Model Secondary School for the Deaf

Model Secondary School for the Deaf
800 Florida Ave NE Washington, D.C. United States
Information
Type	University-affiliated laboratory school [1]
Established	1969
NCES School ID	A9700911
Grades	9th through 12th
Enrollment	175
Student to teacher ratio	6:1
Colors	Red   White   Dark Blue [2]
Athletics conference	PVAC
Mascot	Eagle
Website	mssd.gallaudet.edu

The Model Secondary School (MSSD) is a residential four-year high school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students located on the Gallaudet University campus in Washington, D.C. ^{[3] [4]}

History

Prior to 1970, Kendall School for the Deaf served students from preschool to twelfth grade.

The Model Secondary School for the Deaf Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 15, 1966 (P.L. 89-694). In May 1969, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the President of Gallaudet College signed an agreement authorizing the establishment and operation of the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) at the College. MSSD is now located on the northeastern end of the Gallaudet University campus.

MSSD provides a tuition-free comprehensive day and residential four-year high school program for deaf and hard of hearing students from the United States and its territories. MSSD is fully accredited by two organizations:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf

MSSD is a demonstration school of the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center. Their Belief and Mission Statements can be viewed at the Clerc Center website. ^{[5] [6]}

Demographics

Race/Ethnicity as of 2021-2022 ^[1]

Group	Number of Students	Percentage
Total	101	100%
White	61	60.39%
Asian	9	8.91%
Hispanic	8	7.92%
Two or More Races	2	1.98%
Black	20	19.80%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	0	0.00%
American Indian/Alaska Native	1	0.99%

Campus and student body

The school is tuition-free and open only to residents of the United States and its territories. The school enrollment ranges from 160 to 180 students. Students are typically between ages 14 and 21. The majority of new students begin in the fall semester, but students are also admitted in the spring. An array of support services is available to all MSSD students, including a new signer program, communication support services, audiological services, counseling services, social work services, psychological services, and health services. MSSD students are expected to graduate ready for the challenges of adult life. ^[3]

See also

• List of boarding schools in the United States

38°54′27″N76°59′21.6″W / 38.90750°N 76.989333°W / 38.90750; -76.989333

References

1. "School Profile: MSSD" . Retrieved August 8, 2025.
2. "Gallaudet University Brand Book/Style Guide" (PDF). Gallaudet University. Gallaudet University Office of Communications and Public Relations. 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
3. Administrator, Website. "Model Secondary School for the Deaf - Laurent Clerc National Deaf". www.perceptions4people.org. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
4. "Model Secondary School for the Deaf". www.gallaudet.edu. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
5. "Clerc Center". Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
6. "About MSSD" . Retrieved 22 May 2018.

External links

• Official website