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Average

#151 of 240 schools in DC

Ballou HS

High School · District of Columbia Public Schools

3401 4th St. SE, Washington, DC 20032

Enrollment

585

Student-Teacher

9.8:1

Score

5.8

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

District of Columbia schools

#151 of 240

In Washington

#151 of 240

public schools

In district

#80 of 116

District of Columbia Public Schools

School environment

9.9 / 10

Excellent

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Ballou HS

5.8/10

High School in Washington · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ballou Stay HS

4.1/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Simon ES

4.5/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ballou HS

Ballou HS is a public high school in Washington, DC, part of District of Columbia Public Schools. Ballou HS serves approximately 585 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 9.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Ballou HS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #151 of 240 schools in DC.

Structured state assessment records for Ballou HS show 9% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 11% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 5.9
  • DC avg 5.9

What Parents Should Know

At 9.8:1 students to teachers, Ballou HS sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-1.52 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics1.9Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency0.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency14% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
Reading vs. State Avg-23.8 pts
Overall Proficiency7% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING), Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)31% (model expectation from 2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
vs. Expected-24.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile4th
College Readiness6.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate72%
AP Participation14.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$31,629

Ballou HS — Students at Ballou HS score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Test Scores DC OSSE DC CAPE school-level (% Meeting or Exceeding) (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 8.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 10.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
37.8% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))

Based on 25 test records from DC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
20%
ELA
25%
2010
Math
19%
ELA
22%
2011
Math
22%
ELA
20%
2012
Math
20%
ELA
15%
2013
Math
16%
ELA
16%
2014
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2015
Math
0.5%
ELA
3%
2016
Math
0.5%
ELA
9%
2017
Math
0.5%
ELA
2.5%
2018
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2019
Math
2.5%
ELA
2.5%
2022
Math
0.5%
ELA
5%
2025
ELA
14%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.7/10.

How Ballou HS Compares

See how Ballou HS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
38th percentile in DC
Academic
1.9/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
9.9/10
Excellent
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.8
Sports
9
4 boys' · 5 girls'
Advanced STEM
4/5
Subjects offered

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
14.5% participation·State avg: 2.8 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics9sports offered
4 boys'·5 girls'·10 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses4 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

3401 4th St. SE, Washington, DC 20032

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ballou HS may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory HS (rated 7.0/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS (rated 6.0/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Ballou STAY HS (rated 4.1/10), a more accessible option. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Ballou STAY HS Washington 0.0 mi 4.1
Simon ES Washington 0.2 mi 4.5
Hart MS Washington 0.2 mi 5.7
Center City PCS - Congress Heights Washington 0.3 mi 8.7
King ES Washington 0.3 mi 4.2
KIPP DC - Honor Academy PCS Washington 0.4 mi 5.2
KIPP DC - Pride Academy PCS Washington 0.4 mi 6.2
KIPP DC - Inspire Academy PCS Washington 0.4 mi 7.3
KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS Washington 0.5 mi 6.0
Eagle Academy PCS - Congress Heights Washington 0.5 mi 2.2
Hendley ES Washington 0.7 mi 5.5
Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS - Wahler Place ES Washington 0.6 mi 6.6
Digital Pioneers Academy PCS - Johenning Washington 0.6 mi 6.0
Friendship PCS - Southeast Elementary Washington 0.7 mi 4.9
Friendship PCS - Southeast Middle Washington 0.7 mi 7.2
Friendship PCS - Technology Preparatory HS Washington 0.7 mi 7.0
Early Childhood Academy PCS Washington 0.7 mi 7.0
Patterson ES Washington 0.9 mi 6.7
ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC Washington 0.9 mi 6.2
LEARN DC PCS Washington 0.8 mi 8.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20032 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$48,146

Median Home Value

$391,400

Median Rent

$1,285/mo

Population

38,828

College Educated

23.3%

Homeownership

22.4%

Avg Commute

36.3 min

Poverty Rate

24.3%

Median Age

34.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
H.D. Woodson HS Washington, DC 5.8
Washington Leadership Academy PCS Washington, DC 5.8
Duke Ellington School of the Arts Washington, DC 5.9
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy Washington, DC 6.0
KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS Washington, DC 6.0
Friendship PCS - Collegiate Academy Washington, DC 5.5

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
64 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
64 Good Transit
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
585
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
60
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
District of Columbia
4-Year Graduation
72.0%

District

District of Columbia Public Schools
District Enrollment
51,294
Schools in District
117
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,629
District Rank
#80 of 116

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