John Francis Education Campus: A Legacy of Education and Community in Washington, D.C.
The John Francis Education Campus (John Francis EC), formerly Francis Junior High School and before that Stevens Elementary School, stands as a testament to the evolution of education in Washington, D.C., particularly for the African American community. From its origins in the late 19th century to its modern incarnation, the campus has adapted to meet the changing needs of its students and the surrounding neighborhood. The campus is located in Washington, D.C.’s.
Early History and the Segregated School System
The story of John Francis EC is intertwined with the history of segregation in the District of Columbia's public schools. The Advanced Grammar School for Boys was established in 1877 and then combined with a similar school for girls in 1882 to form Washington High School, the first high school in the city. In 1890, the High School was split into three.
In 1939, Superintendent Frank Ballou, writing on behalf of the Board of Education of the District of Columbia (now the District of Columbia State Board of Education), denied contralto Marian Anderson's request to sing at the segregated white Central High School auditorium. He cited a federal law from 1906 that required separate schools for the District as justification. Zora Neale Hurston criticized Eleanor Roosevelt for remaining silent about the Board's exclusion of Anderson, even after Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution in protest. Hurston pointed out that Congress, predominantly Democratic at the time, controlled the District of Columbia and was responsible for the racial bias.
Stevens Elementary School, established in 1868, holds the distinction of being one of the first publicly funded schools for Black children in the city. Before its closure in June 2008, it stood as the oldest school in continuous operation within the District.
Francis Junior High School: A Purpose-Built Institution
In response to population growth and overcrowded classrooms, new school construction in the District accelerated during the interwar period. This construction was spurred by the Five-Year School Building Program Act of 1925.
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Following the establishment of junior high schools in the District, Shaw Junior High School - which first occupied the former M Street High School building, followed by the former McKinley Manual Traing School building - opened in 1919-20. Shaw was the first junior high school for DC's African American students. Francis Junior High School, which was completed in 1927 and dedicated the following year, was the District's first purpose-built junior high for African Americans. Two years later, in 1929, Garnet-Patterson Junior High School was completed and became the second purpose-built junior high for African Americans.
In 1927, Francis Junior High School was constructed to cater to underprivileged Black students from Foggy Bottom and Georgetown. The original building, a Renaissance Revival design by DC Municipal Architect Albert L. Harris (known for his Renaissance Revival and Colonial Revival designs), was completed in 1927 and dedicated the following year. Many public buildings are attributed to Harris. The school is named for Dr. John R. Francis (1856-1913), who was an African American physician, DC Board of Education member, and Howard University Trustee.
The oldest part of the John Francis Educational Campus, was designed by Harris and dates to 1927-29. It consists of four, three-story wings surrounding a two-story auditorium - all clad in brick masonry. The primary elevation and main entrance, located on the south wing, face N Street NW. The first floor of this elevation is clad in limestone. The south wing, at three-stories tall; east and west wings, both originally at two-stories in height; and auditorium were completed in 1927. Two years later, an additional floor was added to the east and west wings, and the north wing, at three-stories tall, was completed, enclosing the auditorium on all sides. In addition to its modern auditorium, the school featured vocational classrooms.
School buildings constructed in phases, referred to as "extensible," were common in DC at the time. This approach, which came in three styles/layouts, allowed for additions as needed, due to student population increases, and as funding permitted.
With the exception of the addition of a gymnasium in the 1950s, the Francis school today is the same as it was in the 1920s. A compatible, two-story addition, connecting to the east elevation of the original building, was designed by DC Municipal Architect Merrell Coe and completed in 1953. Over 70 years later, in 2024, a three-story addition was completed just to the west of the 1927-29 building, and the 1953 addition was expanded. The expansion of the 1953 addition resulted in a new, enclosed courtyard ("outdoor classroom").
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The Surrounding Neighborhood and Urban Development
The location of John Francis EC is also significant in the context of Washington, D.C.'s urban development. The campus is situated near Francis Field. In the early 1900s, the West End, where Francis Field is located, was one of the poorest areas of Washington. The wealthy built homes closer to the White House and the Capitol building. Others exploited the vacant lots and open area in the center of the square for the dumping of ash and other debris.
The McMillan Commission proposed improving the park system of the District, including the Rock Creek valley between Pennsylvania Avenue and Q Street, where Francis Field is located. They favored an "open valley" plan with a scenic parkway isolated from urbanization by trees and open space. This would prevent parkway users from seeing unsightly structures like smokestacks and industrial buildings. This concept of buildings "facing the parkway" would serve several functions.
In 1927 construction began on Square 23 for a junior high school for "colored" students. Contrary to Olmsted's plans, it was built with its back end facing the proposed parkway. The school and the pool were named for Dr. John R. Francis (1856-1913), an African-American physician who was a former member of the District's Board of Education. He was a distinguished member of the Washington, DC, community, an associate of Booker T. Washington, and a pallbearer at the funeral of Frederick Douglass.
Modernization and the John Francis Education Campus
After promoting its last class of 9th graders at the close of the 2006-2007 school year, Francis became a middle school after DC Public Schools decided to move all 9th graders out of junior highs to the senior high schools. At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, students stepped into a new modernized facility.
Since 2024, the school has been known as the John Francis Educational Campus. This followed school consolidations in the early 21st century, including the closure of Thaddeus Stevens School.
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MGAC had the privilege of providing project management services to modernize the 160,000 SF campus, which opened its doors to students in December of 2024. The Browne Education Campus is situated in Washington, DC’s Carver-Langston neighborhood, nestled against the west side of Langston Golf Course and just south of the National Arboretum. The neighborhood’s name pays tribute to two prominent figures: George Washington Carver, a prominent Black scientist and inventor, and John Mercer Langston, the first dean of Howard University Law School and the first African American elected to Congress from Virginia. Langston Golf Course, which opened in 1939, was the first in the United States to welcome Black golfers and became a gathering place for several notable African Americans.
John Francis EC offers a series of Specials courses for all students in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle School. Our content specialists take time to integrate Visual and Performing arts, Music, Library/Media services, Spanish, Latin, Health, and Physical Education into their daily instruction to help educate the whole child. Teachers work diligently to enhance the SEL environment by linking content and skills from various disciplines. This balanced curriculum allows students to transfer and connect ideas and concepts throughout the school day and beyond the walls of our school.
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