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Excellent

#42 of 240 schools in DC

Top 17% in state

Lasalle-backus ES

Elementary School · District of Columbia Public Schools

501 Riggs Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20011

Enrollment

261

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

District of Columbia schools

#42 of 240

In Washington

#42 of 240

public schools

In district

#25 of 116

District of Columbia Public Schools

Academic growth

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Lasalle-backus ES

8.1/10

Elementary School in Washington · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Dc Bilingual Pcs

8.3/10

Washington, DC. Compare side by side with Lasalle-backus ES before ruling this option in or out.

Hearst ES

9.4/10

Washington, DC. Compare side by side with Lasalle-backus ES before ruling this option in or out.

About Lasalle-backus ES

Lasalle-backus ES is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, part of District of Columbia Public Schools. Lasalle-backus ES serves approximately 261 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Lasalle-backus ES has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #42 of 240 schools in DC.

Structured state assessment records for Lasalle-backus ES show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 6.8
  • DC avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 8.4:1 students to teachers, Lasalle-backus ES sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

32% of students at Lasalle-backus ES were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.6Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-0.25 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.6Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency30.5% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
Reading/ELA Proficiency28.4% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
Math vs. State Avg-2.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-9.4 pts
Overall Proficiency29% (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-1.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile64th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$31,629
Chronic Absenteeism31.8%

Lasalle-backus ES — Students at Lasalle-backus ES score 29% 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 24.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
33.2% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
ELA Proficiency 27.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
37.4% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))

Based on 32 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
38%
ELA
43%
2010
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2011
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2014
Math
8%
ELA
11%
2015
Math
16%
ELA
14%
2016
Math
16%
ELA
15%
2017
Math
18%
ELA
21%
2018
Math
18%
ELA
32%
2019
Math
18%
ELA
32%
2022
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2025
Math
31.2%
ELA
28.4%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.6/10.

How Lasalle-backus ES Compares

See how Lasalle-backus ES performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.1/10
83th percentile in DC
Academic
7.6/10
Very Good
Growth
8.6/10
Excellent
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Teaching Staff
8:1 student-teacher ratio
31 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
31.8%

Location

501 Riggs Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20011

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lasalle-backus ES may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sela PCS (rated 8.9/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho (rated 8.5/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, DC Bilingual PCS (rated 8.3/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Rocketship PCS - Infinity Community Prep Washington 0.4 mi 7.2
Social Justice PCS Washington 0.4 mi 7.2
Sela PCS Washington 0.5 mi 8.9
DC Bilingual PCS Washington 0.5 mi 8.3
Bridges PCS Washington 0.6 mi 6.1
Roots PCS Washington 0.6 mi 5.0
Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle Washington 0.6 mi 7.6
Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary Washington 0.6 mi 8.2
Ridgecrest Elementary Hyattsville 0.7 mi 5.8
Capital City PCS - Lower School Washington 0.7 mi 4.0
Capital City PCS - MS Washington 0.7 mi 5.7
Capital City PCS - HS Washington 0.7 mi 5.4
GEORGE E PETERS ADVENTIST SCHOOL Hyattsville 0.9 mi 5.8
Washington Latin PCS - MS Washington 0.9 mi 6.7
Washington Latin PCS - Upper School Washington 0.9 mi 8.2
KENNEDY INSTITUTE Washington 1.0 mi 5.4
Chillum Elementary Hyattsville 0.9 mi 3.5
WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY Washington 1.2 mi 7.2
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho Washington 1.2 mi 8.5
Washington Yu Ying PCS Washington 1.3 mi 7.8

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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Center City PCS - Brightwood Washington, DC 8.1
Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Elementary Washington, DC 8.1
Key ES Washington, DC 8.1
Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary Washington, DC 8.2
LOWELL SCHOOL Washington, DC 8.3
Global Citizens PCS Washington, DC 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lasalle-backus ES

What grades does Lasalle-backus ES serve?

Lasalle-backus ES serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lasalle-backus ES?

Lasalle-backus ES has an enrollment of approximately 261 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lasalle-backus ES?

The student-teacher ratio at Lasalle-backus ES is 8.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lasalle-backus ES rank in DC?

Lasalle-backus ES ranks #42 of 240 schools in DC.

What is Lasalle-backus ES's MySchoolScout rating?

Lasalle-backus ES has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Lasalle-backus ES?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lasalle-backus ES has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 27% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lasalle-backus ES a charter school?

No, Lasalle-backus ES is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lasalle-backus ES a Title I school?

No, Lasalle-backus ES is not currently a Title I school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
75 Very Walkable
Transit Score
71 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Lasalle-backus ES stack up?

DC Bilingual PCS
8.3
Hearst ES
9.4
Roots PCS
5.0
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
261
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
31
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
District of Columbia
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.8%

District

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

How we rate schools

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