Delay Is Not Denial: The Anacostia High School Homecoming That Almost Didn’t Happen

November 5, 2025

A sewage backup caused by a construction project forced Anacostia High School in Southeast D.C. to relocate to a nearby middle school for a week, canceling planned Spirit Week activities and the November 1st homecoming game. The flooding, which affected the school cafeteria, resulted from problems with a pipe repair project being conducted by DC Water and Fort Myer Construction on the 1600 block of Fairlawn Avenue, where several homeowners had already experienced similar sewage issues. Students returned to their building on Tuesday and held a rescheduled homecoming football game that evening, with the Anacostia Indians defeating McKinley Technology High School 20-6.

Who is affected

Anacostia High School students, faculty, and staff
McKinley Technology High School Football team
Senior students (particularly senior athletes, cheerleaders, band members, and football players who need footage for college applications)
Anacostia Alumni Group members, specifically executive board member Antwan Jordan
At least seven homeowners in the Fairlawn community
D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8)
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners Jamila White, Tom Donahue, and Anthony Foreman
Anacostia High School Principal Kenneth Walker
Fairlawn Civic Association President Grace Pressbury
D.C. State Board of Education Representative LaJoy Johnson-Law (Ward 8)
DC Water and Fort Myer Construction employees
DCPS central office personnel
Kramer Middle School community

What action is being taken

Students are receiving opportunities to make up missed work
DCPS central office and Anacostia administrators are executing strategies to engage students, including an airpods raffle, a currently operating truancy pilot program, a Friday attendance celebration, and a club for students with 90% attendance rate
DC Water and Fort Myer Construction are installing cameras at every pump station, along with auto dialers and a triple charge to mitigate future situations
Teachers are utilizing digital platforms to upload work so students can access curriculum from their computers, phones, and home
The school community is in the process of planning and trying to get students' morale up and keep their spirits up
Alumni Group members are attending school events and pushing for more alumni involvement

Why it matters

This situation matters because it disrupted crucial high school experiences, particularly for seniors in their final year who depend on homecoming events and footage for college applications and memories. The sewage backup exposed infrastructure problems stemming from century-old piping systems that affect not only schools but also residential homes in the community. The incident resulted in a 20 percentage point decline in attendance and compromised students' sense of connection and joy related to school, which is especially important for those from challenging backgrounds who may not have other sources of encouragement during the holiday season. The event highlights systemic infrastructure challenges in D.C. and the vulnerability of educational institutions to utility failures, while also demonstrating the importance of community coordination and responsiveness during crises.

What's next

The school is soliciting donations to support make-up homecoming activities
Commissioner Foreman is exploring various means of connecting Anacostia High School students with the greater Fairlawn community, including potentially reviving the tradition of marching bands throughout the neighborhood (though this requires addressing needs for uniforms, instruments, and maintenance costs)
DC Water plans to continue investing in updating century-old infrastructure to prevent future failures
The Anacostia Alumni Group is pushing for increased alumni involvement with students, including college application preparation and career guidance

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer