State of D.C. Schools is an annual systemwide overview of public education in the District of Columbia. In school year 2022-23 students and staff began their first normal year of in-person learning since the pandemic. This report examines the District’s persistent push for academic recovery and improving attendance. This version of the report has been adapted for web. You may also access the original PDF version.

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About the D.C. Policy Center 

The mission of the D.C. Policy Center is to arm decision makers with fact-based, unbiased, and reliable research and analyses to help create a vibrant local economy that can maximize opportunities for residents, workers, and businesses in the District of Columbia. Through objective and rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, actively promotes policy solutions, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate. 

About this report 

State of D.C. Schools is an annual systemwide overview of public education in the District of Columbia. The report’s main purpose is to give D.C. residents, parents, caregivers, policymakers, and other stakeholders a snapshot of the overall performance of the District’s public schools. 

This report captures school year 2022-23, which in many ways marked the first normal year of in-person school during the pandemic. This report examines a continued push for education recovery with a concentrated push especially toward improving attendance.  

We hope that this State of D.C. Schools report will help inform local education leaders and policymakers in their development of future policy decisions especially as federal pandemic recovery funds sunset. 

The views expressed in this report are those of D.C. Policy Center researchers and experts and should not be attributed to members of the D.C. Policy Center’s Board of Directors or its funders. 

Other reports in this series 

• State of D.C. Schools, 2018-19
• State of D.C. Schools, 2019-20
• State of D.C. Schools, 2020-21
• State of D.C. Schools, 2021-22

Acknowledgements 

This report was prepared with generous support from Education Forward DC. The report also benefited from comments provided by the staff of DME, DC SBOE, OSSE, and DC PCSB. Their review in no way indicates an endorsement of this report, and all errors are the responsibility of the D.C. Policy Center authors. 

School year 2022-23 began the great work of recovery from the pandemic as students, teachers, and school leaders focused their efforts and investments on academic recovery and student wellbeing. At the center of these efforts was a push to increase attendance and decrease high chronic absenteeism rates.  

In many ways, school year 2022-23 marked the first normal year of in-person school during the pandemic as COVID-19 cases dropped below the previous school year’s levels. With the easing of strict COVID-19 protocols, many schools began to recreate school culture and were able to dedicate more resources to their core programs. Outcomes for school year 2022-23 show a new state of play for public schools in D.C. They indicate some improvements since the previous school year and a return to pre-pandemic levels. Nonetheless, results for key metrics show the pandemic’s impacts on education are long-lasting and will take many years to undo. 

Executive summary 

School year 2022-23 began the great work of recovery from the pandemic as students, teachers, and school leaders focused their efforts and investments on academic recovery and student wellbeing. At the center of these efforts was a push to increase attendance and decrease high chronic absenteeism rates.  

In many ways, school year 2022-23 marked the first normal year of in-person school during the pandemic as COVID-19 cases dropped below the previous school year’s levels. With the easing of strict COVID-19 protocols, many schools began to recreate school culture and were able to dedicate more resources to their core programs. Outcomes for school year 2022-23 show a new state of play for public schools in D.C. They indicate some improvements since the previous school year and a return to pre-pandemic levels. Nonetheless, results for key metrics show the pandemic’s impacts on education are long-lasting and will take many years to undo. 

Key metrics 

Enrollment shifts: Enrollment grew by 2 percent but was still lower than pre-pandemic levels in pre-kindergarten and elementary school. Earlier grades have significant influence on the direction of future enrollments and school budgets. 

Learning outcomes: Statewide assessments improved in English Language Arts (ELA) and math by 3 percentage points over the previous school year, but this was not enough to make up for pandemic learning loss. The share of students who meet or exceed expectations remained below the pre-pandemic school year 2018-19 for both ELA (by 3 percentage points) and math (by 9 percentage points). 

