Screen Reader Mode Icon

1. Academy General Information

The Words Beats & Life Academy is a free after-school program that uses Hip-Hop to inspire creativity, confidence, and career exploration for young people ages 8 to 18 who live in Washington, DC.
Whether your child is into music, dance, poetry, art, or just figuring out what they love, the Academy is a place where they can learn new skills, make friends, and be mentored by professional artists who care. Our classes are fun, hands-on, and rooted in Hip-Hop culture, helping students grow as artists, students, and leaders.
We teach more than just the elements of Hip-Hop — we also help young people see a future for themselves in college, careers, and the creative world. Throughout the year, students will perform, showcase their art, build portfolios, and take part in events that highlight their hard work and talent.
If you're looking for a program where your child can be seen, supported, and challenged to grow — we invite you to apply today.

Once you submit this form you are enrolled in the Academy.

The 2025-2026 Words Beats & Life Academy will operate in various schools as a series over three program blocks:

Fall: September 22, 2025- December 15, 2025 (3:30pm-6:30pm)
Winter: January 8, 2026- April 12, 2026 (3:30pm-6:30pm)
Spring: April 22, 2026- June 14, 2026. (3:30pm-6:30pm)

Meeting Times
If after school, classes meet Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM unless specified differently based on school site.

Students can come and choose from a variety of fun, hands-on art classes in Hip-Hop, music, dance, visual arts, and more. In addition to exploring creative disciplines like music, dance, poetry, and visual art, students also take classes in entrepreneurship, project planning, and social media content development. These sessions are designed to help students build real-world skills, develop their creative portfolios, and explore future careers in the arts and beyond.

Classes & Locations
Dunbar High School - Tuesday through Thursday
Beat Making/Music Production (Tues/Thurs),
Photography (Tues)
DJing (Weds)
Poetry (Weds)
Kelly Miller Middle School - Monday through Wednesday
Beat Making/ Music Production (Mon)
Manga Art (Tues)
Songwriting (Weds)
Podcasting
Sousa Middle School - Monday through Thursday
Graffiti/Comic Book Making (Mon/Tues)
Face & Body Painting (Weds)
Podcasting & Gaming (Thurs)
Johnson Middle School - Monday through Thursday
Face & Body Painting (Mon/Tues)
Stop Motion Photography (Wed)
Graffiti/Comic Book Making (Thurs)
Hart Middle School - Monday through Thursday
Face & Body Painting (Mon./Wed./Thurs.)
DJing (Mon./Tues.)
Stop Motion Photography (Thurs.)
Podcasting

Question Title

* 1. Which day(s) are you enrolling in?

Question Title

* 2. Why have you chosen to enroll in the Words Beats and Life Academy?

Question Title

* 3. Who is filling out the form?

Question Title

* 4. Student Name

Question Title

* 5. DCPS ID Number

Question Title

* 6. Student Date of Birth

Date

Question Title

* 7. Is the student being enrolled 18 years of age or older?

Question Title

* 8. Parent/Guardian Name

Question Title

* 9. Parent/Guardian Phone Number

Question Title

* 10. Parent/Guardian Email

Question Title

* 11. Home/Mailing Address

Question Title

* 12. Ward of Residence (If a DC Resident)

Question Title

* 13. School Attending/Attended (Including home schools)

Question Title

* 14. What is your current grade for 2025-2026?

Question Title

* 15. If you are currently attending school, what is your current GPA

Question Title

* 16. Does your family qualify for any of these programs ?

Question Title

* 17. What is your gender?

Question Title

* 18. Race/Ethnic Identity

Question Title

* 19. Shirt Size

Question Title

* 20. How did you hear about the Academy?

0 of 28 answered
 

T