District of Columbia Public Schools operates 116 public schools serving 50,131 students, placing it among the larger districts in District of Columbia. The school portfolio breaks down into 83 other, 18 high, 14 middle, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 51,245 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in District of Columbia County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $36,134 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 86.2% local, and 13.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $162,479 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 42/100, ranked #23 of 54 in District of Columbia against a state average of 38 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.
Academic infrastructure includes 16 of 116 schools offering Advanced Placement (197 AP courses district-wide), a 325.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 40.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 61.2% African American, 18.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% White across the district's schools.
District of Columbia Public Schools school enrollment varies 27× across entities
District of Columbia Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 70 students (lowest) to 1,855 students (highest), a spread of 1,785 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.
District of Columbia Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 325:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts
student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within District of Columbia Public Schools is typically wider than the District of Columbia Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.
District of Columbia Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 40.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)
chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.
How many schools are in District of Columbia Public Schools?
District of Columbia Public Schools has 116 schools, including 18 high, 83 other, 14 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 50,131 students.
How much does District of Columbia Public Schools spend per student?
District of Columbia Public Schools spends $36,134 per student. The district has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #23 in District of Columbia.
What is the average teacher salary in District of Columbia Public Schools?
The average teacher salary in District of Columbia Public Schools is $162,479 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.
What is the average rent near District of Columbia Public Schools?
The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in District of Columbia County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.
What is the demographic composition of District of Columbia Public Schools?
District of Columbia Public Schools students are 61.2% African American, 18.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% White, 1.7% Asian, averaged across 116 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for District of Columbia Public Schools?
District of Columbia Public Schools has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #23 out of 54 districts in District of Columbia. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.