How are DC’s students doing?

Students in grades 3-8 and once in high school participate in the state assessment, currently the CAPE test, in math and reading. These graphs show the percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations on CAPE/PARCC (level 4+). The data for 2023-24 can be found on OSSE’s state assessment results page.

This metric shows the average fall-to-spring math and reading growth percentile for students who took the MAP and iReady computer-adaptive benchmark assessment in grades K-8. Many, but not all, students participate in one of the assessments. More information in our Research section.

This metric shows the percent of students who attend less than 90% of school, missing more than one day of school every two weeks on average. Research proves the value of instructional hours received and the negative impact of not attending school regularly. Data from the DC School Report Card and historical OSSE 2020-21 Attendance Report.

This metric shows the 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate for DC high schools. Data source is OSSE Data and Reports.

How is DC’s education system doing?

This metric shows the total public school enrollment in DCPS and DC Public Charter Schools, including pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and excluding adult education. Data source is the OSSE enrollment audit files

This metric shows the percent of school principals and LEA leaders who remained in their same role at the same school from the prior year. OSSE only publishes leader retention data citywide in its Educator Workforce Report. There are no currently available data on school leadership retention rates at schools serving higher percentages of students designated as at-risk because the OSSE data file only provides teacher not leader retention data by school.

This metric shows the percent of teachers who remained in their same role at the same school from the prior year. OSSE publishes data citywide in the Educator Workforce Report and by school from its website.

This metric shows the base per student funding rate (UPSFF, uniform per student funding formula) and, additionally, average per student funding for three student groups that receive extra weight in the budget formula. The values are adjusted for inflation and shown in 2013-14 dollars to align with findings from the DC Education Adequacy study released in December 2013, using calculators provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Back in 2013, the report found that the adequate base funding per student not designated as at-risk should be $10,557 with optimal funding at $11,317. For students designated as at-risk, the adequate rate was $14,463 and optimal rate $15,504.

* The estimate for 2022-23 is based on the Council’s recently passed budget and inflation rates as of May 2022.

It’s important to note that the UPSFF is the largest but not the only stream of school funding. In addition, there are federal dollars (e.g., Title I, SOAR) and other one-time sources such as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds appropriated by Congress and the Biden administration given to the District government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that must be spent by December 2024. Schools also sometimes receive private money from philanthropic sources and parent-teacher organizations. In 2019, OSSE started to publish comprehensive per student expenditure data for all DC public schools. These figures do not include private money. Here is the latest overall expenditure data from OSSE:

Values shown in 2013 dollars

Data notes and key to the dashboard charts above.