The brief
The top-rated elementary schools in Washington for 2026 are Ross ES (9.7/10), School-Within-School at Goding (9.6/10), and Maury ES (9.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 134 elementary schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Washington, D.C. has 145 ranked elementary schools, giving families a wide field to navigate. Quality varies considerably across that field — the average composite score sits at 6.2/10, yet 47 schools clear the 7/10 threshold, meaning roughly one in three delivers well above-average performance. DC Bilingual PCS leads the metro at 9.5/10, followed closely by Roots PCS at 9.4 and Hearst ES at 9.3, signaling that both public charter and traditional district schools can reach the top tier. Charter schools make up a significant share of the strongest performers here, a reflection of D.C.'s unusually active charter sector. The gap between the district's top and middle is real, so school-by-school data matters more than neighborhood assumptions. Use the table below to sort by score, school type, or other factors and identify the options that fit your child's needs.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
- 19.7
- 29.6
- 39.4
- 49.4
- 59.4
- 69.2
- 79.1
- 88.9
- 98.9
- 108.9
All 134 ranked
Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.Top 25 of 134
Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades- 1Ross ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 182student-teacher ratio 9.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 2School-Within-School at GodingDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 325student-teacher ratio 10.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 3Maury ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 549student-teacher ratio 14.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 4Brent ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 421student-teacher ratio 12.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 5Hearst ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 337student-teacher ratio 11.6:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 6Bruce-Monroe ES at Park ViewDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 436student-teacher ratio 10.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 7Garrison ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 389student-teacher ratio 10.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 8Stoddert ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 447student-teacher ratio 13.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 9Janney ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 684student-teacher ratio 12.7:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 10Sela PcscharterSela Pcsstudents 285student-teacher ratio 7.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 11Whittier ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 413student-teacher ratio 9.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 12Payne ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 376student-teacher ratio 13.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 13Dorothy I. Height ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 396student-teacher ratio 8.8:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 14Inspired Teaching Demonstration PcscharterInspired Teaching Demonstration Pcsstudents 522student-teacher ratio 12.1:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 15Shepherd ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 363student-teacher ratio 12.1:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 16Bancroft ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 768student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 17Center City Pcs - Congress HeightscharterCenter City Pcsstudents 243student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades Pre-K–8th
- 18Burroughs ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 297student-teacher ratio 9.9:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 19Ludlow-Taylor ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 488student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 20Lafayette ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 933student-teacher ratio 15.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 21Tyler ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 565student-teacher ratio 12.3:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 22Marie Reed ESDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsstudents 452student-teacher ratio 11.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 23Dc Bilingual PcscharterDc Bilingual Pcsstudents 579student-teacher ratio 8.4:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 24Two Rivers Pcs - Young EScharterTwo Rivers Pcsstudents 378student-teacher ratio 13.0:1grades Pre-K–5th
- 25Dc Prep Pcs - Anacostia EScharterDc Prep Pcsstudents 423student-teacher ratio 13.2:1grades Pre-K–3rd
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and D.C. education department. Rankings are relative to all public elementary schools in D.C.. Learn about our methodology.
The map
The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.Campus by campus
What each of the top ten reports.- 1
Ross ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
182 students · 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.7
- 2
School-Within-School at Goding
District of Columbia Public Schools
325 students · 10.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 9.5
- Environment
- 9.7
- 3
Maury ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
549 students · 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.6
- Growth
- 9.7
- Environment
- 8.4
- 4
Brent ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
421 students · 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 1% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.8
- Growth
- 9.3
- Environment
- 9.3
- 5
Hearst ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
337 students · 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 2% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.7
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.5
- 6
Bruce-Monroe ES at Park View
District of Columbia Public Schools
436 students · 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in D.C.
- Academics
- 8.8
- Growth
- 9.4
- Environment
- 9.1
- 7
Garrison ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
389 students · 10.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 3% in D.C.
- Academics
- 8.9
- Growth
- 9.2
- Environment
- 9.2
- 8
Stoddert ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
447 students · 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 4% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 8.4
- Environment
- 8.9
- 9
Janney ES
District of Columbia Public Schools
684 students · 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 4% in D.C.
- Academics
- 9.9
- Growth
- 8.1
- Environment
- 9.5
- 10
Sela Pcs
Sela Pcs
285 students · 7.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades Pre-K–5th
Top 5% in D.C. · charter
- Academics
- 8.6
- Growth
- 9.0
- Environment
- 8.9
Questions
What is the best elementary school in Washington, D.C.?
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Ross ES is the top-rated elementary school in Washington with a composite score of 9.7/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
How many elementary schools are in Washington, D.C.?
Washington has 175 elementary schools, including 67 charter schools. Of these, 168 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
What is the average elementary school rating in Washington?
Among 168 Washington elementary schools with a composite score, the average is 6.5/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in D.C.).
How does MySchoolScout rate elementary schools?
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within D.C., so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in D.C., not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Are charter schools included in the Washington elementary school rankings?
Washington has 67 charter elementary schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
How should I use this ranking?
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Explore more
- Best middle schools in Washington2026 rankings and ratings
- Best high schools in Washington2026 rankings and ratings
- All 300 schools in WashingtonElementary, middle and high
- D.C. schoolsStatewide rankings and city comparisons
- Our methodologyHow we calculate school ratings