High school graduation: The high school graduation rate was 76 percent, showing an increase of 8 percentage points over pre-pandemic school year 2018-19. However, a smaller share of graduates continued their education, with postsecondary enrollment for the class of 2021-22 decreasing to 53 percent from 56 percent in school year 2018-19. 

Postsecondary completion: New data showed that for the 9^th grade cohort of 2011-12 (with a four-year high school graduation in school year 2014-15), 18 out of every 100 students completed a postsecondary degree within 6 years (by the spring of 2022). 

Attendance: 44 percent of students were chronically absent, showing an improvement from 48 percent in the previous school year. Absenteeism was still much higher than pre-pandemic levels (29 percent in school year 2018-19) despite the switch to a less stringent absenteeism policy. Chronic absenteeism among high school students was particularly high at 60 percent. 

Discipline: Out-of-school suspensions have returned to pre-pandemic levels with 6 percent of students receiving a suspension, despite new restrictions on the types of behavior that lead to suspensions and the duration of suspensions.  

Retention: After peaking at 81 percent during the pandemic, teacher retention was back to pre-pandemic levels at 70 percent. 

School funding: Schools had additional resources to spend on pandemic recovery through ESSER funds. As of February 2024 reporting, schools spent 50 percent of ESSER III funding, and have an additional $175 million to spend in school year 2023-24 and through an extension period (spending amounts are not final).  

This year’s State of D.C. Schools report starts with a chronicle of how students fared during the second year of attending school fully in-person post-pandemic, with a focus on enrollment trends and student outcomes. The report also documents the school environment, with the impact of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding and a look at the student experience. Finally, the report provides a preview of school year 2023-24. 

The recovery dashboard below displays most of these key metrics for school year 2018-19 (pre-pandemic) and school year 2022-23 (post-pandemic) by student group, highlighting the difference between the D.C. average and each student group’s outcomes.

Students 

This section presents enrollment trends and outcomes for students. Public school enrollment has decreased nationally since the pandemic, with a drop of 1.2 million students in school year 2020-21 that persisted into school year 2021-22.¹  In school year 2022-23, enrollment in D.C.’s public schools, including District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools started to turn around, with pre-kindergarten through grade 12 enrollment increasing for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic by 2 percent. However, pre-kindergarten and elementary enrollment is still lower than pre-pandemic. Academic outcomes have increased post-pandemic in both math and ELA, excluding high school grades, but remain lower than pre-pandemic scores. Outcomes are mixed for high school students, who are more likely to graduate high school but less likely to continue to postsecondary education. 

Enrollment  

There were 88,528 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students enrolled in school year 2022-23, with growth for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic and a larger increase in high schools. The profile of D.C.’s student population didn’t change much, but there was an uptick in the proportion of students who are designated as “at-risk” to 52 percent. Students are designated as at-risk if they meet one of the following criteria: experience homelessness, are in the foster care system, qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or are at least one year older than the expected age for their high school grade.²  

Enrollment changes from previous school year 

In school year 2022-23, enrollment in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 grew by 1,537 students, or 2 percent (see Figure 1). Over the same period, enrollment in Maryland’s public schools remained flat and enrollment in Virginia’s public schools grew by 1 percent.³ ,⁴  This was the first year that enrollment grew in a meaningful way since the beginning of the pandemic. Higher enrollment—especially an enrollment increase of 401 students (4 percent) in pre-kindergarten classes for 3- and 4-year-olds—is an important sign of recovery and a return of trust to D.C.’s public schools. Enrollment in these non-compulsory grades declined during the pandemic, in part due to lower births and in part due to lower demand.⁵   

Enrollment across high school grades grew by more than other grade bands at 840 students (5 percent). This is linked both to larger cohorts aging up and lower 9^th grade repetition rates that may have resulted in lower dropout rates.⁶  Elementary school enrollment came to a standstill, and middle school enrollment grew at 1 percent. These lower enrollment growth rates at earlier grade bands suggest enrollment could decline as the larger cohorts the city began building in early 2010s cycle through high school.  

