Summary:
Zip code 20003 in Washington, DC contains 12 schools serving approximately 4,566 students across the Capitol Hill area, including seven elementary schools, one middle school, three high schools, and one alternative special education program. Elementary schools dominate the area, educating about 59% of all students in the zip. Families can choose between traditional District of Columbia Public Schools and several public charter school networks, creating a wide range of educational options.
Performance varies dramatically across the zip. Brent Elementary School is the clear academic standout, with 63.2% ELA proficiency and 72.8% math proficiency — more than double the district averages. Shirley Chisholm Elementary School is a consistently strong option, posting 49% ELA and 48.5% math while improving its ranking three years in a row. Friendship PCS - Chamberlain Middle is a solid middle school choice, ranking in the 66th percentile. At the high school level, Digital Pioneers Academy PCS - Capitol Hill leads the zip with an 82.7% graduation rate, while Eastern High School struggles with just 1.8% math proficiency. Center City PCS - Capitol Hill has fallen from the 33rd to the 6th percentile over two years and is now the lowest-ranked elementary school in the zip.
The most striking pattern is the divide between strong elementary schools and struggling high schools. Math is a particular concern, with proficiency eroding as students advance: at Watkins Elementary School, math proficiency drops from 47.9% in third grade to 26.0% by fifth grade. Both high schools with reported data meet or exceed state graduation averages, yet their math proficiency is in the single digits — a red flag for college and career readiness. Higher spending does not guarantee better results: Brent Elementary spends about $23,000 per student and outperforms Center City, which spends nearly $29,000 per student.
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