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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.

Capital City PCS - Lower School

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-4

109^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 124 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Better than 12% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

Summary

Capital City PCS - Lower School is a public charter elementary school in Washington, DC, serving 323 students in grades PK through 4 at 100 Peabody Street NW. Part of the Capital City PCS network, the school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks 109th out of 124 DC schools in the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the 12th percentile. Proficiency rates are very low: just 12% of students are proficient in both English Language Arts and Mathematics, compared to state averages of 39.6% and 28.2%, respectively.

This has not always been the case. From 2013-2014 through 2017-2018, Capital City consistently earned 3-star ratings and ranked near the middle of the state distribution. Since the return of testing after the pandemic, however, it has remained stuck in the bottom quartile. The contrast with nearby schools is striking: within roughly three-quarters of a mile, Whittier Elementary School ranks 14th in the state with 69.3% ELA and 72.9% Math proficiency, while Sela PCS and DC Bilingual PCS also post far stronger results, with math proficiency above 44%. Even Bridges PCS, which has similarly low reading scores, shows this is not a uniformly low-performing neighborhood.

The school spends approximately $32,709 per student — more than several higher-performing neighbors — and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.1, making the weak outcomes especially concerning. Subgroup results are also very low: Hispanic students, low-income students, and English Language Learners have ranked at or near the bottom statewide in recent years. Grade-level data from 2025-2026 shows 3rd grade ELA proficiency at 7.7% and 3rd grade math at 11.5%, with 4th grade slightly better but still far below state averages. Taken together, these data suggest the school's challenges stem more from instructional strategy and post-pandemic recovery than from a lack of resources.

323

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$36,666

Per pupil spending ?

64.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Peabody Street NW
Washington, DC 20011

(202) 808-9800

District: Capital City PCS

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

71.8%

African American:

18.9%

White:

5.6%

See top rated District Of Columbia elementary schools

Compare Capital City PCS - Lower School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 60th percentile in 2014 → 12th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the District Of Columbia average (12% vs 34% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (12th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 48 percentile points since 2014

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school12%

District avg18%

District Of Columbia avg34%

109^th of 124

District Of Columbia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 12%▼ down 39 pts since 2016

From top 48% (2016) to bottom 12% (2026)

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

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

34^th of 46Capital City PCS 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	17.0	109 of 124	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	19.3	108 of 128	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.0	97 of 126	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	110 of 128	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.8	87 of 122	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.9	58 of 120	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	46.0	49 of 108	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	43.4	48 of 99	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	40.3	48 of 97	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	57.8	44 of 109	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	73.5	27 of 112	75.9%	★★★★☆
2011	85.8	16 of 111	85.6%	★★★★☆
2010	84.6	20 of 111	82.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	22.3	92 of 106	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.7	68 of 100	32.0%	★★☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	38.7	57 of 91	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.7	67 of 90	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2023	9.6	18 of 19	5.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.8	25 of 25	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	27.7	21 of 25	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	23.3	96 of 117	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.8	52 of 110	52.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	12.9	20 of 22	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	11.0	32 of 32	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	30 of 30	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.9	21 of 22	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.6	30 of 30	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.0	25 of 29	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	31.1	60 of 80	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.1	55 of 55	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.8	53 of 53	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	33.8	71 of 113	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.0	56 of 113	50.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	33.4	31 of 45	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

At Risk (2019)37th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2019)37th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2019)31st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)25th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2019)18th percentile-11 vs school

African American (2019)13th percentile-15 vs school

Hispanic (2026)9th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2023)5th percentile-9 vs school

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

English Language Arts12%-28 vs state

Mathematics12%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Capital City PCS - Lower 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
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
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
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
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
DC Bilingual PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	33 Riggs Road NE	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	DC Bilingual PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 750-6674	622	78	7.9	0.0%	200 (32.2%)	122 (19.6%)	261 (42.0%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.3%)	68.7	31^st of 124 public elementary schools	75.0%		69.8	24^th of 128 public elementary schools	81.3%	7	35.2	50.0	61.6				48.2	45.0	42.9	46.7				44.7	$30,431	$1,837	$28,595
Bridges PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	100 Gallatin Street NE	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Bridges PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 545-0515	365	40	9.2	99.1%	8 (2.2%)	155 (42.5%)	195 (53.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	22.8	91^st of 124 public elementary schools	26.6%		15.1	123^rd of 128 public elementary schools	3.9%	32	6.4	5.4					8.8	38.4	16.3	6.7				22.8	$37,413	$2,947	$34,466
LaSalle-Backus Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	501 Riggs Rd. NE	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 671-6340	279	35	7.9	100.0%	12 (4.3%)	142 (50.9%)	119 (42.7%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	48.7	52^nd of 124 public elementary schools	58.1%		44.2	49^th of 128 public elementary schools	61.7%	3		46.2	30.0				32.9	17.2	50.0	30.0				31.8	$39,027	$2,449	$36,578
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Capital City PCS - Lower School

Is Capital City PCS - Lower School a good school?

Capital City PCS - Lower School ranks in the bottom 12.1% of District Of Columbia elementary schools.

How many students attend Capital City PCS - Lower School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 323 students attended Capital City PCS - Lower School.

What district is Capital City PCS - Lower School in?

Capital City PCS

What is the racial makeup of Capital City PCS - Lower School?

Students at Capital City PCS - Lower School are 72% Hispanic, 19% African American, 6% White, 3% Two or more races.

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Latest District Of Columbia data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataSep 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.