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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.

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS

Q: Is Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS a good school?

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS ranks 90 th of 124 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-8

90^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 124 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

Summary

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS (Bethune) is a small PK–8 public charter school in Northeast Washington, DC, serving 310 students in a neighborhood that includes some of the city's highest-performing elementary schools alongside several low-performing charters. Bethune currently ranks in the bottom quarter of DC elementary and middle schools, sitting at the 27th percentile with a 1-star rating for 2025–26.

Bethune's academic proficiency is far below DC averages and nearby schools. Only 20% of students scored proficient in English Language Arts and 14% in math, versus state averages of 39.6% and 28.2%. Nearby Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS - Brookland posts 58% ELA and 56% math proficiency, Burroughs Elementary School posts 55% and 54%, and Lee Montessori PCS - Brookland posts 52% and 34%—all while spending less per student. Bethune spends $34,581 per student, among the highest in the area, yet maintains a student-teacher ratio of just 6.7:1. Grade-level data reveals a concerning cliff: 3rd grade math proficiency is 36.1%, but 4th grade falls to 6.0%, and 8th grade ELA drops to 8.3% after a 30.7% 7th grade result.

Bethune's rankings have been volatile, jumping to the 53rd percentile in 2024–25 before falling back in 2025–26. One encouraging sign: subgroup rankings for African American students have exceeded the school's overall rank, suggesting pockets of effectiveness despite low absolute proficiency. Families here have strong alternatives, including Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS - Brookland, Burroughs Elementary School, and Lee Montessori PCS - Brookland, all in the top third of DC schools. Nearby Perry Street Preparatory PCS and Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS also struggle, showing that school-level execution matters. The bottom line: Bethune invests heavily in small classes and per-student spending, but those resources have not yet produced sustained academic gains.

310

Students ?

6.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$36,390

Per pupil spending ?

55.2%

Directly certified for free meals (2024-25) ?

1404 Jackson Street NE
Washington, DC 20017

(202) 459-4710

District: Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS

Racial breakdown:

African American:

66.1%

Hispanic:

24.2%

White:

5.5%

See top rated District Of Columbia elementary schools

Compare Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 10th percentile in 2023 → 27th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 27th (2026) from a 10th-percentile low (2023)

✓Small classes — about 7 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the District Of Columbia average (17% vs 34% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!English Language Arts scores 20 pts below the District Of Columbia average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school17%

District avg17%

District Of Columbia avg34%

Elementary school

90^th of 124

District Of Columbia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 31% (2016) to bottom 27% (2026)

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

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

62^nd of 68

District Of Columbia public middle schools ?

Bottom 9%▼ down 11 pts since 2017

From bottom 20% (2017) to bottom 9% (2026)

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

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

42^nd of 46Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	23.9	90 of 124	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	40.3	60 of 128	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	24.5	102 of 126	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.7	115 of 128	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	39.1	66 of 122	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.0	72 of 120	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	24.2	80 of 108	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.2	68 of 99	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	28.0	65 of 97	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	34.8	69 of 109	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	35.7	72 of 112	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2011	45.2	52 of 111	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	47.7	55 of 111	50.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	42.1	43 of 96	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.9	44 of 108	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	26.4	51 of 63	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.2	57 of 60	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	49.5	48 of 106	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.2	53 of 100	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	35.0	63 of 91	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	46.0	41 of 90	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	25.8	91 of 117	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.1	71 of 110	35.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	34.3	55 of 80	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.6	31 of 92	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	30.1	39 of 55	29.1%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	45.8	55 of 113	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	35.9	69 of 113	38.9%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	16.7	62 of 68	8.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.4	45 of 69	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.7	47 of 70	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	19.3	62 of 69	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.1	29 of 59	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.2	46 of 75	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.3	51 of 72	29.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.0	45 of 56	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	62.5	22 of 57	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	57.8	24 of 57	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	29.8	41 of 57	28.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	60.5	20 of 56	64.3%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	21.2	56 of 62	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.1	45 of 68	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.3	35 of 36	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	39 of 55	29.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.3	43 of 55	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆

At Risk

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	43.6	27 of 50	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.4	28 of 46	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2018	23.4	43 of 53	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2025	64.4	17 of 64	73.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2019	37.7	32 of 53	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.3	29 of 49	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)55th percentile+28 vs school

Male (2019)51st percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)31st percentile+4 vs school

