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High schools · Washington, D.C. · Updated for 2026 on NCES and D.C. data

Best High Schools in Washington, D.C.

52 high schools compared, ranked on the evidence each campus reports.

The fieldEvery ranked high school on the 1–10 scale.
Ranked schools run3.0Roosevelt Stay HSto8.7District of Columbia International Schoolon the one-to-ten scale.

52 ranked · top 25 from 5.9 to 8.7 · median 5.8

The brief

I'm choosing a school for

The top-rated high schools in Washington for 2026 are District of Columbia International School (8.7/10), Model Secondary School for the Deaf (8.7/10), and Basis Dc Pcs (8.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 52 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Washington, D.C.'s 40 ranked high schools span a wide range of outcomes, with an average composite score of 6.4 out of 10 across the city. That average, though, doesn't tell the full story — 15 schools, or 38% of the ranked pool, score 7 or higher, signaling a meaningful tier of strong performers worth a closer look. Leading the list is Washington Leadership Academy PCS at 8.3/10, followed by Capital City PCS - HS (8.0), Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering HS (7.9), and Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy (7.7). Public charter schools are well represented among the top finishers here, reflecting D.C.'s distinctively charter-heavy landscape. Use the table below to sort by score, school type, or other factors to identify the high schools that best match what your family is looking for.

Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.

  1. 1
    District of Columbia International SchoolDistrict of Columbia International School
    8.7
  2. 2
    Model Secondary School for the Deaf
    8.7
  3. 3
    Basis Dc PcsBasis Dc Pcs
    8.6
  4. 4
    School Without Walls HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schools
    8.3
  5. 5
    Washington Latin Pcs - Upper SchoolWashington Latin Pcs
    8.2
  6. 6
    Benjamin Banneker HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schools
    8.2
  7. 7
    Kirov Academy of Washington D.c.
    7.9
  8. 8
    Jackson-Reed HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schools
    7.6
  9. 9
    Bard HS Early College Dc (bard Dc)District of Columbia Public Schools
    7.3
  10. 10
    Ron Brown College Preparatory HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schools
    7.2
The ten highest-rated high schools in Washington, best first.MySchoolScout composite scores. Updated for 2026 on NCES and D.C. data.

All 52 ranked

Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.

Top 25 of 52

Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades
  1. 1District of Columbia International SchoolcharterDistrict of Columbia International Schoolrating 8.7students 1,619student-teacher ratio 10.7:1grades 6th–12th
  2. 2Model Secondary School for the Deafrating 8.7students 101student-teacher ratio 3.4:1grades 9th–12th
  3. 3Basis Dc PcscharterBasis Dc Pcsrating 8.6students 690student-teacher ratio 13.5:1grades 5th–12th
  4. 4School Without Walls HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 8.3students 599student-teacher ratio 16.2:1grades 9th–12th
  5. 5Washington Latin Pcs - Upper SchoolcharterWashington Latin Pcsrating 8.2students 356student-teacher ratio 9.1:1grades 9th–12th
  6. 6Benjamin Banneker HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 8.2students 671student-teacher ratio 17.7:1grades 9th–12th
  7. 7Kirov Academy of Washington D.c.rating 7.9students 77student-teacher ratio 7.3:1grades 6th–12th
  8. 8Jackson-Reed HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 7.6students 1,994student-teacher ratio 14.3:1grades 9th–12th
  9. 9Bard HS Early College Dc (bard Dc)District of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 7.3students 369student-teacher ratio 11.5:1grades 9th–12th
  10. 10Ron Brown College Preparatory HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 7.2students 161student-teacher ratio 5.8:1grades 9th–12th
  11. 11Edmund Burke Schoolrating 7.2students 333student-teacher ratio 7.6:1grades 6th–12th
  12. 12Friendship Pcs - Technology Preparatory HScharterFriendship Pcsrating 7.0students 327student-teacher ratio 7.8:1grades 9th–12th
  13. 13Mckinley Technology HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 6.9students 704student-teacher ratio 14.7:1grades 9th–12th
  14. 14Paul Pcs - International HScharterPaul Pcsrating 6.7students 438student-teacher ratio 9.1:1grades 9th–12th
  15. 15Girls Global Academy PcscharterGirls Global Academy Pcsrating 6.5students 210student-teacher ratio 8.1:1grades 9th–12th
  16. 16Columbia Heights Education CampusDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 6.4students 1,494student-teacher ratio 10.5:1grades 6th–12th
  17. 17E.l. Haynes Pcs - HScharterE.l. Haynes Pcsrating 6.3students 439student-teacher ratio 8.8:1grades 9th–12th
  18. 18Richard Wright Pcs for Journalism and Media ArtscharterRichard Wright Pcs For Journalism and Media Artsrating 6.3students 309student-teacher ratio 12.9:1grades 8th–12th
  19. 19The Field Schoolrating 6.3students 347student-teacher ratio 7.7:1grades 6th–12th
  20. 20Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 6.2students 310student-teacher ratio 10.3:1grades 9th–12th
  21. 21Anacostia HSDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 6.1students 244student-teacher ratio 7.9:1grades 9th–12th
  22. 22St Anselm's Abbey Schoolrating 6.1students 251student-teacher ratio 10.6:1grades 6th–12th
  23. 23Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public PolicycharterCesar Chavez Pcs For Public Policyrating 6.0students 399student-teacher ratio 9.3:1grades 6th–12th
  24. 24Kipp Dc Pcs - Legacy College Preparatory PcscharterKipp Dc Pcsrating 6.0students 495student-teacher ratio 10.3:1grades 9th–12th
  25. 25Duke Ellington School of the ArtsDistrict of Columbia Public Schoolsrating 5.9students 579student-teacher ratio 48.2:1grades 9th–12th

