Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, DC has implemented a new name for its general statewide assessment system, which includes assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics and science. The District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) include the DC ELA assessment (DC ELA), the DC Math assessment (DC Math) and the DC Science assessment (DC Science). Together, these assessments create a comprehensive system that provides important information on students’ progress and proficiency relative to DC’s educational standards.
These assessments are essential tools for understanding students' academic growth, identifying areas of strength, and pinpointing where additional support may be needed. They provide valuable data to help educators, policymakers, and families make informed decisions about students’ learning experiences and future needs.
DC CAPE Results - 2024
2024 DC CAPE Results
During the 2023-24 school year, DC students in grades 3-8 and in eligible high school courses saw ELA proficiency rates increase at 54 school campuses across all student groups, increased average ELA proficiency rate by school campus by 3.76%, increased math scores or maintained them for 69 school campuses across all student groups, and increased the average math proficiency rate by school campus by 3.14%
During the 2022-23 school year, the number of students in grades 3-8 who scored at or above level 4 increased by 4.1 percentage points in ELA and 2.7 percentage points in math, and the number of students in grades 9-12 who scored at or above level 4 increased by 1.4 percentage point in ELA and decreased by 1.0 percentage points in math.
During the 2021-22 school year, the number of students in grades 3-8 who scored at or above level 4 decreased by 10 percentage points in ELA and 13 percentage points in math, and the number of students in grades 9-12 who scored at or above level 4 decreased by 1.7 percentage point in ELA and 6.7 percentage points in math.
In 2019, public charter students earning college and career-ready scores (Level 4 or 5) increased by 2.7 percentage points on the English language arts (ELA) assessment and by 0.3 percentage points on the math assessment.
In 2018, public charter students earning career and college ready scores (Level 4 or 5) increased by 2.7 percentage points on the English language arts (ELA) assessment and by 1.8 percentage points on the math assessment.
2017 was the 10th consecutive year public charter school students have shown steady improvement on the statewide assessment, first on the DC-CAS, then on the PARCC.
2016 PARCC results showed a 4 percentage point increase in the number of citywide public charter school students achieving a 4 or 5 (meeting or exceeding academic expectations) in grades 3-8 and high school on assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and a 2.5 percentage point increase in the number of citywide public charter school students achieving a 4 or 5 in Math,
2015 was the first year of the PARCC assessments. The assessment is aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and were created to measure students' ability to apply their knowledge of concepts rather than memorizing facts.