Enrollment by ward 

While 42 percent of D.C.’s public school students live in wards 7 and 8, enrollment growth is not fastest in these wards (see Figure 2). In Wards 1, 2, 3, and 5, enrollment grew by at least 4 percent, or twice the rate of overall growth across the entire city, between school years 2021-22 and 2022-23. Over this same period, enrollment in Ward 7 grew by 1 percent and enrollment declined by 1 percent in Ward 8. 

One bright spot for Ward 7 is pre-kindergarten enrollment, which grew by 7 percent. Elementary school enrollment grew fastest in Wards 2, 3, and 5. Ward 3 experienced a 5 percent increase in middle school enrollment, growing five times the city average, and Wards 1, 3, and 4 experienced the highest enrollment growth at the high school level. 

Special populations 

In D.C., Local Education Agencies (LEAs) receive additional funding for certain populations, including students who are designated as “at-risk,” students who are English learners, and students with disabilities. 

In school year 2022-23, 52 percent of D.C.’s public school students were designated as at-risk for academic failure, an increase of 3 percentage points from the previous school year (see Figure 3). Growth in the share of at-risk students is partly driven by more students being eligible for SNAP and TANF benefits; between school years 2021-22 and 2022-23, the percent of students in this category increased by 3 percent.⁷ 

In addition, students with disabilities made up 16 percent of the D.C. school population in school year 2022-23, an increase of 1 percentage point over the previous school year. This slight increase could be due to the first year of implementation of OSSE supports and professional development required by the Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020,⁸ which may have helped to earlier identify students with reading disabilities. It could also be the result of the return to in-person learning, which makes it easier to identify some special needs.  

Lastly, the share of students who are English learners remained steady at 13 percent. But there was a change in how these students move out of English learner status. Previously English learners had to score a 5.0 on the ACCESS assessment to exit English learner status.⁹ School year 2022-23 was the second year after OSSE adopted modified exit criteria for English learners to need a 4.5 score on the ACCESS assessment to exit the English learner program.¹⁰

Race and ethnicity 

In school year 2022-23, schools served mostly students of color (see Figure 4) in similar proportions to the previous year. Across all grades, 64 percent of students were Black (1 percentage point decrease), 18 percent were Latino (1 percentage point increase), 14 percent were white (increase of 1 percentage point), and 5 percent were other races or ethnicities (including two or more races, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander).¹¹ Pre-kindergarten had the largest share of white students (18 percent), but this share decreased to 9 percent in high school. 

Enrollment by sector 

In school year 2022-23, 46 percent of pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students were enrolled in public charter schools. This was identical to the share in the previous year. The remaining 54 percent enrolled in District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) schools, with 28 percent of students attending their by-right school as determined by residence, 19 percent attending a DCPS by-right school as an out-boundary student, 5 percent attending a DCPS application high school, and 2 percent attending a DCPS citywide school (see Figure 5). 

Adult, alternative, and special education school learners

D.C. publicly funds 14 adult and alternative public schools comprised of 11 public charter schools and three DCPS schools that provide opportunities to earn high school degrees, gain English language skills, or enroll in workforce training.¹² 

In school year 2022-23, 6,501 adult and alternative learners were enrolled in D.C.’s public schools, reflecting an 8 percent increase over the previous year. However, this number is still 599 below pre-pandemic levels (see Figure 6). Most learners were Black or Latino, resided in Wards 4 and 8, and reported speaking a language other than English at home.¹³

In addition to schools for adult and alternative learners, D.C. has two specialized schools that serve special education students with greater levels of need (St. Coletta PCS and River Terrace Education Campus). Enrollment for special education students at these schools has increased to 366 students—a 4 percent increase from the previous school year.

