Summary:
Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS is a small public charter district in Washington, DC, that operates a single elementary school, Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS - Wahler Place Elementary School, serving 409 students in grades PK through 6 at 908 Wahler Place SE. As the only school in the district, its results double as the district-wide picture, and parents should know that this school tells a story of recent progress mixed with a persistent, serious math challenge.
The school has made notable strides in its overall state ranking, climbing from the 8th percentile (0 stars) in 2023–24 to the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in 2025–26. That improvement appears driven by English Language Arts, where proficiency rose from 21.5% to 23.5%, and by strong grade-level gains: ELA proficiency climbs from 13.0% in 3rd grade to 44.9% in 7th grade, nearly matching the DC average. However, math is moving in the wrong direction. Overall math proficiency fell from 14.5% to 11.1%, and the middle grades are especially concerning — just 2.1% of 5th graders and 4.5% of 4th graders scored proficient, far below state averages. For context, the school's math proficiency is only about 39% of the statewide rate, while ELA is about 59% of the state rate.
Parents should also note the school's resource picture: a low 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio and unusually high per-student spending of $37,143 (2023–24), which suggests substantial capacity to help students but has not yet translated into on-grade-level results. One data quirk: the 2025–26 DC CAPE results include 7th grade scores even though the school is officially PK–6, which is worth clarifying with the district. The lack of free/reduced-price lunch data also makes it harder to interpret scores in context. Overall, Achievement Preparatory Academy PCS shows encouraging signs in reading and ranking, but the low math proficiency — especially in grades 4 and 5 — is the clearest area demanding attention.
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