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 Published By 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.

 

 

 

PK3-12 At-Risk Percentages

School Year
 2014-15
 2015-16
 2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
At-Risk (#) 
16,489 
16,635
17,137 
17,807 
17,418 
Not-at-Risk (#) 
17,182
17,508
18,912
19,438 
20,081 
% At-Risk
48.97%
48.72% 
47.54% 
47.81% 
46.45% 

 *Note: Not-at-Risk equals PK3-12 and Adult students

Historical Enrollment

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