Outcomes  

Post-pandemic student outcomes are mixed, with increases to learning achievement and postsecondary enrollment that remain below pre-pandemic levels, and high school graduation rates that continue to increase. New student-level data on postsecondary completion showed that of every 100 9^th graders in school year 2011-12, 18 completed postsecondary education within six years of graduating high school (by the spring of 2021). For a national comparison, as of 2022, 47 percent of the population age 25 or older had at least an associate’s (10 percent) or bachelor’s degree or higher (37 percent).¹⁴ 

ELA and math learning outcomes 

In school year 2022-23, D.C. administered the state assessment, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), for the second time after a two-year pause during the pandemic. Between school years 2021-22 and 2022-23, the share of students meeting or exceeding expectations increased by 3 percentage points in both ELA and math (see Figure 7).

These assessed gains are on par with annual pre-pandemic gains (an average of 2.5 percentage points) but not enough to make up for the learning loss students experienced during the pandemic. For example, ELA scores increased from 31 percent to 34 percent for all students, but they are lower than the pre-pandemic high of 37 percent in school year 2018-19 and returning to the levels of five years ago. For math, students gained 3 percentage points to reach 22 percent, but these results are 9 percentage points lower than pre-pandemic highs. In fact, they have returned to the levels of eight years ago.

Learning outcomes were lowest for students with disabilities. Among this group, only 8 percent met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and only 6 percent in math. Among economically disadvantaged students (a narrower category than at-risk from previous years for high school students), 18 percent of students met or exceeded expectations in ELA and 8 percent met or exceeded expectations in math. More so, achievement gaps increased for Black and Latino students when compared to white students in math and for Latino students in ELA. In addition, Latino students had similar achievement levels to all students pre-pandemic and are now behind the D.C. average.

Academic growth 

Due to the pandemic pause in statewide assessments, school year 2022-23 was the first year since 2018-19 that academic growth measures were available for D.C.’s students. Academic growth is typically measured by Median Growth Percentile (MGP), calculated by ordering student growth percentiles for all students from smallest to largest and selecting the MGP as the percentile in the middle of that list. This means that half of students in the group have a student growth percentile above the MGP, and half of the students in the group have a student growth percentile below the MGP. 

In the past, the MGP was calculated across all students in all school districts that participated in the PARCC exams. Because many other school districts have left the PARCC consortium, MGP only includes D.C. students and the median for one district is by definition 50—and therefore not comparable to previous years. MGP in math is highest for Latino students (see Figure 8). Students who are economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities had lower MGPs, meaning their achievement improved by less compared to similar students. 

Literacy outcomes 

In school year 2022-23, D.C.’s public schools invested significant resources in improving literacy rates, in part due to the implementation of the Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020. OSSE offered professional training to kindergarten, first grade, and second grade educators on recognizing reading difficulties, screening for reading difficulties, and implementing instruction that meets the needs of students with reading difficulties. In addition, educators across all grade bands received awareness training on reading difficulties. 

To identify and track reading challenges over a school year, many schools in D.C. use Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), a teacher-administered assessment focusing on the acquisition of foundational literacy skills. Using a sample of approximately half of all kindergarten through grade 2 students, an EmpowerK12 analysis found that 59 percent of students met benchmarks by the end of school year 2022-23, surpassing 49 percent in the previous year and 55 percent in the pre-pandemic school year 2018-19. Outcomes for DIBELS in this sample are also better than the pre-pandemic levels for at-risk students (48 percent meeting the benchmarks) and students with disabilities (37 percent meeting the benchmarks).²³

However, EmpowerK12’s analysis of a computer-based test’s results on a similarly sized sample of students shows reading comprehension for these grades remains below pre-pandemic levels. In school year 2022-23, 50 percent of students performed at or above grade level for reading comprehension. This is 17 percentage points lower than the share of students that performed at grade level in 2018-19 (67 percent). At-risk students (39 percent) and students with disabilities (25 percent) also had lower reading comprehension than before the pandemic.²⁴

High school graduation 

Four-year graduation rates have steadily increased since the pandemic began and rose again by 1 percentage point in school year 2022-23 to 76 percent (see Figure 9). Graduation rates improved the most for economically disadvantaged students, with a 5 percentage point increase from 63 percent to 68 percent. However, this rate is compared to at-risk students in previous years, and now excludes students who are overage and in high school, which may have boosted graduation rates. English learners and students with disabilities also had large increases of 4 percentage points in graduation rates.  

