Our History

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy was founded in 2003 by Dr. Linda McKay. Dr. McKay sought to give parents in DC's Ward 7 a choice for their children's educations. Dr. McKay was well aware of the lack of comprehensive programs in the area and wanted to offer families small class sizes, foreign language, art, music, and PE. In 2004, MMBDA opened its doors and it was well-received in the community. In its first couple of years, MMBDA found classroom spaces in churches, the Boys and Girls Club, and finally a portion of the former Slowe Elementary School Building. MMBDA was eventually given the opportunity to lease the entire Slowe Elementary School and the 54,000 square feet school become the MMBDA's permanent home.

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy serves students from the Brookland neighborhood and all over the city. We provide bus transportation so that we can be accessible to all families.