(Below is an excerpt from the DoDEA website on the formation of the organization.) For more detailed information, please visit the official Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) website.

Shortly after the end of World War II, the United States military established schools for the children of its service men and women stationed in Europe and the Pacific. Schools for children of military members stationed at various bases in the United States were already well-established. First administered by the military branches they served, the growing number of schools was soon transferred to civilian managers, then organized into two separate but parallel systems: the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) in the United States. In 1994 the two systems were brought together under an umbrella agency, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

For a complete listing of the DoDDS and DDESS schools, visit the All Sites page of the DoDEA website.

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is a civilian agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. It is headed by a director who oversees all agency functions from DoDEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. DoDEA's schools are divided into three areas, each of which is managed by an area director. Within each of these three areas, schools are organized into districts headed by superintendents.

DoDEA operates 224 public schools in 21 districts located in 14 foreign countries, 7states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. All schools within DoDEA are fully accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies. Approximately 8,800 teachers serve DoDEA's 106,000 students. 73,500 students are enrolled in DoDDS schools, while approximately 33,000 attend DDESS schools.

Please also visit the DoDEA 2001-2006 Community Strategic Plan for information on our strategic direction.

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