Excellent
#5 of 240 schools in DC
Top 2% in state
Thomson ES
Elementary School · District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
Enrollment
253
Student-Teacher
8.7:1
Score
8.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
253
Student-Teacher
8.7:1
Score
8.9
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Washington
#5 of 239
public schools
District of Columbia elementary schools
#5 of 145
In district
#2 of 116
District of Columbia Public Schools
Academic growth
9.5 / 10
Exceptional
About Thomson ES
Thomson ES is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, serving 253 students in grades PK through 5. With a student-teacher ratio of 8.7:1, classes here stay markedly small — giving each student consistent, direct access to their teacher throughout the school day. That ratio separates Thomson from the majority of elementary schools across the city.
The school earns a composite score of 9.2 out of 10, rated Exceptional. Its growth score of 9.5 is the standout: Thomson outperforms 97% of District of Columbia public schools on this measure, signaling that students here make real gains year over year regardless of starting point. Academic performance comes in at 8.8 — strong in its own right.
Together, those numbers push Thomson to #8 out of 240 public schools in the District, and #8 among 145 DC elementary schools specifically. Families comparing elementary options in Washington will find few public schools that combine scores at this level with classroom ratios this low. The numbers consistently point the same direction: Thomson delivers outcomes that place it in a very small tier of DC's top-performing elementaries.
What Parents Should Know
With a student-teacher ratio of 8.7:1, Thomson 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
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Thomson ES — Students at Thomson ES score 34% 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
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.
How Thomson ES Compares
See how Thomson ES performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 32% (2019) to 32% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 32% (2019) to 37% (2022).
Location
1200 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Thomson ES may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cleveland ES (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Seaton ES (rated 7.8/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Garrison ES (rated 7.5/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Washington, see our Washington schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 0.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Center City PCS - Shaw Washington | 0.4 mi | 6.9 |
| Girls Global Academy PCS Washington | 0.4 mi | 7.5 |
| Seaton ES Washington | 0.5 mi | 7.8 |
| Benjamin Banneker HS Washington | 0.6 mi | 6.7 |
| BASIS DC PCS Washington | 0.6 mi | 7.5 |
| Garrison ES Washington | 0.7 mi | 7.5 |
| TEMPLETON ACADEMY Washington | 0.7 mi | 5.9 |
| KIPP DC - WILL Academy PCS Washington | 0.7 mi | 6.2 |
| KIPP DC - Grow Academy PCS Washington | 0.7 mi | 5.5 |
| KIPP DC - Lead Academy PCS Washington | 0.7 mi | 3.9 |
| SMITHSONIAN EARLY ENRICHMENT CENTER Washington | 0.9 mi | — |
| Cleveland ES Washington | 0.9 mi | 8.3 |
| Goodwill Excel Center PCS Washington | 0.8 mi | 6.2 |
| Ross ES Washington | 0.9 mi | 7.2 |
| Roosevelt STAY HS Washington | 1.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Walker-Jones Education Campus Washington | 0.8 mi | 5.6 |
| Meridian PCS Washington | 1.0 mi | 7.0 |
| ST AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Washington | 1.1 mi | 5.1 |
| Friendship PCS - Armstrong Elementary Washington | 0.9 mi | 6.2 |
| Friendship PCS - Armstrong Middle Washington | 0.9 mi | 4.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 20005 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$111,960
Median Home Value
$636,000
Median Rent
$2,223/mo
Population
12,960
College Educated
80.4%
Homeownership
29.2%
Avg Commute
25.8 min
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Median Age
35.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Thomson ES has a median household income of $111,960. It is a well-educated community where 80% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $636,000, with a median rent of $2,223/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.3%. The average commute for residents is 26 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 |
|---|---|
| LaSalle-Backus ES Washington, DC | 8.8 |
| Key ES Washington, DC | 8.7 |
| Burroughs ES Washington, DC | 8.6 |
| Hearst ES Washington, DC | 9.3 |
| LOWELL SCHOOL Washington, DC | 8.4 |
| Cleveland ES Washington, DC | 8.3 |
Compare Thomson 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 Thomson ES
What grades does Thomson ES serve?
Thomson ES serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Thomson ES?
Thomson ES has an enrollment of approximately 253 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomson ES?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomson ES is 8.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomson ES rank in DC?
Thomson ES is ranked #5 out of 240 schools in DC.
What is Thomson ES's MySchoolScout rating?
Thomson ES has a composite rating of 8.9 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 Thomson ES?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Thomson ES has 32.0% math proficiency and 34.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Thomson ES a charter school?
No, Thomson ES is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomson ES a Title I school?
No, Thomson ES is not currently a Title I school.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 98 Walker's Paradise
- Transit Score
- 100 Rider’s Paradise
- Bike Score
- 99 Biker’s Paradise
- 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
- 253
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 8.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- District of Columbia
- Phone
- (202) 898-4660
- 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
- #2 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.
Read our full methodologyGet 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.