Average
#151 of 240 schools in DC
Ballou HS
High School · District of Columbia Public Schools · Washington, DC
A District of Columbia Public Schools high school where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3401 4th St. SE, Washington, DC 20032
- Math 1% proficient (2022)
- Reading 14% vs DC 38% (2025)
- 72.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Ballou HS score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).
2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING) proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. DC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2018, reaching 14% in 2025.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 11% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
Based on 25 test records from DC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Ballou HS sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Washington DC map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 64Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 64Good Transit
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,514/100K
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FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Washington), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$48,146
Median home value
$391,400
Median rent
$1,285/mo
College educated
23.3%
Homeownership
22.4%
Poverty rate
24.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20032; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballou Stay HSEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 9–12 | 0.0 mi | 453 | Compare → |
| Kipp Dc Pcs - Legacy College Preparatory PcsCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.0 | 9–12 | 0.5 mi | 495 | Compare → |
| Friendship Pcs - Technology Preparatory HSCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.0 | 9–12 | 0.7 mi | 327 | Compare → |
| Bard HS Early College Dc (bard Dc)Enrollment path unverified | 7.3 | 9–12 | 0.9 mi | 369 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
District of Columbia Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 117
- Rank in district
- #80 of 116
- District spending per student
- $31,629NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ballou HS is listed in District of Columbia Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ballou HS
Ballou HS is a public high school in Washington, DC, part of District of Columbia Public Schools, serving approximately 585 students in grades 9th-12th with a 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #151 of 240 schools in DC. State assessment records show 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 11% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ballou HS
What grades does Ballou HS serve?
Ballou HS serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Ballou HS?
Ballou HS has an enrollment of approximately 585 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballou HS?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballou HS is 9.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ballou HS rank in DC?
Ballou HS ranks #151 of 240 schools in DC.
What is Ballou HS's MySchoolScout rating?
Ballou HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ballou HS?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ballou HS has 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 11% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ballou HS a charter school?
No, Ballou HS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ballou HS a Title I school?
No, Ballou HS is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 585
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 60
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- District of Columbia
- Phone
- (202) 645-3400
- 4-Year Graduation
- 72.0%
- Area population (ZIP 20032)
- 38,828
- Area average commute
- 36.3 min
- Area median age
- 34.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING) · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING). A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 20032; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022, multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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