Excellent
#8 of 240 schools in DC
Top 3% 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
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
261
Student-Teacher
8.4:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Washington
#8 of 239
public schools
District of Columbia elementary schools
#6 of 145
In district
#3 of 116
District of Columbia Public Schools
Academic growth
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Lasalle-backus ES
Lasalle-backus ES is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, part of the District of Columbia Public Schools. The school serves approximately 261 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8/10, placing it in the 97.1th percentile among DC schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 23% proficiency in math and 32% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $108,377, where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
What Parents Should Know
With a student-teacher ratio of 8.4:1, Lasalle-backus ES offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Lasalle-backus ES — Students at Lasalle-backus ES score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
0.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores DC EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 4 test records from DC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.6/10.
How Lasalle-backus ES Compares
See how Lasalle-backus ES performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 18% (2019) to 27% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 32% (2019) to 32% (2022).
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. DC Bilingual PCS (rated 9.5/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Roots PCS (rated 9.4/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Bridges PCS (rated 9.2/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. 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 | 4.1 |
| Social Justice PCS Washington | 0.4 mi | 6.7 |
| Sela PCS Washington | 0.5 mi | 4.8 |
| DC Bilingual PCS Washington | 0.5 mi | 9.5 |
| Bridges PCS Washington | 0.6 mi | 9.2 |
| Roots PCS Washington | 0.6 mi | 9.4 |
| Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle Washington | 0.6 mi | 4.4 |
| Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary Washington | 0.6 mi | 5.5 |
| Ridgecrest Elementary Hyattsville | 0.7 mi | 4.1 |
| Capital City PCS - Lower School Washington | 0.7 mi | 6.3 |
| Capital City PCS - MS Washington | 0.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Capital City PCS - HS Washington | 0.7 mi | 8.0 |
| GEORGE E PETERS ADVENTIST SCHOOL Hyattsville | 0.9 mi | 5.8 |
| Washington Latin PCS - MS Washington | 0.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Washington Latin PCS - Upper School Washington | 0.9 mi | 6.9 |
| KENNEDY INSTITUTE Washington | 1.0 mi | 5.5 |
| Chillum Elementary Hyattsville | 0.9 mi | 7.4 |
| WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY Washington | 1.2 mi | 7.3 |
| Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho Washington | 1.2 mi | 5.0 |
| Washington Yu Ying PCS Washington | 1.3 mi | 8.0 |
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 Lasalle-backus ES 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 |
|---|---|
| Thomson ES Washington, DC | 8.9 |
| Key ES Washington, DC | 8.7 |
| Burroughs ES Washington, DC | 8.6 |
| Shepherd ES Washington, DC | 8.6 |
| Bridges PCS Washington, DC | 9.2 |
| LOWELL SCHOOL Washington, DC | 8.4 |
Compare Lasalle-backus ES with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
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 is ranked #8 out of 240 schools in DC.
What is Lasalle-backus ES's MySchoolScout rating?
Lasalle-backus ES has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Lasalle-backus ES?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lasalle-backus ES has 22.5% math proficiency and 32.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 75 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 71 Excellent Transit
- Bike Score
- 50 Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (4,514/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Washington). Data >1 year old.
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
- Phone
- (202) 671-6340
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
District of Columbia Public Schools- District Enrollment
- 51,294
- Schools in District
- 117
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $31,629
- District Rank
- #3 of 116
Other Schools in This District
Compare This School
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.
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