Student Enrollment

The number of students enrolled in public schools in the District of Columbia increased for the 11th consecutive year, reaching 94,603, according to preliminary data released by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). There are 43,556 PK-12 and adult students enrolled in public charter schools in the 2019-20 school year.

Enrollment Data, SY 2018-19

The charts below provide an overview of enrollment by grade, enrollment by school quality report tier, demographics, market share, number of schools and schools in each ward.  Also, visit the Facts and Figures section for more information. OSSE's annual audited enrollment data is available . 

PCS Enrollment by Grade 

Grade

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

 2017-18 2018-19

PK3

2,460

2,768

2,934

3,106

3,023

3,235

 3,305 3,312

PK4

2,922

3,090

3,356

3,319

3,454

3,474

 3,608 3,527

K

2,502

2,857

2,984

3,156

3,101

3,316

 3,233 3,320

Grade 1

2,070

2,422

2,664

2,878

2,880

2,906

 3,080 3,011

Grade 2

1,849

2,083

2,308

2,544

2,657

2,782

 2,816 2,849

Grade 3

1,558

1,808

2,003

2,201

2,349

2,466

 2,674 2,602

Grade 4

1,467

1,549

1,754

1,916

2,065

2,243

 2,360 2,448

Grade 5

1,738

1,776

1,786

2,003

2,102

2,207

 2,432 2,415

Grade 6

2,202

2,292

2,196

2,360

2,567

2,557

 2,799 2,850

Grade 7

2,033

2,148

2,241

2,100

2,254

2,390

 2,422 2,536

Grade 8

1,953

1,941

2,001

2,006

2,040

2,116

 2,263 2,267

Grade 9

2,117

2,203

1,961

1,915

2,018

2,057

 2,013 2,038

Grade 10

1,497

1,577

1,660

1,498

1,454

1,581

 1,688 1,639

Grade 11

1,156

1,298

1,253

1,326

1,329

1,266

 1,409 1,452

Grade 12

987

1,228

1,111

1,092

1,144

1,126

 1,143 1,183

Adult and Alternative

2,817

3,383

4,103

4,012

4,217

4,308

 4,538 4,857

Special Education schools

234

250

250

252

251

 

    

Alternative Accountability

 

 

 

 

 

1,476

 1,557 1,605

Total

31,562

34,673

36,565

37,684

38,905

41,506

 43,340 43,911

Note: In 2016-2017, DC PCSB measures the performance of six schools (Goodwill Excel Center PCS, Kingsman Academy PCS, Maya Angelou PCS – High School, Monument Academy PCS, St. Coletta Special Education PCS, and The Children’s Guild DC PCS) through the Alternative Accountability Framework.

PCS Demographics

Category

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

 2017-18 2018-19

Black or African American

78.45%

76.04%

76.13%

75.65%

75.0%

 73.66%

Hispanic/Latino

15.52%

15.69%

15.45%

16.03%

 15.9% 16.30%

White

3.64%

5.16%

5.72%

5.59%

 5.9% 6.40%

Asian

0.82%

0.96%

0.99%

1.12%

 1.1% 1.07%

American Indian or Alaska

0.17%

0.47%

0.21%

0.16%

 0.2% 0.20%

Native Hawaiian or Other

0.08%

0.11%

0.08%

0.07%

 0.1% 0.09%

Multiracial

1.16%

1.56%

1.42%

1.38%

 1.9% 2.29%

At Risk

 

44.1%

49.1%

48.4%

 43.7% 42.66%

Economically Disadvantaged

77.5%

63.7%

81.8%

77.7%

 72.8% 77.01%

English Language Learners

7.3%

6.9%

7.1%

6.6%

 7.5% 7.52%

Special Education

12.0%

11.7%

13.3%

14.2%

   13.88%

Note: At-risk students were identified for the first time in SY14-15.

Enrollment by Ward Where Students Live 

Ward

Number of 2018-19 public charter school students

Percent of 2018-19 public charter school students

Ward 1

3,608

8%

Ward 2

523

1%

Ward 3

463

1%

Ward 4

6,601

15%

Ward 5

7,703

18%

Ward 6

3,697

8%

Ward 7

9,484

22%

Ward 8

11,757

27%

Enrollment by Ward of Public Charter School/Campus

Student Ward # of Students % of Students
Ward 1 4,560 10%
Ward 2 1,005 2%
Ward 3 0 0
Ward 4 6,487 15%
Ward 5 11,572 26%
Ward 6 4,223 10%
Ward 7 7,308 17%
Ward 8 8,756 20%

66 Nonprofits Educate Students in Grade PK-12, Adult Learners, and Alternative Accountability Schools

Grades 

Number of Schools (Campuses)

Educates Early Childhood

61

Educates Elementary

71

Educates Middle School

47

Educates High School

18

Educates Adult

9

Educates Alternative Accountability

6

66 Nonprofits Operate 123 Public Charters Schools 

Ward

Number of public charter schools in 2017-18

 Number of public charter schools in 2018-19

Ward 1

13

 10

Ward 2

1

 2

Ward 3

0

 0

Ward 4

20

 19

Ward 5

33

 29

Ward 6

16

 16

Ward 7

21

 24

Ward 8

23

 23

Enrollment by School Quality Report Tier

 

Seats by published Tier over time

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17 

 2017-18 2018-19

Tier 1

6,150

6,783

8,208

7,747

7,780

16,355

17,477

 18,356 20,777

Tier 2

12,466

13,239

12,813

13,204

13,630

17,569

17,549

 17,593 17,740

Tier 3

3,900

2,627

3,565

3,690

1,213

1,441

1,606

 1,685 2,614

Untiered

6,850

8,913

10,078

11,924

15,061

3,539

4,874

 5,660 2,780

Total

29,366

31,562

34,664

36,565

37,684

38,904

41,506

 43,429 43,911

 

Note: 2014-15 was a hold harmless year. 2014 School Quality Report Tiers were used to estimate seats by tier in this year.

Historical Enrollment

View public school enrollment from 1967 until present.
View Public School Enrollment.