At Risk (2019)31st percentile-15 vs school

Female (2019)22nd percentile-24 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)73rd percentile+39 vs school

At Risk (2019)46th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2019)40th percentile~ school

Female (2018)19th percentile-10 vs school

African American (2026)10th percentile~ school

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

English Language Arts20%-20 vs state

Mathematics14%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS

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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	Directly certified (2024-25)	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
Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1404 Jackson Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 459-4710	310	46	6.7	55.2%	17 (5.5%)	205 (66.1%)	75 (24.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.5%)	23.9	90^th of 124 public elementary schools	27.4%		40.3	60^th of 128 public elementary schools	53.1%	30	19.4	27.3		12.0	30.7	8.3	20.0	36.1	6.0	6.4	4.0	7.6		14.0	$36,390	$3,070	$33,320
Noyes Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2725 10th St. NE	Washington	20018	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 281-2580	293	30	9.7	73.4%	8 (2.7%)	213 (72.7%)	67 (22.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)								(n/a)		41.0	19.2				29.6								$28,660	$2,716	$25,945
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS - Brookland	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	3700 Oakview Terrace NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 265-7237	354	30	12.0	5.9%	140 (39.5%)	101 (28.5%)	59 (16.7%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (13.3%)	82.2	20^th of 124 public elementary schools	83.9%		81.2	19^th of 128 public elementary schools	85.2%	1	53.3	59.1	62.5				58.2	62.2	56.8	47.5				55.8	$29,451	$1,612	$27,839
Burroughs Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1925 Newton St NE	Washington	20018	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 576-6150	331	30	11.2	32.6%	89 (26.9%)	190 (57.4%)	42 (12.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	79.3	22^nd of 124 public elementary schools	82.3%		72.1	22^nd of 128 public elementary schools	82.8%		59.2	54.8	51.3				54.7	74.0	47.6	45.9				53.8	$28,056	$2,367	$25,689
Langdon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1900 Evarts St. NE	Washington	20018	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 576-6048	377	37	10.1	60.5%	16 (4.2%)	243 (64.5%)	104 (27.6%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.4%)	51.9	47^th of 124 public elementary schools	62.1%		40.7	57^th of 128 public elementary schools	55.5%	10	27.2	21.0	55.1				32.4	36.4	23.7	55.1				36.9	$28,229	$2,542	$25,687
DC Prep PCS - Edgewood Elementary School	Public, Charter	PK, KG-3	707 Edgewood Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	DC Prep PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 635-4411	401	38	10.5	55.4%	3 (0.7%)	321 (80.0%)	57 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.7%)								(n/a)								24.4							$29,354	$3,168	$26,186
Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	1240 Randolph Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 723-1467	199	20	10.2	42.2%	20 (10.1%)	132 (66.3%)	37 (18.6%)	7 (3.5%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17.5	106^th of 124 public elementary schools	14.5%					(n/a)	7.7	12.5					24.5			9.0				12.6	$30,828	$2,127	$28,701
Perry Street Preparatory PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	1800 Perry Street NE	Washington	20018	District Of Columbia	Perry Street Preparatory PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 529-4400	437	43	10.1	71.6%	4 (0.9%)	370 (84.7%)	52 (11.9%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	20.6	93^rd of 124 public elementary schools	25.0%		22.4	99^th of 128 public elementary schools	22.7%	6		10.0	7.1	32.7	41.5	48.9	26.0	12.2	15.0		6.4	7.5		10.6	$33,229	$2,719	$30,510
Lee Montessori PCS - Brookland	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	3025 4th Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Lee Montessori PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 779-9740	298	20	15.2	15.1%	119 (39.9%)	108 (36.2%)	33 (11.1%)	12 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (8.4%)	63.8	38^th of 124 public elementary schools	69.4%		58.6	36^th of 128 public elementary schools	71.9%	2		65.4	72.2				51.9	12.0						33.7	$29,009	$574	$28,435
Bunker Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1401 Michigan Ave NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 576-6095	219	21	10.4	35.6%	47 (21.5%)	142 (64.8%)	24 (11.0%)	5 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)							32.2	31.5	61.9					35.6	$29,784	$2,459	$27,325

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS

How many students attend Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS?

In the 2024-25 school year, 310 students attended Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS.

What district is Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS in?

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS

What is the racial makeup of Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS?

Students at Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS are 66% African American, 24% Hispanic, 5% White, 4% Two or more races.

Is Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS a good school?

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS ranks 90^th of 124 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS!

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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.