A School-Based Health Center (SBHC) provides comprehensive primary care services in a school year-round. There are seven (7) SBHCs in the District of Columbia that the DC Health oversees. A SBHC can serve as a student’s primary health care provider or supplement the services they would normally receive. Each SBHC offers medical, oral, social and mental health services, and education to enrolled students, and to the children of enrolled students. SBHC staff can also provide referrals to specialty care, community providers and other programs that coordinate to ensure every student receives the care they need to lead healthier lives.
Services Provided:
- Primary and Preventive Care
- Well Child Visits
- Physicals
- Immunizations
- Chronic Disease Management
- Nutrition Counseling
- Acute Care
- Substance Abuse Screening
- Family Planning
- Pregnancy Testing
- Prenatal Care
- Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Counseling and Treatment
- Behavioral Health
- Mental Health Services
- Oral Health
- Examination
- Cleaning
- Education and Counseling
- Sealants
SBHCs are offering in-person and telemedicine visits. Contact the staff at the SBHC in which you are enrolled to get more information on these new services.
If you are looking to receive information about obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine or other general information pertaining to COVID-19, you can click on the link provided here.
Contact Information for DC SBHCs:
Anacostia Senior High School
1601 16th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20020
(202) 724-5529
Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday and Alternate Wednesdays (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
Ballou Senior High School
3401 4th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20032
(202) 645-3843
Hours of Operation: Monday and Tuesday (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
Cardozo Learning Center
1200 Clifton Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 727-5148
Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
Coolidge Senior High School & Ida B. Wells Middle School
6315 5th Street, NW
405 Sheridan St, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 847-4077
Hours of Operation: Temporarily Closed
Dunbar Senior High School
101 N Street, NW
Washington DC 20011
(202) 724-4086
Hours of Operation: Wednesday and Friday (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
Roosevelt Senior High School
4301 13th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 727-6333
Hours of Operation: Tuesday and Friday, alternate Wednesdays (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
Woodson Senior High School
540 55th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20019
(202) 724-2287
Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (8:00 am–4:30 pm)
DC Health partners with the following health care providers:
- MedStar Research Institute at Anacostia SHS & Roosevelt SHS
- Children’s National Hospital (CNH) at Ballou SHS, & Dunbar SHS
- Unity Health Care, Inc. at Cardozo EC & HD Woodson SHS
- Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. (Mary’s Center) at Coolidge SHS and Ida B. Wells MS
School-Based Health Center Fact Sheet
School-Based Health Center FAQs
When are SBHCs open and what are the hours?
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00am–4:30pm (open during lunch periods).
Following the DCPS closure and holiday schedule, SBHCs are open year-round (SBHCs run under a modified schedule during summer school and seasonal breaks if appropriate security measures are available). An on-call physician is available when the SBHC is closed (e.g., from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekdays, weekends and holidays) and facilitate emergency room referrals of students as needed.
Who can receive services at a SBHC?
Any student currently enrolled at the high school or the children of those students. After graduation, seniors can use the health center through the first week of August. After that time period SBHC staff will assist students with transitioning to another health care provider.
Can I still go to my regular doctor’s office?
Yes. SBHCs can either supplement existing services received from a student’s primary health care provider or serve as a student’s regular health provider. SBHCs offer the convenience of a doctor’s visit without missing an entire day of school or requiring a parent to miss work. SBHC staff communicate with your regular doctor to keep them informed of treatments provided at the SBHC
How do I sign up?
When you enroll in school, you can obtain SBHC enrollment forms from the school’s registrar. The forms are also available in the “Attachments” section at the bottom of this webpage. A minor of any age may consent to use the SBHC for confidential services. These services may include family planning, pregnancy testing, STD and HIV testing and treatment, substance abuse concerns and mental health concerns. Please consult the Minor Consent Law for more information.
Is it true that students don’t pay?
YES! Students DO NOT directly pay for services.
If a student has medical insurance, the insurance company may be billed where applicable.
We do not send bills or letters home for confidential services.
If a student does not have medical insurance, a case manager is able to help students apply for it.
What if there’s an emergency?
If a new student needs to be seen at a SBHC for either confidential services or an emergency service, enrollment into SBHC services will be completed by SBHC staff. Parents/Guardians will be contacted for verbal consent in the case of an emergency. Students seeking confidential services will be able to self-consent.
