A Night Worth Looking Back On: Celebrating the DC Students Succeed Community

Progress for DC students is something worth celebrating and this year, we had plenty to celebrate.

More than 90 policymakers, Parent Leaders, system leaders, school leaders, advocates, and partners came together for our annual DC Students Succeed celebration, marking a year of meaningful wins for students and schools across the District.

One of the highlights of the evening was presenting the inaugural DC’s Path to Progress Leadership Award to Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, Councilmember Zachary Parker, and Chairman Phil Mendelson. Their leadership helped keep students at the center of the FY27 budget and secure investments that will make a difference in schools across DC.

The evening gave us a chance to celebrate those wins, recognize the people behind them, and spend time with so many of the leaders and partners who share our belief in what’s possible for DC students.

At the heart of DC Students Succeed is a simple vision: that every student has access to excellent educators, equitable school funding, joyful and modern learning environments, strong academic opportunities, and the support they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

To everyone who joined us, supported this work, and continues to show up for DC students and schools: thank you.

We’re incredibly grateful for all that we’ve accomplished together - and for the people who made this night, and this progress, worth celebrating. Here’s to carrying that energy forward and creating even more wins for DC students!