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Test scores delayed: 2025-2026 science scores will be released by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education in October, at which point rankings will be updated.

Whittier Elementary School

Q: Is Whittier Elementary School a good school?

Whittier Elementary School ranks 14 th of 124 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

14^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 124 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

Summary

Whittier Elementary School is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, serving roughly 450 students in grades PK through 5 as part of the District of Columbia Public Schools district. Over the past several years, Whittier has established itself as one of the District's strongest and most rapidly improving elementary schools. In the 2025-2026 school year, it ranked 14th out of 124 DC elementary and middle schools, placing it in the 89th percentile and earning a 4-star rating — a remarkable climb from a 2-star rating and 45th percentile just a few years earlier.

Academically, Whittier's test scores stand head and shoulders above nearby schools. In 2025-2026, 69.3% of students were proficient in English Language Arts and 72.9% were proficient in math — roughly double the district averages of 44.1% and 33.3%. By comparison, Takoma Elementary School, the closest traditional public school, posted just 27% ELA and 24% math proficiency. Even the strongest nearby charter, Sela PCS, trails Whittier by 23 points in ELA and 18 points in math. Perhaps most striking is the contrast with Brightwood Elementary School, located just 0.7 miles away, where only 20.8% of students are ELA-proficient and 25.5% are math-proficient.

What truly sets Whittier apart is its success with historically underserved student groups. The school ranked #1 in DC for low socioeconomic status students for three consecutive years, #1 for special education students in 2024-2025, and #1 for African American students in 2025-2026. Whittier also maintains a favorable 9.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio and spends about $28,473 per pupil — notably less than several neighboring schools that achieve far weaker results, suggesting efficient use of resources. Science is the school's one clear area for growth, with 5th-grade science proficiency at 18.37% in 2024-2025, below the district average of 23.67%. Still, with sustained momentum across nearly every subject and subgroup, Whittier stands out as the strongest elementary option in its immediate area.

450

Students ?

9.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,710

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6201 5th St. NW
Washington, DC 20011

(202) 576-6156

District: District of Columbia Public Schools

Students who attend Whittier Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Ida B. Wells Middle School
High:	Coolidge High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

55.8%

Hispanic:

24.0%

White:

14.2%

See top rated District Of Columbia elementary schools

Compare Whittier Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 42nd percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the District Of Columbia average (71% vs 34% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 47 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school71%

District avg39%

District Of Columbia avg34%

14^th of 124

District Of Columbia public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▲ up 59 pts since 2016

From bottom 29% (2016) to top 11% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of District Of Columbia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 74Elementary Schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools

19^th of 46District of Columbia Public Schools among District Of Columbia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	92.5	14 of 124	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	72.0	23 of 128	82.0%	★★★★☆
2024	66.6	28 of 126	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	59.3	36 of 128	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	38.1	53 of 97	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.4	30 of 122	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	48.6	54 of 120	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	49.7	42 of 108	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	28.9	70 of 99	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	34.3	56 of 97	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	47.4	53 of 109	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	42.3	61 of 112	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	44.0	58 of 111	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	68.8	29 of 111	73.9%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	99.4	1 of 96	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	90.9	4 of 108	96.3%	★★★★★
2024	79.4	5 of 63	92.1%	★★★★★
2023	86.3	3 of 60	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	57.9	11 of 35	68.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.7	17 of 106	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	62.4	32 of 100	68.0%	★★★☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	93.2	2 of 91	97.8%	★★★★★
2018	69.4	24 of 90	73.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2024	75.0	2 of 18	88.9%	★★★★★
2023	83.7	2 of 19	89.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	62.6	38 of 117	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.1	56 of 110	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2025	77.8	3 of 32	90.6%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	100.0	1 of 80	98.8%	★★★★★
2025	87.7	1 of 92	98.9%	★★★★★
2024	95.6	1 of 55	98.2%	★★★★★
2023	87.0	2 of 53	96.2%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	71.9	23 of 113	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	57.0	38 of 113	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2025	94.7	1 of 21	95.2%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	79.9	12 of 75	84.0%	★★★★☆
2018	51.6	28 of 72	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	28.4	31 of 49	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	39.0	37 of 57	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	46.9	30 of 57	47.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	36.3	35 of 57	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	52.9	24 of 56	57.1%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

African American (2026)99th percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)99th percentile+10 vs school

At Risk (2019)98th percentile+22 vs school

Special Education (2025)95th percentile+13 vs school

Hispanic (2025)91st percentile+9 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)89th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2019)80th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2019)68th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs District Of Columbia (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics73%+45 vs state