While a higher graduation rate is a positive outcome, it is not associated with improved learning outcomes. Assessment results show no improvement in ELA nor math for high school students in post-pandemic years. Importantly, math outcomes are lower than pre-pandemic, with 11 percent of high school students meeting or exceeding expectations in school year 2022-23 compared to 18 percent in school year 2019-20.²⁶ In addition, this graduating cohort (who started 9^th grade in 2019-20) was the first to experience a lower than usual 9^th grade repetition in school year 2020-21. This may mean a larger share of students have been moving on to upper grades than in previous years, resulting in higher graduation. 

9th grade repetition

Before the pandemic, 9^th grade repetition was on the rise at 28 percent of 9^th graders being a repeater in school year 2019-20 (see Figure 10).²⁷  However, in school year 2020-21, when the graduating cohort for 2022-23 would have been in 10^th grade, 9^th grade repetition declined to 24 percent. Latino students and English learners had the sharpest declines in repetition. On the surface, more students passing 9^th grade is a positive outcome, but given the lack of progress in PARCC scores, it did not necessarily mean better learning outcomes. 

Postsecondary college enrollment 

The most recent postsecondary enrollment data for the class of 2022 shows 53 percent of students who graduated high school enrolled in a higher education institution within six months (see Figure 11). This is a slight uptick after the drop for the class of 2021; however, it is still below the pre-pandemic level of 56 percent in school year 2018-19. White students had the highest postsecondary enrollment at 81 percent. Among this graduating cohort, 50 percent of Black students, and 44 percent of Latino students enrolled in postsecondary within six months. Students with disabilities had the lowest enrollment at 30 percent. 

Postsecondary completion 

Based on cohort data shared by OSSE for the 9^th grade class of 2011-12, out of every 100 students that started 9^th grade together, 18 completed a postsecondary degree within six years of high school graduation (see Figure 12). This is a different and more precise number than previous D.C. Policy Center estimates that combined publicly available data for multiple cohorts.  

In this cohort, female and white students have the highest postsecondary completion (24 and 56 out of 100 completing, respectively), and students with disabilities have the lowest (5 out of 100 completing). Students who are economically disadvantaged have the largest number of students who end their education with a high school diploma (52 out of every 100), while students with disabilities are the most likely to not complete high school (57 out of 100). 

School environment 

This section looks at recovery efforts and the student experience in D.C. ESSER funding has been an integral part of academic recovery efforts due to the pandemic. According to national reporting as of September 30^th, 2023, states and school districts have spent 70 percent of these funds and D.C. has spent 67 percent as of February 2024 (this share is not final and may increase in additional reporting periods).³⁴  While these funds must be used or committed by September 2024 with an extension period for some purposes, they have been critical in hiring additional staff, supporting student and staff well-being strategies, and rebuilding school culture. These funds have contributed to more professional development opportunities, high-impact tutoring and intervention programs, longer school years and days, and additional investments. Despite these investments, chronic absenteeism and wellbeing measures have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Investments in recovery and ESSER funding 

The school environment in school year 2022-23 has been shaped by continued investment in pandemic recovery and enabled, for the most part, by the large influx of funding from the federal government through ESSER funds.  

ESSER spending to date 

To assist schools in addressing pandemic-induced challenges and interruptions to learning, LEAs were granted $540 million in federal funding in three rounds of ESSER funds, beginning in 2020.³⁵ As of February 2024, after at least three fiscal years when funds were first made available, schools have spent $364 million according to D.C.’s reporting (these numbers may increase with additional reporting and are not final). Accelerated learning was the largest expenditure of ESSER spending, accounting for 64 percent of spending. Of the other allowed expenditures, 24 percent has been spent on safe reopening, 7 percent on student and staff well-being, and 6 percent on other expenditures (see Figure 13). For ESSER III, schools have spent $173 million so far, with $175 million remaining to be spent in school year 2023-24 and beyond with allowable extensions. 

