2023 Bold Performance Schools Report
RELEASED OCTOBER 2023
Whittier Elementary (DCPS), a 2023 DC Bold Performance School
Bold Performance Schools are the DC schools that boldly support priority students — students designated as at-risk, students with disabilities, and students of color — to reach academic success. The 12 schools designated as Bold Performance Schools are DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC charter schools, serving 3,200 DC students in prek-3-8th grade (including 1,900 economically disadvantaged students). Their 2023 PARCC proficiency rates are an average 15.1 percentage points better than other schools serving a high priority student population and 11.5 percentage points better than the pre-pandemic average for schools with similar demographics.
“DCPS’ 2023 Bold Performance Schools exceeded the high expectations set for our students’ recovery in math and reading—showcasing their commitment to academic excellence,” said DC Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. “These selections are a testament to our school leaders, teachers, and staff who cultivate joyful learning environments and provide students with the supports they need to thrive. DCPS is grateful for EmpowerK12’s work in helping the district move the needle forward to advance educational equity.”
The Bold Performance Schools identified five key strategies to achieve their success:
Data analysis to drive instruction: educators utilize student work, exit tickets, and progress monitoring trackers to adjust instructional support often.
Teacher support: instructional leaders provided coaching and professional development, often in-the-moment based on data.
Family engagement: with a focus on improving attendance, educators ensured that families were frequently updated on upcoming happenings at school.
Joyful school climate: school leadership teams emphasized the importance of a fun and joyful school environment for students and adults; and
Targeted small-group and individual student interventions to address specific skill gaps and achieve success on rigorous, grade-level content.
"The District's collective PARCC results this year showed that we are doing the right work together in recovery, with gains for every student group comparable to gains on our relentless improvement journey before the pandemic," said Paul Kihn, Deputy Mayor for Education. "Everything we can learn about what makes schools successful in accelerating learning, such as some of the strategies shared by these excellent school leaders, will help us on our path to restoration."
DC students need bold goals, innovation, and collaborative learning to move beyond recovery to an era where all DC students thrive in an increasingly global labor market.
EmpowerK12 recommends:
Set citywide bold goals Work with Bold School leaders to establish a set of citywide bold goals that move beyond academic recovery and to an academic renaissance where student accomplishment in the arts, sciences, humanities, and technological coding complements dramatic improvement in math and reading skills.
Invest in innovation and research, particularly for mathematics, school climate, and middle school, to allow educators to try new promising practices, learn when and how it works best quickly, spread bright spots, and know how to course-correct when strategies must be improved.
Articles Featuring Bold Performance Schools
2022 Bold Performance Schools
Washington Post: 14 schools recognized for outperforming peers in the District by Lauren Lumpkin