English Language Arts69%+30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whittier Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				DC CAPE English Language Arts (2026)							DC CAPE Mathematics (2026)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2016)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DC CAPE English Language Arts 3rd Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 4th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 5th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 6th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 7th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 8th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts All Grades	DC CAPE Mathematics 3rd Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 4th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 5th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 6th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 7th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 8th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whittier Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6201 5th St. NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 576-6156	450	45	9.9	100.0%	64 (14.2%)	251 (55.8%)	108 (24.0%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.6%)	92.5	14^th of 124 public elementary schools	88.7%		72	23^rd of 128 public elementary schools	82.0%	9	51.3	83.0	72.9				69.3	77.0	76.2	64.8				72.9	$28,710	$2,421	$26,289
Capital City PCS - Lower School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-4	100 Peabody Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Capital City PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 808-9800	323	27	12.1	64.5%	18 (5.6%)	61 (18.9%)	232 (71.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	17	109^th of 124 public elementary schools	12.1%		19.3	108^th of 128 public elementary schools	15.6%	1	7.7	16.6					12.0	11.5	12.5					12.0	$36,666	$2,087	$34,578
Friendship PCS - Ideal Elementary	Public, Charter	PK, KG-3	6130 North Capitol Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Friendship PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 518-3928	212	17	12.4		1 (0.5%)	196 (92.5%)	14 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)	19.0							38.0							$36,223	$2,479	$33,744
Creative Minds International PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3700 North Capitol Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Creative Minds International PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 588-0370	530	52	10.1	21.9%	77 (14.5%)	287 (54.2%)	137 (25.8%)	7 (1.3%)	7 (1.3%)	3 (0.6%)	12 (2.3%)	32.4	72^nd of 124 public elementary schools	41.9%		33.3	77^th of 128 public elementary schools	39.8%	5	36.6	34.8	14.7	25.7	34.2	38.3	31.2		15.6	6.1		15.0	12.1	16.2	$36,168	$1,786	$34,382
Center City PCS - Brightwood	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	6008 Georgia Avenue NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Center City PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 723-3322	269	29	9.4	74.6%	1 (0.4%)	157 (58.4%)	103 (38.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)								(n/a)					82.6	55.6	43.0	53.9	45.9				33.4	38.0	$28,502	$2,177	$26,325
Breakthrough Montessori PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	6923 Willow Street NW	Washington	20012	District Of Columbia	Breakthrough Montessori PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 864-1979	383	23	16.6		127 (33.2%)	181 (47.3%)	28 (7.3%)	14 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.4%)	36.2	66^th of 124 public elementary schools	46.8%		33.4	76^th of 128 public elementary schools	40.6%	10	12.5	42.8	41.4				30.5	18.8		13.8				16.6	$30,225	$2,253	$27,972
Sela PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	6015 Chillum Place NE	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Sela PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 670-7352	302	43	7.0	57.5%	78 (25.8%)	170 (56.3%)	37 (12.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.6%)	67.1	33^rd of 124 public elementary schools	73.4%		58.8	35^th of 128 public elementary schools	72.7%	2	63.3	23.8	44.5				46.3	66.7						55.0	$27,035	$1,212	$25,823
Takoma Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7010 Piney Branch Rd. NW	Washington	20012	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 671-6050	483	49	9.8	100.0%	53 (11.0%)	253 (52.4%)	153 (31.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.3%)	35.7	67^th of 124 public elementary schools	46.0%		47.2	47^th of 128 public elementary schools	63.3%	20	32.8	25.0	22.2				27.0	36.2	15.6	20.0				24.0	$30,205	$2,455	$27,750
Brightwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Nicholson St. NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 722-5670	646	71	9.0	100.0%	12 (1.9%)	185 (28.6%)	446 (69.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	31.5	73^rd of 124 public elementary schools	41.1%		24.1	97^th of 128 public elementary schools	24.2%	24	18.1	22.6	21.1				20.8	35.9	24.7	15.3				25.5	$32,246	$2,458	$29,788
Roots PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	15 Kennedy Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Roots PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 882-8073	80	8	10.6	87.7%	0 (0.0%)	80 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	9.1						23.5							17.7	$31,494	$7,618	$23,876

Frequently Asked Questions about Whittier Elementary School

What district is Whittier Elementary School in?

District of Columbia Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Whittier Elementary School?

Students at Whittier Elementary School are 56% African American, 24% Hispanic, 14% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Whittier Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 450 students attended Whittier Elementary School.

Is Whittier Elementary School a good school?

Whittier Elementary School ranks 14^th of 124 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Whittier Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Whittier Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ida B. Wells Middle School
High : Coolidge High School

Rate Whittier Elementary School!

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Latest District Of Columbia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewSep 2, 2026

2025–26 DC CAPE test scoresAug 20, 2026

2024–25 DC Science test scoresDec 5, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesDec 4, 2025

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.