Accelerated learning 

In Continuous Education Plans (CEPs), LEAs outlined their plans for ESSER spending, including their learning acceleration strategies.³⁶ Weighting responses by LEA enrollments, the most common accelerated learning strategies used by LEAs serving at least three-quarters of students are high-impact tutoring, summer programming, new professional development programs for staff, after-school programming, new intervention programs or student supports, new curricula, and new uses of staff planning time for accelerated learning (see Figure 14 below).  

In addition to school-level investments, OSSE has made a three-year investment of $35 million to promote and expand the use of high-impact tutoring (HIT). HIT is designed to support students, especially at-risk students, who fell behind academically due to the COVID-19 pandemic.³⁷ The District plans to serve at least 10,000 students through HIT by fall 2024 across 90 percent of priority schools, where there is a great concentration of students who need academic supports.³⁸

Safe reopening

Safe reopening investments included air quality equipment and servicing, changes to facilities and outdoor spaces, supplemental staffing for school operations, Coronavirus testing, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies, sanitation services, and public health consulting services. These investments continued in school year 2022-23, although they were less of a critical priority with COVID-19 cases well below the previous school year (an average of 80 cases per day in school year 2022-23 for all D.C. residents compared to 294 cases per day in school year 2021-22).³⁹

The need for and access to mental health supports 

Mental health supports have been a pressing issue for policymakers and school leaders, especially with students and staff returning to school full-time in person. In listening sessions with students, many students reported that they were juggling mental health challenges with the academic workload, in an environment where they perceived schools had higher expectations of student engagement and attendance than the previous year. One change that appears to be more permanent is parents’ attitudes towards attendance. In our listening sessions, parents expressed being more understanding of their students’ mental wellbeing, and more willing to allow their students to take mental health days, especially if schoolwork was being posted online virtually, and students weren’t falling behind academically. 

DCPS administers a student survey called Panorama across all students in grades 3 through 12 to track student perceptions about being loved, challenged, and prepared. Panorama survey findings do not show much progress since the fall of 2020 when the schools only offered virtual instruction (see Figure 15). The overall index is down by one percentage point, and the shares of students who report feeling loved and challenged both declined by 3 percentage points, while the share who report feeling more prepared increased by 3 percentage points in the fall of 2022 compared to 2020.  

A study supported by Youth Invest Partners and conducted by Bellwether, a nonprofit education consulting organization, of over 5,000 public charter school students in D.C. using many of the same questions as in the Panorama question bank provides an additional snapshot of student wellbeing in school year 2022-23. The study found that more than 50 percent of students reported valuing school, but less than 40 percent reported feeling engaged in school. In addition, older students scored lower than younger students on indicators of wellbeing.⁴⁰ Student safety at school was also disconcerting; 24 percent of students reported not feeling safe at school, both physically and psychologically, and 33 percent reported they were likely to be bullied online.⁴¹

With 7 percent of ESSER funds going toward student and staff wellbeing, schools have invested more in trauma-informed practices, meals, and mental health services and supports, among other interventions. This has supported a shift away from part-time mental health professional staff and toward full-time mental health professional staff. Part-time mental health professionals represented 20 percent of the total in school year 2019-20 and 14 percent in school year 2022-23 (see Figure 16). Licensed independent clinical social workers, who hold a master’s degree in social work, are the most common type of mental health professionals.⁴⁵

Student experience 

Even with recovery investments, chronic absenteeism remains high with 44 percent of students missing 10 percent or more of the school year—14 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels—compared to 29.7 percent nationally in school year 2021-22.⁴⁶  In contrast, other indicators, such as teacher retention and out-of-school suspensions, have returned to pre-pandemic levels. In school year 2022-23, 70 percent of teachers stayed in the same position at the same school following a brief improvement during the pandemic, and compared to 82 percent nationally at schools where 75 percent or more of students were approved for free and reduced-price lunch in school year 2021-22.⁴⁷  Additionally, 6 percent of students received an out-of-school suspension. 

