Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its District Of Columbia rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

Be the first to know when we post new rankings!

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.

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

Public, Charter Grades PK, KG-6

106^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 124 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of District Of Columbia elementary schools

Summary

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS is a small public charter elementary school in Washington, DC's Brookland/Edgewood area, serving 199 students in grades PK through 6 under the Montessori instructional model. The school operates as its own district in DC's accountability system: Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS ranks 43rd out of 46 districts with zero stars, and its 2025-2026 school ranking places it 106th out of 124 DC schools (15th percentile, 1 star). This marks a significant decline from 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, when the school ranked near the 51st and 52nd percentiles.

Academically, 2025-2026 test results show 24.5% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 12.6% proficient in mathematics, compared to DC averages of 39.6% and 28.2%. There are signs of improvement—ELA proficiency rose from 14.6% and math from 6.4% the previous year—but the base remains very low. Early-grade literacy is an acute concern: only 7.7% of 3rd graders and 12.5% of 4th graders are proficient in ELA, compared to state averages of 31.1% and 39.1%. Fifth-grade math is also particularly weak at 9.0% proficiency. One bright spot is the student-teacher ratio, which dropped from 21.8 in 2022-2023 to 10.2 in 2024-2025—now comparable to high-performing nearby schools—though achievement has not yet caught up.

The most striking context is the neighborhood. Within a mile of Shining Stars are several of DC's strongest elementary schools, including Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho (69% ELA and 64.4% math proficiency), Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS - Brookland (58.2% and 55.8%), Burroughs Elementary School (54.7% and 53.8%), and Washington Yu Ying PCS (53.4% and 53.8%). Even Lee Montessori PCS - Brookland, a fellow Montessori school less than a mile away, achieves 51.9% ELA and 33.7% math proficiency with a four-star rating. Spending does not explain the gap: Shining Stars spent $27,722 per student in 2023-2024, more than Yu Ying ($24,640), Stokes ($24,668), or Lee Montessori ($25,879). The difference appears to lie in instructional quality and how resources are used, not in the Montessori model or a lack of funding.

199

Students ?

10.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,722

Per pupil spending ?

44.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1240 Randolph Street NE
Washington, DC 20017

(202) 723-1467

District: Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

Racial breakdown:

African American:

66.3%

Hispanic:

18.6%

White:

10.1%

See top rated District Of Columbia elementary schools

Compare Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 51st percentile in 2022 → 15th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the District Of Columbia average (19% vs 34% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 36 percentile points since 2022

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg19%

District Of Columbia avg34%

106^th of 124

District Of Columbia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 36 pts since 2022

From top 49% (2022) to bottom 15% (2026)

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

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd of 46Shining Stars Montessori 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2026	17.5	106 of 124	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.6	62 of 128	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.2	48 of 97	50.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	District Of Columbia percentile	Rating
2023	40.8	34 of 60	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	19 of 35	45.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2023)43rd percentile-8 vs school

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

English Language Arts24%-15 vs state

Mathematics13%-16 vs state

★

No ratings yet

Be the first to rate Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS and help other families decide.

Rate Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

Load more schools when map is moved

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 (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 (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 All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	44.4%	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	$27,722	$2,267	$25,455
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	52.3%	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	$24,668	$1,337	$23,331
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	100.0%	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	$30,063	$4,898	$25,165
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS - Calle Ocho	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	4401 8th Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 803-8967	504	39	12.9		162 (32.1%)	100 (19.8%)	160 (31.7%)	8 (1.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	70 (13.9%)	90.7	15^th of 124 public elementary schools	87.9%		79.2	21^st of 128 public elementary schools	83.6%	6	60.2	74.3	75.0				69.0	69.2	62.2	59.6			64.4	$31,458	$1,677	$29,781
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	67.2%	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	$30,751	$3,236	$27,516
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	24.0%	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	$34,581	$5,423	$29,158
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	100.0%	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	$28,094	$4,575	$23,519
Washington Yu Ying PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-5	220 Taylor Street NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	Washington Yu Ying PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 635-1950	701	70	10.0	9.8%	156 (22.3%)	244 (34.8%)	64 (9.1%)	53 (7.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	180 (25.7%)	82	21^st of 124 public elementary schools	83.1%		82.1	18^th of 128 public elementary schools	85.9%	3		66.7	64.9				53.4	59.8	52.8	47.4			53.8	$24,640	$1,348	$23,292
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	30.8%	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	$25,879	$710	$25,169
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	100.0%	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							$26,982	$4,661	$22,321

Frequently Asked Questions about Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

How many students attend Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS?

In the 2024-25 school year, 199 students attended Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS.

Is Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS a good school?

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS ranks in the bottom 14.5% of District Of Columbia elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS?

Students at Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS are 66% African American, 19% Hispanic, 10% White, 4% Asian, 2% American Indian.

What district is Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS in?

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS

Rate Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

DCDistrict Of Columbia Elementary School Rankings

DCDistrict Of Columbia District Rankings

Schools in Washington, DC

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS!

Latest District Of Columbia data All new data »

2025–26 DC CAPE test scoresNewAug 20, 2026

2024–25 DC Science test scoresDec 5, 2025

2024–25 graduation ratesDec 4, 2025

2024–25 DC CAPE test scoresAug 21, 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.