billing schedules and payment terms. Before- and after-care is offered on a sliding-scale / voucher basis when eligible; families are billed according to the vendor's published schedule when they register for those services. Parents should expect program-level billing (monthly or per-session) for aftercare and per-event billing for optional activities.

Boarding / residential fees

- Washington Yu Ying PCS does not operate a boarding program. Boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs and optional fees

- School uniform: Not required. There is no mandatory uniform fee.

- Meals: Breakfast is provided free to all students through the federal School Breakfast Program; paid lunch or snacks for families who do not qualify for free/reduced benefits are managed through the school's meal program and paid via the school's lunch payment system. Families should complete the Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) application if they believe they qualify for reduced or free meals. Meal charges, when applicable, are billed through the school's lunch payment system.

- Aftercare / extended-day programs: Before- and after-school care is offered and is fee-based; fees are charged and collected through the school's aftercare vendor/registration system (REEF/EZChildTrack) and are subject to that vendor's rates and payment rules. Sliding-scale and voucher options are noted as available.

- Field trips and voluntary activities: The school may charge fees for voluntary activities such as field trips or certain enrichment programs; such charges are activity-specific and billed separately when those activities occur.

- Other incidental fees: The school maintains an online payments link for lunch and miscellaneous school fee payments (E-Funds). Any incidental or optional fee assessed to a family (for example, lost-library materials, optional program supplies, or community-event tickets) would be billed through the school's established fee-payment channels.

Refund information

- There is no tuition to refund for DC resident students. Refund practices for optional, paid programs (aftercare, paid lunches, field trips, enrichment classes) are determined by the specific program or payment vendor and by the school's program policies; families should follow the refund and cancellation policies published by the program provider at the time of registration for that program. Examples of the program vendors used for billing at the school include REEF (aftercare) and E-Funds (lunch & fees payments).

Fee payment options

- Online payment through the school's E-Funds Lunch & Fees Payments portal is used for meal and miscellaneous fee payments.

- Before- and after-care registration and payment are processed through the REEF / EZChildTrack parent portal. Payment methods available there include the portal's accepted online payment methods (as provided by that vendor at registration).

- For non-resident tuition billing, invoicing and permitted payment methods follow OSSE/authorizer billing procedures for out-of-district tuition (as applicable).

Summary (key points for parents)

- Washington Yu Ying PCS does not charge tuition or mandatory attendance fees for DC resident students; there is no per-term or per-year tuition to be paid by resident families.

- Non-resident students may be billed OSSE's nonresident tuition by grade band plus a charter facilities fee (the OSSE SY 2025–2026 schedule provides the most recent published example of those amounts).

- Optional services (aftercare, paid meals for non-eligible families, field trips, enrichment) have separate fees and are billed through the program vendors (REEF, E-Funds, etc.). Sliding-scale and voucher help for aftercare is available where eligible.

If you need a single-line summary for a database entry: “Washington Yu Ying PCS: No tuition or mandatory fees for DC residents; non-resident tuition may apply per OSSE non-resident schedule (e.g., SY25–26 rates) plus charter facilities fee; optional paid programs (aftercare, meals, field trips) billed separately via REEF/E-Funds.”
Academics

Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School teaches IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 11.

Curriculum
The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) within an immersive Chinese-English model. PK3 and PK4 have 100% Mandarin instruction with no English classroom instruction. Kindergarten and Grade 1 have Mandarin instruction for all subjects with 75% Mandarin and 25% English in core subjects, and English Language Arts is taught for 180 days. Grades 2–5 have a 50/50 Mandarin-English model with all subjects taught through 90 days Mandarin and 90 days English, delivered on an every-other-day language model.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school maintains a caring and family-like atmosphere, where community members know one another deeply and support one another.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), if applicable.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches in English and Mandarin as part of an immersive Chinese-English model.

Mental Wellbeing
REEF is a before and afterschool care program, where students continue to develop traits of the IB Learner Profile utilized during the school day, and Yu Ying focuses on the development of the whole student.
Parent Experience

History
In 2008, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School was founded by a small group of parents dedicated to establishing a world-class Chinese immersion school in the District of Columbia. From the founding, Yu Ying has been the only school of its kind in the D.C. area. The school is driven by the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework within an immersive Chinese-English model.

Community
The school has earned DC PCSB Tier 1 ratings for nine consecutive years. It serves 750+ students in PK–5 and has 2000+ YY alumni. Sixty-three percent of faculty hold advanced degrees, and the school is recognized as one of the most diverse schools in the United States. The building is LEED-certified and it has been designated a Green Ribbon School.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Yu Ying maintains a Yu Ying Parent Association with a dedicated site for parent activities. The association organizes longstanding traditions such as the Annual Gala and Fuel Free Fridays. There is a Parents Association Listserv for communication among families.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates two campuses. The Early Years Campus serves PK3 through Kindergarten and is located 0.2 miles from the Elementary Campus at 220 Taylor Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, where Grades 1–5 are taught. The Elementary Campus sits on a three-acre site with a 43,000-square-foot LEED-certified building. Founders Forest is a one-acre outdoor nature center on campus to support environmental learning. REEF provides before- and after-school care on-site.

