Best schools in District of Columbia (2025)
The top five of 235 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (US), built only from official American data.
District of Columbia has 235 schools educating 91,524 students in 2025: 122 charter, 113 public.
The median Enrollment across District of Columbia is 348. Students enrolled in the latest NCES directory year.
Browse every school in District of Columbia →
Best elementary schools in District of Columbia
Schools classified as elementary by NCES.
Stoddert ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
425 students
Ross ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
171 students
Janney ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
717 students
School-Within-School at Goding
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
325 students
Key ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
337 students
Best middle schools in District of Columbia
Schools classified as middle schools by NCES.
Ida B. Wells MS
Washington · Public middle · Grades 6–8
521 students
Two Rivers PCS - Young MS
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 6–8
224 students
Deal MS
Washington · Public middle · Grades 6–8
1,462 students
Friendship PCS - Armstrong Middle
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 4–8
199 students
DC Prep PCS - Anacostia MS
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 4–8
315 students
Best high schools in District of Columbia
Schools classified as high schools by NCES.
The Sojourner Truth School PCS
Washington · Charter high · Grades 6–12
292 students
Bard HS Early College DC (Bard DC)
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
331 students
KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS
Washington · Charter high · Grades 9–12
646 students
Benjamin Banneker HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
703 students
School Without Walls HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
606 students
Best traditional public schools in District of Columbia
District-run public schools.
Ida B. Wells MS
Washington · Public middle · Grades 6–8
521 students
Stoddert ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
425 students
Ross ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
171 students
Janney ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
717 students
School-Within-School at Goding
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
325 students
Best charter schools in District of Columbia
Publicly funded charter schools.
The Sojourner Truth School PCS
Washington · Charter high · Grades 6–12
292 students
KIPP DC PCS - Legacy College Preparatory PCS
Washington · Charter high · Grades 9–12
646 students
Two Rivers PCS - Young MS
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 6–8
224 students
Friendship PCS - Armstrong Middle
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 4–8
199 students
DC Prep PCS - Anacostia MS
Washington · Charter middle · Grades 4–8
315 students
Best schools by math proficiency in District of Columbia
Schools ranked by the share of tested students proficient or above in math on the state assessment (EDFacts, all students), for schools with 30 or more tested students.
Stoddert ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
425 students
Benjamin Banneker HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
703 students
School Without Walls HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
606 students
Janney ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
717 students
Lafayette ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
923 students
Best schools by reading proficiency in District of Columbia
Schools ranked by the share of tested students proficient or above in reading/language arts (EDFacts, all students).
Benjamin Banneker HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
703 students
School Without Walls HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
606 students
Ross ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
171 students
Janney ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
717 students
Mann ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
397 students
Best lowest student–teacher ratio in District of Columbia
Schools with the fewest students per FTE teacher, among schools with at least 100 students.
Tubman ES
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
415 students
Malcolm X ES at Green
Washington · Public elementary · Grades PK–5
170 students
Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS
Washington · Charter elementary · Grades PK–8
310 students
Ron Brown College Preparatory HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
196 students
Sela PCS
Washington · Charter elementary · Grades PK–5
302 students
Best largest schools in District of Columbia
Schools with the highest enrollment.
Jackson-Reed HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
1,855 students
District of Columbia International School
Washington · Charter high · Grades 6–12
1,654 students
Columbia Heights Education Campus
Washington · Public high · Grades 6–12
1,563 students
Deal MS
Washington · Public middle · Grades 6–8
1,462 students
Coolidge HS
Washington · Public high · Grades 9–12
1,029 students
Free academic assessment
Is your child on grade level in reading and math?
Success Tutoring offers personalised English and math tutoring from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Start with a free online assessment and a clear plan for the year ahead.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best elementary school in District of Columbia?
Stoddert ES in Washington ranks first among elementary schools in District of Columbia with a Success Index (US) of 91.5 out of 100 (Enrollment: 425).
How are elementary schools in District of Columbia ranked?
Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.