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Very Good

#52 of 240 schools in DC

Top 21% in state

Ida B. Wells MS

Middle School · District of Columbia Public Schools

405 Sheridan St. NW, Washington, DC 20011

Enrollment

540

Student-Teacher

11.5:1

Score

7.4

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Washington

#52 of 239

public schools

District of Columbia middle schools

#7 of 43

In district

#29 of 116

District of Columbia Public Schools

School environment

7.5 / 10

Very strong

About Ida B. Wells MS

Ida B. Wells MS serves 540 middle school students in grades 6 through 8 in Washington, D.C., with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1 supported by 47 full-time equivalent teachers. The school ranks #56 out of 240 schools in the District of Columbia, placing it in the 77th percentile statewide, and earns a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10.

Academically, the school shows mixed performance with 31% of students achieving proficiency or above in ELA/Reading, while mathematics presents an area with significant room for growth, with 12% of students meeting proficiency standards. Despite these challenges in math, the school's overall ranking suggests solid performance relative to other District schools. Located at 405 Sheridan St.

NW, Ida B. Wells MS sits in the 20011 ZIP code area, a well-educated community where 53% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The neighborhood reflects middle to upper-middle class demographics, with a median household income of $97,327 and median home values of $697,500.

The area maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 10.7% among its 67,127 residents. The school operates in an urban setting within one of Washington D.C.'s established residential neighborhoods.

Score Breakdown

Partial Profile · 2/3 metrics
Student ProgressNot Available

Requires 2+ years of test data

Academics7.4Very Good58%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12%
Reading/ELA Proficiency31%
Overall Proficiency22%
Expected (poverty-adj.)25%
vs. Expected-3.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile62th
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good42%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$27,425

Ida B. Wells MS — Students at Ida B. Wells MS score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

0.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores DC EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 12.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 31.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 2 test records from DC state assessments. About our data

How Ida B. Wells MS Compares

See how Ida B. Wells MS performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
79th percentile in DC
Academic
7.4/10
7.4/10
Environment
7.5/10
Above average

Location

405 Sheridan St. NW, Washington, DC 20011

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ida B. Wells MS may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Paul PCS - MS (rated 8.9/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Washington Latin PCS - MS (rated 7.1/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Capital City PCS - MS (rated 6.8/10, 0.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Coolidge HS Washington 0.0 mi 5.1
Whittier ES Washington 0.1 mi 5.3
Capital City PCS - Lower School Washington 0.5 mi 6.3
Capital City PCS - MS Washington 0.5 mi 6.8
Capital City PCS - HS Washington 0.5 mi 8.0
Paul PCS - MS Washington 0.5 mi 8.9
Paul PCS - International HS Washington 0.5 mi 5.8
Breakthrough Montessori PCS Washington 0.5 mi 6.2
Takoma ES Washington 0.6 mi 7.7
Center City PCS - Brightwood Washington 0.5 mi 6.0
Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle Washington 0.5 mi 4.4
Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary Washington 0.5 mi 5.5
Sela PCS Washington 0.7 mi 4.8
Brightwood ES Washington 0.7 mi 4.7
Roots PCS Washington 0.8 mi 9.4
Washington Latin PCS - MS Washington 0.9 mi 7.1
Washington Latin PCS - Upper School Washington 0.9 mi 6.9
Friendship PCS - Online Academy Washington 0.8 mi 3.2
Military Road Early Learning Center Washington 0.8 mi 6.8
Truesdell ES Washington 0.9 mi 4.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 20011 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$108,377

Median Home Value

$722,200

Median Rent

$1,636/mo

Population

66,951

College Educated

54.7%

Homeownership

53.9%

Avg Commute

32.3 min

Poverty Rate

10.1%

Median Age

37.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Ida B. Wells MS has a median household income of $108,377. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $722,200, with a median rent of $1,636/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.1%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
KIPP DC - Valor Academy PCS Washington, DC 7.4
Eliot-Hine MS Washington, DC 7.3
Hardy MS Washington, DC 7.6
Washington Latin PCS - MS Washington, DC 7.1
Capital City PCS - MS Washington, DC 6.8
E.L. Haynes PCS - MS Washington, DC 6.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ida B. Wells MS

What grades does Ida B. Wells MS serve?

Ida B. Wells MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Ida B. Wells MS?

Ida B. Wells MS has an enrollment of approximately 540 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ida B. Wells MS?

The student-teacher ratio at Ida B. Wells MS is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ida B. Wells MS rank in DC?

Ida B. Wells MS is ranked #52 out of 240 schools in DC.

What is Ida B. Wells MS's MySchoolScout rating?

Ida B. Wells MS has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ida B. Wells MS?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ida B. Wells MS has 12.0% math proficiency and 31.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Ida B. Wells MS a charter school?

No, Ida B. Wells MS is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ida B. Wells MS a Title I school?

No, Ida B. Wells MS is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
62 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
67 Good Transit
Bike Score
74 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,514/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Washington). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
540
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
47
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
District of Columbia
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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