Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 20005

Zip code 20005 in Washington, D.C. contains exactly one elementary school — Thomson Elementary School — serving grades PK through 5 with 259 students in the District of Columbia Public Schools district. As the only elementary school in the area, Thomson is the default neighborhood school for families in this downtown zip code. The school has improved notably in recent years, climbing from the 40th percentile (2 stars) in 2023–2024 to the 65th percentile (3 stars) in 2024–2025, and maintaining 3 stars in 2025–2026 at the 57th percentile. This trajectory places Thomson in the mid-to-upper tier of district elementary schools, though its rank dipped slightly in the most recent year.

Thomson's academic performance is a mixed picture. In math, students outperform the D.C. state average, with 31.4% of all students proficient compared to 28.2% statewide. Third-grade math is a standout, with 44.4% proficient, nearly matching the DCPS district average of 48.0%. English Language Arts, however, lags: all-grades ELA proficiency is 37.7%, below the district average of 44.1% and slightly below the state average of 39.6%. The widest gap is in 4th grade ELA, where only 27.3% of students are proficient compared to 45.9% districtwide and 39.1% statewide. Fifth-grade science proficiency (22.2%) is essentially at district (23.7%) and state (20.4%) averages.

Thomson is exceptionally well-resourced, spending $30,791 per student in 2023–2024 and maintaining a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 8.2:1 — roughly 31–32 teachers for 259 students. Yet high spending and small classes have not translated into above-average reading outcomes. Parents should note Thomson's clear strength in elementary math and its recent ranking improvement, while recognizing that reading and writing proficiency, especially in 4th grade, needs attention. With strong resources already in place and a stable 3-star rating, Thomson has solid potential for further academic growth. Free/reduced lunch data was not reported for 2024–2025, limiting socioeconomic context.