ENROLLED ORIGINAL
1
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
25-51
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
April 4, 2023
To recognize and honor Benjamin Banneker Academic High School for over 4 decades of
academic excellence and increasing national acclaim.
WHEREAS, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (“Banneker”), opened its doors
to students in August 1981;
WHEREAS, the school, designed as a highly selective neighborhood Junior High School
by founder Vincent Emory Reed, pays homage to Benjamin Banneker, an African -American
scientist, almanac author, inventor, surveyor, farmer, and scholar;
WHEREAS, Banneker has a well -documented history of preparing high school scholars
to be high preforming and meaningful contributors i n the world;
WHEREAS, they accomplish this goal by providing students with an academically
engaging curricula, college preparatory program, and varied developmental experiences;
WHEREAS, Banneker became an International Baccalaureate World School in 200 1;
WHEREAS, in 2022, Banneker received mentionable accolades , such as being ranked
number one in the District of Columbia High Schools, number two in Washington, D.C. Metro
Area High Schools, and an all-time high of 96
th
in National Rankings by U.S. News;
WHEREAS, t he U.S. Department of Education named Banneker as a Blue Ribbon
School in 1990, 1991, 2007 and 2017;
WHEREAS, in 2017, Newsweek highlighted Banneker as ranking 13 out of the top high
schools nationally in “ Beating the Odds”;
WHEREAS, in August 2021, Banne ker celebrated its 40
th
anniversary and was named a
Gold Medal School by U.S. News;
WHEREAS, in 2022, U.S. News named Banneker the Best High School in the District of
Columbia;
WHEREAS, Banneker has a l ong track record of setting the bar high and watching their
scholars surpass highly competitive benchmarks. ENROLLED ORIGINAL
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution be cited as the “Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Recognition Resolution of
2023.”
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes that Banneker cultivates the
talent of brilliant scholars from all 8 wards of the District of Columbia and realizes the fruit of
their work by the placement of many of their graduates in courtrooms, classrooms, science
laboratories, engineering and technological spaces, medical facilities, and other highly selective
professional arenas all over the world.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.