Digital Pioneers Academy PCS

Digital Pioneers Academy (DPA) is the first computer science focused middle and high school in Washington, DC, primarily serving students in Wards 7 and 8. We are committed to developing the next generation of innovators in a community where everyone feels known, loved and respected. Athletics are a critical component of our enrichment programming and character building efforts. Our students and families have repeatedly asked for a DPA Football Program, especially following the successful launch of our boys and girls basketball and cheer programs this year. Next year, we will offer competitive football for the first time in honor of three community members we lost this year.

Over the course of 65 days earlier this school year, our community lost Antione Manning (DPA Class of 2026) and Jakhi Snider (DPA Class of 2025) to gun violence, and one of our beloved teachers, Mr. Keenan Anderson. Mr. Anderson died while in LAPD custody, suffering cardiac arrest after being forcibly restrained and repeatedly tased by police following a traffic accident. Antione (ClockBoyz), Jakhi (Woodland Tigers) and Mr. Anderson (New Mexico Highlands University) each played and benefitted from participating in a competitive football program.

In their honor and memory, we are eager to launch the DPA Pythons Football Program. Our football team will have 60+ DPA student athletes on the roster, and will compete against other public and charter school programs in Washington, DC.

To launch our program, we are seeking contributions to support both one time start-up costs, and estimated annual costs of launching and running our Pythons Football Program for its first five years. We recently received an incredible $100,000 donation from the Players Coalition and hope to raise an additional $175,000 in support of our program.