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 high schools in D.C.. Learn about our methodology.

The map

The top 25 pinned; open a pin for the campus.
The top 25 high schools in Washington, pinned and colored by score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Open the Washington DC school map

Campus by campus

What each of the top ten reports.
  1. 1

    District of Columbia International School

    District of Columbia International School

    1,619 students · 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th

    Top 8% in D.C. · charter

    Academics
    9.0
    Growth
    9.4
    Environment
    7.0
  2. 2

    Model Secondary School for the Deaf

    101 students · 3.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 1% in D.C.

    Academics
    not scored
    Growth
    not scored
    Environment
    not scored
  3. 3

    Basis Dc Pcs

    Basis Dc Pcs

    690 students · 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 5th–12th

    Top 10% in D.C. · charter

    Academics
    9.7
    Growth
    8.8
    Environment
    6.3
  4. 4

    School Without Walls HS

    District of Columbia Public Schools

    599 students · 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 13% in D.C.

    Academics
    10.0
    Growth
    6.1
    Environment
    6.9
  5. 5

    Washington Latin Pcs - Upper School

    Washington Latin Pcs

    356 students · 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 15% in D.C. · charter

    Academics
    9.4
    Growth
    7.2
    Environment
    7.2
  6. 6

    Benjamin Banneker HS

    District of Columbia Public Schools

    671 students · 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 15% in D.C.

    Academics
    9.8
    Growth
    6.4
    Environment
    6.0
  7. 7

    Kirov Academy of Washington D.c.

    77 students · 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–12th

    Top 13% in D.C.

    Academics
    not scored
    Growth
    not scored
    Environment
    not scored
  8. 8

    Jackson-Reed HS

    District of Columbia Public Schools

    1,994 students · 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 25% in D.C.

    Academics
    9.2
    Growth
    6.7
    Environment
    4.2
  9. 9

    Bard HS Early College Dc (bard Dc)

    District of Columbia Public Schools

    369 students · 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 27% in D.C.

    Academics
    6.8
    Growth
    9.8
    Environment
    1.7
  10. 10

    Ron Brown College Preparatory HS

    District of Columbia Public Schools

    161 students · 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 29% in D.C.

    Academics
    4.3
    Growth
    8.6
    Environment
    9.9

Questions

What is the best high school in Washington, D.C.?

According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, District of Columbia International School is the top-rated high school in Washington with a composite score of 8.7/10. 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 high schools are in Washington, D.C.?

Washington has 54 high schools, including 20 charter schools. Of these, 52 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.

What is the average high school rating in Washington?

Among 52 Washington high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.9/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in D.C.).

How does MySchoolScout rate high 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 high school rankings?

Washington has 20 charter high 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.

See all 302 schools in Washington

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