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Capital City PCS - Lower School

Q: Is Capital City PCS - Lower School a good school?

Capital City PCS - Lower School ranks in the bottom 15.6% of District Of Columbia elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Capital City PCS - Lower School?

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

Q: 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.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-4

108^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 128 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Better than 16% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

Summary

Capital City PCS - Lower School is a public charter elementary school serving 326 students in grades PK-4 in Washington, DC. The school is part of the Capital City PCS district, which is ranked 41 out of 46 districts in DC and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite spending significantly more per student ($32,709 in 2023-2024) compared to the district average, Capital City PCS - Lower School has consistently underperformed on standardized tests. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 11.2% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district average of 37.6%. In math, 13.3% of students were proficient or better, compared to 26.4% district-wide. This trend has persisted over the past several years, and the school's statewide ranking has dropped from 27th out of 112 DC elementary schools in 2011-2012 to 108th out of 128 schools in 2024-2025.

Nearby schools, such as DC Bilingual PCS, Whittier Elementary, and Sela PCS, significantly outperform Capital City PCS - Lower School on academic measures, with higher proficiency rates and stronger rankings. The school's low performance for certain student subgroups, such as African American and English Language Learner students, also raises concerns about equity and the school's ability to meet the needs of its diverse student population.

323

Students ?

12.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$32,709

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 — 76th percentile in 2012 → 16th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the District Of Columbia average (12% vs 32% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 60 percentile points since 2012

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school12%

District avg13%

District Of Columbia avg32%

108^th of 128

District Of Columbia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 35 pts since 2015

From top 49% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

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

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

41^st 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
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
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
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

Female (2019)18th percentile-11 vs school

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

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

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)<1st percentile-23 vs school

Hispanic (2025)<1st percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs District Of Columbia (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics13%-13 vs state

English Language Arts11%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near Capital City PCS - Lower School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				DC Science Science (2025)			DC CAPE English Language Arts (2025)							DC CAPE Mathematics (2025)							Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DC Science Science 5th Grade	DC Science Science 8th Grade	DC Science Science All Grades	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		18 (5.6%)	61 (18.9%)	232 (71.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	19.3	108^th of 128 public elementary schools	15.6%		27	97^th of 126 public elementary schools	23.0%	11					18.0					11.2	12.5	14.0					13.3	$32,709	$3,361	$29,349
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)				24.4						24.4	19.5						19.5	$32,742	$4,884	$27,859
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		77 (14.5%)	287 (54.2%)	137 (25.8%)	7 (1.3%)	7 (1.3%)	3 (0.6%)	12 (2.3%)	33.3	77^th of 128 public elementary schools	39.8%		36.4	70^th of 126 public elementary schools	44.4%	7	17.1	10.7	14.3	21.4	41.3	23.7	24.1	30.4	37.9	29.0	21.4	21.7	18.9	11.5	20.9	17.9	18.7	$33,517	$2,039	$31,478
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		78 (25.8%)	170 (56.3%)	37 (12.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.6%)	58.8	35^th of 128 public elementary schools	72.7%		78.2	22^nd of 126 public elementary schools	82.5%	13	18.8			33.3	55.2	25.0				40.3	42.3	40.0	26.7				38.0	$28,298	$1,687	$26,610
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		0 (0.0%)	80 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)										11.8								$32,074	$941	$31,133
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		64 (14.2%)	251 (55.8%)	108 (24.0%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.6%)	72	23^rd of 128 public elementary schools	82.0%		66.6	28^th of 126 public elementary schools	77.8%	5	18.4			58.3	52.4	34.7				48.2	58.3	66.7	40.8				54.7	$28,473	$4,532	$23,941
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		200 (32.2%)	122 (19.6%)	261 (42.0%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.3%)	69.8	24^th of 128 public elementary schools	81.3%		81.7	18^th of 126 public elementary schools	85.7%	6	46.2			35.2	61.6	53.8				49.7	36.6	45.2	23.1				37.1	$30,073	$2,087	$27,986
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		8 (2.2%)	155 (42.5%)	195 (53.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	15.1	123^rd of 128 public elementary schools	3.9%		19.4	120^th of 126 public elementary schools	4.8%	3				5.3	11.9	6.9				8.3	18.4						9.2	$34,782	$4,177	$30,604
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		12 (4.3%)	142 (50.9%)	119 (42.7%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	44.2	49^th of 128 public elementary schools	61.7%		39.5	63^rd of 126 public elementary schools	50.0%	14				32.3	27.8	25.0				28.4	19.4	25.0	50.0				30.5	$39,295	$4,643	$34,652
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%)	33.4	76^th of 128 public elementary schools	40.6%		42.7	61^st of 126 public elementary schools	51.6%	15	15.4			24.3	37.1	33.3	16.7			29.2	18.9	13.9					13.3	$27,545	$1,128	$26,417

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 15.6% of District Of Columbia elementary schools.

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.

What district is Capital City PCS - Lower School in?

Capital City PCS

How many students attend Capital City PCS - Lower School?

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

Rate Capital City PCS - Lower School!

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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.