Washington, D.C., will begin specialized programs at 13 campuses

From The Washington Post: Seeking to stanch declining enrollment and the exodus of students to charter schools, the Washington, D.C., school system is launching plans at 13 campuses for specialized programs in science and technology, arts and languages. Theme-based schools are a widely employed educational idea, and Washington, D.C., has several specialty high schools. What makes the new proposal different is that the "catalyst schools" will remain neighborhood schools open to all eligible students without an application or other admissions requirements.