Best Public Schools in Washington, DC

The city of Washington, District Of Columbia is home to 242 schools, including 155 elementary schools, 43 middle schools, 40 high schools, and 4 alternative schools. These schools serve a diverse student population and demonstrate a wide range of academic performance, with some standout institutions like Jackson-Reed High School, District of Columbia International School, and Deal Middle School ranking among the top schools in the district.

Many of the highest-performing schools, such as Benjamin Banneker High School and School Without Walls High School, boast exceptional graduation rates and PARCC test scores that far exceed the district and city averages. In contrast, some schools like Anacostia High School and Cardozo Education Campus struggle with lower performance metrics. The data suggests that factors beyond just funding and class sizes play a significant role in determining school quality and student outcomes.

Charter schools make up a substantial portion of the top-performing institutions, indicating that they may be providing a valuable alternative to the traditional District of Columbia Public Schools system. However, the data also reveals a wide range of diversity in the student populations of these schools, with some serving predominantly white or African American student bodies, while others maintain more balanced racial compositions.