Skip to main content

Below Average

#220 of 240 schools in DC

Sousa MS

Middle School · District of Columbia Public Schools · Washington, DC

A District of Columbia Public Schools middle school where students score 18 points below what's typical for similar communities.

3650 Ely Pl. SE, Washington, DC 20019

  • Math 11% vs DC 29% (2025)
  • Reading 16% vs DC 40% (2025)
  • 7.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.4Needs Improvement40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data13
Annual Change-2.68 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.0Below Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency10.9% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
Reading/ELA Proficiency16.4% (2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
Math vs. State Avg-22.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-26.9 pts
Overall Proficiency14% (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-17.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile21th
Resources & Environment5.6Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.9:1
District spending per student$31,629
Chronic Absenteeism52.8%

Students at Sousa MS score 14% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING) proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. DC average.

Math Proficiency11%(2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
School
State
29%(2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
ELA Proficiency16%(2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))
School
State
40%(2025 DC OSSE DC CAPE SCHOOL-LEVEL (% MEETING OR EXCEEDING))

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 30 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 14% recently.

Show all 13 years
2009
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2010
Math
51%
ELA
39%
2011
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2012
Math
44%
ELA
34%
2013
Math
44%
ELA
40%
2014
Math
4%
ELA
7%
2015
Math
4%
ELA
8%
2016
Math
2%
ELA
10%
2017
Math
1%
ELA
9%
2018
Math
4%
ELA
15%
2019
Math
4%
ELA
15%
2022
Math
4%
ELA
11%
2025
Math
11%
ELA
16%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 19% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 21% (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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Sousa MS 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 43Car-Dependent
  • Transit 57Good Transit
  • Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,514/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

$57,031

Median home value

$437,600

Median rent

$1,174/mo

College educated

25.2%

Homeownership

40.7%

Poverty rate

24.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 20019; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Cornerstone Schools-washingtonPrivate · tuition5.8privateK–120.3 mi160Compare →
Dc Prep Pcs - Benning MSCharter · enrollment unverified5.94–80.7 mi311Compare →
River Terrace Education CampusEnrollment path unverified4.13–120.8 mi120Compare →
Kipp Dc - Key Academy PcsCharter · enrollment unverified4.45–81.0 mi409Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

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.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

District of Columbia Public Schools

Schools in district
117
Rank in district
#109 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

Sousa MS is listed in District of Columbia Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Sousa MS

Sousa MS is a public middle school in Washington, DC, part of District of Columbia Public Schools, serving approximately 229 students in grades 6th-8th with a 7.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #220 of 240 schools in DC. State assessment records show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Sousa MS

What grades does Sousa MS serve?

Sousa MS serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Sousa MS?

Sousa MS has an enrollment of approximately 229 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sousa MS?

The student-teacher ratio at Sousa MS is 7.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sousa MS rank in DC?

Sousa MS ranks #220 of 240 schools in DC.

What is Sousa MS's MySchoolScout rating?

Sousa MS has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Sousa MS?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sousa MS has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Sousa MS a charter school?

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

Is Sousa MS a Title I school?

No, Sousa MS is not currently a Title I school.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
229
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
District of Columbia
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
52.8%
Area population (ZIP 20019)
64,365
Area average commute
35.7 min
Area median age
33.8
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 20019; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.