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Best Elementary Schools in Washington, DC


At a glance
144
Schools
53,218
Students
37
Districts
13
5-star schools
Top rankedJanney Elementary School1st of 128 District Of Columbia elementary schools
Biggest riser
Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS up 42 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Tubman Elementary School 5.9 students per teacher
Newly ranked this year
Learn Dc Pcs and 2 more
SchoolDigger ratings
5★
4★
3★
2★
1★
0★
28 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The city of Washington, District of Columbia is home to 155 elementary schools, serving students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. These schools are a mix of public and public charter institutions, offering diverse educational opportunities across the district.

Among the standout schools in the area are Lafayette Elementary School, which has consistently ranked among the top 2 elementary schools in DC for the past 3 years and earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Other high-performing institutions include Stoddert Elementary School and Janney Elementary School, both of which have been ranked within the top 3 elementary schools in the district. These standout schools demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics that significantly outpace the district and city averages.

In contrast, the data also reveals significant performance gaps between the top-performing schools and lower-performing institutions. While factors such as per-student spending and student-teacher ratios may play a role, the consistent high performance of schools like Maury Elementary School and Marie Reed Elementary School suggests the critical importance of effective school leadership and a positive school culture in driving student success. Overall, the elementary school landscape in Washington, D.C. offers a diverse range of educational options, with both high-performing and lower-performing institutions, highlighting the need for continued efforts to ensure equitable access to quality education across the district.

Showing the top 100 of 144 schools. Load all 144 schools.
Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private





Cities Near Washington

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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