Academic Facilities
The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and an immersive Chinese-English language model. PK3–PK4 have 100% Mandarin instruction; K–1 have about 75% Mandarin with 25% English; Grades 2–5 have a 50/50 Mandarin/English model with instruction in Mandarin and English on alternating days.

Extra Curricular Facilities
REEF is the before- and after-school care program on campus.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme to develop internationally minded learners. The PYP emphasizes inquiry-based learning and global perspectives. Yu Ying operates within a bilingual Chinese-English model, supporting language development across subjects. Learners and teachers work to develop the IB learner attributes: communicators, risk takers, open-minded, thinkers, knowledgeable, balanced, inquirers, principled, reflective, and caring.

Arts & Creative
Specials classes connect students with expert teachers in performing arts, garden arts, music, and physical education. Elementary Visual Arts and Performing Arts are integrated into the program, with dedicated teachers for music and theatre. Students explore creative expression through dance, drama, instruments, and hands-on art projects. The program emphasizes experiential making and creative collaboration.

Cultural & Language
Immersion in Mandarin Chinese is woven into the IB framework. The immersion model includes full Mandarin instruction for PK3–PK4, and a mixed-language approach for older students, with substantial daily exposure to both Mandarin and English. Grades 2–5 use a 50/50 Mandarin and English structure on alternating days, while earlier years blend Mandarin and English across core subjects. The school is an International Baccalaureate World School.

Social & Hobbies
REEF is the before- and after-school program, running Monday through Thursday from 3:40 to 6:00 pm, with an elective menu that includes activities like sewing, painting, architecture, lacrosse, and other sports. Younger children follow a planned rotation, while older students choose from a variety of classes. Fridays feature a half-day schedule with REEF Fridays and frequent local-field trips to places such as Smithsonian museums.

Community & Service
YY Values emphasize caring, diversity, and high expectations, with service embedded in the Caring attribute. The community is described as nurturing and family-like, and the school hosts community events such as Lunar New Year celebrations and KidFest. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and led by an Executive Director, with board meetings monthly and an annual public meeting.

Leadership & Professional
Executive Director leads the two-campus school, supported by a Senior Leadership Team. A volunteer Board of Trustees provides governance and strategic oversight, meeting monthly and holding an annual public meeting open to the school community.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Founders Forest is a one-acre outdoor nature center on campus, part of a LEED-certified building that emphasizes natural light and fresh air. The campus environment supports sustainability and environmental learning. REEF aftercare offers structured activities aimed at social-emotional well-being, and Friday field trips broaden students' experiential learning.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches Mandarin and English. The bilingual environment is designed to develop reading, writing and thinking in Chinese and English. It operates as an International Baccalaureate World School (IB PYP).

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers Mandarin-English bilingual education with immersion. PK3/PK4 have 180 days of all subjects in Mandarin with no English instruction. PK/K Grade 1 have Mandarin for all subjects and 180 days of English Language Arts, with 75% Mandarin and 25% English classroom instruction, and daily instruction in both Mandarin and English. Grades 2-5 deliver all subjects with a 50% Mandarin / 50% English classroom instruction on an every-other-day language model.

Immersion Programs
Immersion model by grade: PK3/PK4 – 100% Mandarin classroom instruction (180 days). K/Grade 1 – 75% Mandarin, 25% English (180 days Mandarin; 180 days English Language Arts) with instruction in Mandarin and English daily. Grades 2-5 – All subjects split 50/50 (90 days Mandarin and 90 days English) with an every-other-day language model.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
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Admissions

Admissions
To enroll, families apply through the My School DC lottery. Yu Ying participates in the My School DC common application and common lottery, which means only applications submitted through My School DC are accepted. New students must complete the Yu Ying online registration form via PowerSchool (you'll receive instructions in a separate email) and submit a copy of the child's birth certificate. You must also submit the DC Residency Form and proof of DC residency via DocuSign; the DocuSign message will include instructions on online completion and document attachment. Before the first day of school, submit additional forms including the DC Universal Health Certificate, the DC Oral Health Assessment Form, up-to-date immunizations, and any applicable Medical Dietary Accommodations Form or Milk Substitution and Philosophical Dietary Accommodations Form; provide an IEP if applicable. Immunizations must be current to attend in person. Siblings of current Yu Ying and DCI students may receive enrollment preference if they live with the current student in Washington, DC and are related by blood or adoption, or are a step-sibling. Equitable Access Preference: Yu Ying is open to all and sets aside seats for at-risk students (homeless, in DC foster care, or eligible for government benefits such as SNAP or TANF) to improve their chances of matching with Yu Ying when they select the school as a top choice in the My School DC lottery. The page notes a helpful My School DC lottery video and provides an “Apply Now” link for the process.
School Events
The school has not added events
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