Boon for D.C. Scholarships

The Gates Foundation is commiting $122 million to college scholarships and mentorships for D.C. students, to give them an incentive to stay in school, help them afford college, and help combat the District's high dropout rate. Unlike some major universities located in the D.C. Metro area, the Gates Foundation clearly seems to understand that D.C.'s public charter schools are public schools, too: students from Anacostia, Ballou, H.D. Woodson, Friendship Collegiate, Maya Angelou-Evans and Thurgood Marshall Academy will be eligible for scholarships. All of these schools are located in Wards 7 and 8, and three of them are charter schools.