From DC North, November 2003:

When Macfarland Junior High School opened in 1923, it was one of only two junior high schools built in the District. The other was its physical twin, Langley, built on T Street NE. The school, an exact replica of Langley Junior High School, was part of an experiment with the junior high school model, which was largely unknown in 1920s educational structures.

Although the model was a clear success, Macfarland's future was quite unclear when plans were first suggested for a junior high school at 4400 Iowa Ave. NW. Construction was stalled for months as engineers waited to find contractors to build at low cost. Contracts for both Langley and Macfarland were finally offered to Michael Serretto, who agreed to build the schools for $592,000, well below the $600,000 budgeted to the District by Congress. In exchange for a quick build, the District agreed to cut plans for an assembly hall from both schools.

Macfarland came into existence before the actual building housing the school was opened. In September1923, students began attending school at an alternate site and in November, Principal H.P. Stafford reported to the Board of Education, "Teachers and pupils moved to the new building carrying books and supplies, were assigned to rooms and desks, and within 30 minutes were hard at work."

The school opened officially in December 1923, with no dedication ceremony and half of the school unfinished. The original enrollment of the school was 415 pupils, drawn from the West and Petworth schools. The original borders of the school's district were east by the "Soldiers' Home," south by Rock Creek Church Road, west by Rock Creek Park, and north by Farragut Street. When the school was dedicated early the next year, Dr. Frank Ballou, superintendent f District schools, explained that the District was in the vanguard of public education by trying the junior high school model. The school was named for Henry Brown Floyd Macfarland, commissioner of the District of Columbia from 1900 to 1910, who also was a lawyer and newspaper owner.

By 1943, the school's 20th anniversary, several additions had been made to the school, totaling approximately $1 million. The auditorium and gymnasium were added as part of the school's expansion in 1925. A classroom wing on the south of the building was constructed in 1931. The school's population, which had steadily increased, surged to 1,364 students in 1934.

In the 1960s, Macfarland experimented with a cultural program designed to improve student performance. The six-year project introduced students to various colleges, theaters and museums in the city. The results of the Macfarland project convinced District officials to expand the plan to the entire school district. Macfarland students, doing their part to add to the protest mood of the '60s, organized a short-lived boycott of school lunches in 1969.

In 1983, Macfarland celebrated its 60th anniversary with a city resolution and a series of events. Among its noted alumni are Michael Morgan, composer and pianist, and the late Melvin Lindsay, WHUR-FM radio personality. The next year, the Roosevelt and Macfarland bands made history by being the first DC public school bands to be invited to play at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

In the late 1990s, Macfarland earned a unique distinction as the nation's first "School of Promise" under the America's Promise program. America's Promise, founded by Colin Powell, was created to serve at-risk youth in crucial areas of their lives. As a "School of Promise," Macfarland was slated to receive community support and donations to keep students in school. Macfarland also was the site of an initiative by school district officials to make DC schools more welcoming to Latinos and other immigrants. At Macfarland, more Spanish speakers were hired, and a Latino parents' group was formed. The initiative followed allegations from some Macfarland parents that accused the school administration of discrimination.

Now a middle school serving grades 6-8, Macfarland continues to benefit from several community partnerships including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Fulbright & Jaworski law firm, the Latin American Youth Center, and the US Department of Education. The school also uses the America's Choice reading program, designed to rapidly increase reading levels for all students. Students can choose from a plethora of extracurricular activities, including Families and Students Working Together (F.A.S.T.), Big Brothers Big Sisters, and several leadership programs.