District of Columbia Public Schools School District
School District · Washington, District of Columbia
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
116
79 elem, 14 mid, 20 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,629
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
116
79 elem, 14 mid, 20 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,629
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Evaluating District of Columbia Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge District of Columbia Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ross ES
Washington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
School-within-school at Goding
Washington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Maury ES
Washington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
District of Columbia rank
#6 of 17
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.3
above District of Columbia avg
Per-pupil spending
$31,629
+$2,549 vs District of Columbia median
District size
51,294 students
Much larger than District of Columbia median
The short answer
District of Columbia Public Schools ranks #6 of 17 District of Columbia districts by overall school rating. District of Columbia Public Schools's schools with real test data average 6.6/10 across 113 schools. Its top-rated schools are Ross ES (9.7/10), School-within-school at Goding (9.6/10), and Maury ES (9.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in District of Columbia Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (113 of 116). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ross ES | 9.7 / 10 |
| 2 | School-within-school at Goding | 9.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Maury ES | 9.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Brent ES | 9.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Hearst ES | 9.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Bruce-monroe ES at Park View | 9.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Garrison ES | 9.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Janney ES | 8.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Stoddert ES | 8.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Whittier ES | 8.8 / 10 |
See all 116 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About District of Columbia Public Schools
District of Columbia Public Schools serves 51,294 students across 117 schools, making it one of the most closely watched urban districts in the country. With 116 schools ranked on MySchoolScout, the district earns an average score of 6.5 out of 10 — a useful baseline as parents weigh individual school options against the broader landscape.
Elementary performance is where DCPS shows its strongest results. Hearst Elementary School leads the district with a 9.3 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked schools. Thomson ES follows at 8.9, with LaSalle-Backus ES at 8.8 and both Key ES and Janney ES rated 8.7. All five top performers are elementary schools, signaling that families with younger children have access to standout options well above the district average. The gap between Hearst's 9.3 and the district mean of 6.5 is significant — parents researching elementary placements should treat that spread as meaningful when prioritizing school visits and applications.
Geography matters in DCPS. The district spans all eight wards of Washington, D.C., and school quality varies considerably by neighborhood. The top-rated elementaries — Hearst, Janney, Key — are concentrated in upper Northwest neighborhoods, while Thomson and LaSalle-Backus serve other parts of the city. Parents outside those boundaries should check boundary rules carefully, since out-of-boundary enrollment is subject to availability and lottery timelines.
For families comparing DCPS against surrounding jurisdictions, the 6.5 district average reflects the challenge of serving a large, economically diverse urban population. The presence of multiple schools scoring above 8.5 shows real ceiling performers exist within the system. Parents should use individual school scores rather than the district average as their primary filter, cross-referencing test proficiency data, school climate reports, and any specialized programs each school offers. Visiting schools early in the fall — before lottery deadlines — gives families the clearest picture of fit.
District Map
Schools in District of Columbia Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in District of Columbia Public Schools with test data.
Schools in District of Columbia Public Schools
116 schools Elementary Schools 79
Middle Schools 14
High Schools 20
District Details
- State
- District of Columbia
- City
- Washington
- Total Enrollment
- 51,294
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4,564
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in District of Columbia Public Schools?
District of Columbia Public Schools has 116 schools in total — 79 elementary, 14 middle, and 20 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for District of Columbia Public Schools?
The average composite rating for District of Columbia Public Schools is 6.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in District of Columbia Public Schools?
District of Columbia Public Schools spends $31,629 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in District of Columbia Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in District of Columbia Public Schools is 11.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in District of Columbia Public Schools?
Ross ES is the highest-rated school in District of Columbia Public Schools with a composite score of 9.7/10.
What are the test scores in District of Columbia Public Schools?
Across schools in District of Columbia Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 32.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does District of Columbia Public Schools compare to other districts in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia Public Schools has an average school rating of 6.6/10 across 116 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in District of Columbia by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 32.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.6%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in DC
Compare District of Columbia Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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