Best High Schools in Zip Code 20024

Zip code 20024 is served by a single public high school: Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media Arts, a small charter school enrolling 300 students in grades 8 through 12. The school operates as its own district, the Richard Wright PCS for Journalism and Media Arts district, so its district-level results match school-level results. It currently ranks 13th out of 36 DC high schools, placing it in the 64th percentile with a 3-star rating, slightly down from its prior 4-star rating and 12th-place finish. Families in the 20024 area have this one school as their sole public high school option, making its performance particularly important to the community.

Academically, the school shows a stark contrast between subjects. English Language Arts proficiency is improving, rising from 29.6% to 34.9% year-over-year, and upper-level English scores (36.2% proficient on English II) are close to the state average of 38.0%. Mathematics tells a different story: only 2.3% of students meet proficiency standards in 2025–2026, down from 3.5% the prior year and far below the state average of 28.2%. Algebra I proficiency sits at 6.0% versus 12.0% statewide. Nearly all math sub-scores are in single digits. The graduation rate is a relative bright spot at 77.6%, nearly matching the state's 78.7%, even as test proficiency lags well behind.

The school spends a substantial $32,581 per student and maintains a low student-teacher ratio of 11.7:1, yet these resources have not translated into math success. The near-total absence of math proficiency, combined with near-average graduation rates, raises questions about whether students are meeting credit requirements without mastering tested content. For parents considering this school, the picture is mixed: a strong thematic identity in journalism and media arts, improving English scores, and a solid graduation rate counterbalanced by critically low and declining math achievement. With no other high school options in the zip code, targeted intervention in mathematics instruction should be a priority for the local community.