In 2011–12, Sojourner Truth and Charles Drew will expand to 9-11th grades, while Frederick Douglass will only be seniors.

In 2012–13, Sojourner Truth and Charles Drew will be fully operational 9-12th grade academies, and Frederick Douglass will no longer exist.

This setup is based on the Small Learning Community (SLC) model.

Built in 1935, with subsequent additions in the 1940s, 50s, and 70s, the Anacostia High School was in desperate need of a complete renovation and modernization that would not only bring the school up to the highest educational standards but would also serve to transform the school building into a simple, understated canvas for the art and lives of its students.

On June 11, 2010, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama gave the commencement address to the Class of 2010.