District of Columbia Schools & Education
Public school metrics and education data for all 1 counties.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataAvg Graduation Rate
73.3%
Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$11,959
Avg School Score
48/100
Total Schools
244
63 districts
State Overview
About Schools in District of Columbia
This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.
DC Trails National Graduation and Spending Averages
The District of Columbia reports a 73.3% graduation rate, which sits significantly below the national average of 87.0%. At $11,959 per student, spending also lags behind the national benchmark of $13,000.
A Unitary District with No Regional Variation
Because the District of Columbia operates as a single educational entity, there is no variation in county-level data across the region. The entire system maintains a uniform school score of 55.4 and a consistent graduation rate of 73.3%.
Evaluating the $12,000 Investment Per Pupil
The district invests $11,959 per student to achieve a school score of 55.4, which actually exceeds the national median of 50.0. However, the 73.3% graduation rate suggests that this spending does not yet translate into national-level completion success.
One District Defining the Local Standard
As the only jurisdiction, the District of Columbia holds the top spot by default with a score of 55.4 and a $11,959 investment level. Without neighboring counties for comparison, this single data point represents the entirety of the local educational performance landscape.
Strong School Scores Face Graduation Challenges
DC presents a unique profile where school quality scores beat the national median despite a graduation rate that is over 13 points below the US average. Families find a centralized system that maintains stable performance metrics but requires significant progress to reach national completion standards.
State Score Context
How District of Columbia Counties Are Distributed
1 of 1 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.
Scored county coverage
Counties with complete enough data for the composite score
100%
Higher measured signal
Score range 70-100
0
Midrange measured signal
Score range 40-69
1
Lower measured signal
Score range 0-39
0
Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.
All District of Columbia Counties
| County | School Score |
|---|---|
District of Columbia
| 48/100 |
— = data not available for this county.
Compare county school profiles in District of Columbia
Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions About District of Columbia Schools
What is the graduation rate in District of Columbia?
What is per-pupil spending like in District of Columbia?
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Can District of Columbia be compared with counties in other states?
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.