Student Fights Lead to Change in Start, End Times for 2 DC High Schools

Students at two D.C. high schools will soon have new start and end times because of fights between students, D.C. Public Schools said.

In a letter sent to parents of students at Dunbar High School and McKinley Technology Education Campus on Tuesday, D.C. Public Schools said there "has been an uptick in inappropriate behavior" on the route students take between the schools and nearby Metro stations.

DCPS said most fights have happened at the NoMa-Gallaudet U and Rhode Island Avenue Metro stations. One man recently reported he was attacked and robbed by a group of teens at the NoMa-Gallaudet U station.

Staggered arrival and dismissal times will start at each school on Monday, April 25. The school system said the staggered timing will allow a 20-minute gap between McKinley's dismissal and Dunbar's dismissal, leading to fewer students heading to Metro stations at the same time.

D.C. police visited the homes of students involved in fights to speak with their parents, DCPS said.

The letter said officials from both schools were working with Roving Leaders, a division of Parks and Recreation, to set up mediations between students who get into fights or incite fights.

DCPS is partnering with D.C. police, the Department of Parks and Recreation and PTAs from both schools to discuss solutions.