Excellent
#16 of 240 schools in DC
Top 6% in state
Payne ES
Elementary School · District of Columbia Public Schools · Washington, DC
A District of Columbia Public Schools elementary school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1445 C St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
- Math 46% vs DC 33% (2025)
- Reading 47% vs DC 37% (2025)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Payne ES score 46% proficient, which is above 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 14 points since 2018, reaching 46% in 2025.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
Based on 32 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 Payne ES 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 86Very Walkable
- Transit 79Excellent Transit
- Bike 92Biker’s Paradise
- 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
$159,604
Median home value
$954,200
Median rent
$2,630/mo
College educated
80.8%
Homeownership
38.5%
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20003; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center City Pcs - Capitol HillCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.5 | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 215 | Compare → |
| Watkins ES (capitol Hill Cluster)Enrollment path unverified | 6.7 | 1–5 | 0.3 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| Friendship Pcs - Chamberlain ElementaryCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.1 | PK–3 | 0.4 mi | 274 | Compare → |
| Appletree Early Learning Center Pcs - Lincoln ParkCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | PK | 0.5 mi | 59 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
District of Columbia Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 117
- Rank in district
- #12 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
Payne ES is listed in District of Columbia Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Payne ES
Payne ES is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, part of District of Columbia Public Schools, serving approximately 376 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #16 of 240 schools in DC. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Payne ES
What grades does Payne ES serve?
Payne ES serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Payne ES?
Payne ES has an enrollment of approximately 376 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Payne ES?
The student-teacher ratio at Payne ES is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Payne ES rank in DC?
Payne ES ranks #16 of 240 schools in DC.
What is Payne ES's MySchoolScout rating?
Payne ES has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Payne ES?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Payne ES has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Payne ES a charter school?
No, Payne ES is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Payne ES a Title I school?
No, Payne ES is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 376
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- District of Columbia
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.7%
- Phone
- (202) 698-3262
- Area population (ZIP 20003)
- 36,194
- Area average commute
- 27.1 min
- Area median age
- 34.6
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 · 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.
- 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 20003; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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