Chronic absenteeism 

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year, remains one of the greatest challenges for D.C.’s public schools, especially at high schools. Chronic absenteeism declined to 43.7 percent in school year 2022-23, a 4.4 percentage point decrease from 48.1 percent in school year 2021-22 (see Figure 17). However, this is still 14 percentage points higher than the 29.4 percent of students chronically absent in school year 2018-19. Importantly, absenteeism undermines all other investments in schools. If students are not consistently present, they are unable to access the academic and social supports provided to them by schools. 

Chronic absenteeism is a particularly big issue in high school, where 60 percent of students are chronically absent. Almost a third of 9^th graders start high school with “profound” chronic absenteeism; 31 percent of 9^th graders miss 30 percent or more of school days.⁴⁸

In listening sessions, parents, students, and teachers identified several new factors contributing to the recent rise in absenteeism rates. Illness has become a more common cause. Many mentioned an increase in mental health days, and students and parents are particularly concerned with safety issues when commuting to school especially if students have to drop their siblings off at school which is also contributing to absenteeism and tardiness. Additionally, students reported frequently leaving early.  

Participants in listening sessions also shared a noticeable shift in attitudes toward attendance. Both students and families place less importance on physical presence in schools as a requirement for learning, and this is especially true for older students. This shift is attributed to the belief that virtual learning options effectively compensate for missed time in the classroom, thereby diminishing the impact of absences on education. Alongside this, there is a perceived decrease in accountability for attending school. 

“Poverty is the biggest barrier to kids coming to school. The majority of our students are in crisis mode. Their stories are staggering. It’s really hard to teach when the vast majority of your students can’t have their basic needs met. I feel like we’re lucky we have social workers at all grade levels, but even then, that’s not enough. Social workers are under stress, they don’t have the capacity to meet the basic needs of our kids. I think that’s a big problem.”

Teacher

Discipline and school safety 

During school year 2022-23, 6 percent of students received at least one out-of-school suspension, up from 4 percent in school year 2021-22 (see Figure 18). This rise occurred during the second full year of the Student Fair Access to School Act, which aimed to restrict the reasons for and durations of out-of-school suspensions. Despite this legislation, suspension rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels for most groups. Black students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities experienced the highest levels of out-of-school suspensions. Meanwhile, the rate of in-school suspensions increased slightly to 1.7 percent of students. 

Community safety 

Community safety continues to be an issue for D.C.’s students. When students do not feel safe, they are less likely to attend school, engage academically, or maintain their social and emotional health. During listening sessions, students spoke about safety as important both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Concerns about community safety also connect with incidents of violence across the District, in particular homicides. Understanding the impact of violence across D.C. is paramount in understanding how students navigate attending school, academic outcomes, and mental well-being. In school year 2022-23, homicides (used as a metric as the most reliable type of crime reported) decreased by 5 percent over the previous school year to 222, but this level is higher than 158 homicides in school year 2018-19 pre-pandemic.⁵²  Homicides were still disproportionately concentrated in Wards 7 and 8, where 64 percent of the total occurred—meaning that students living in and attending schools in Wards 7 and 8 are more likely to be directly or indirectly exposed to related trauma.  

Educator retention 

During school year 2022-23, the number of teachers in D.C.’s public schools for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 rose to 8,732⁵³ marking a 7 percent increase over the 8,151 teachers in school year 2021-22. 

Teacher retention (defined as staying in the same role as the same school) reached its highest point at 81 percent in school year 2020-21 amidst the pandemic, but dropped back to 70 percent in the fall of 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels (see Figure 19). This decrease suggests that the initial uncertainty of the pandemic led to fewer job changes among teachers. An additional 9 percent of teachers stayed in D.C.’s public schools but moved to different schools. Early Childhood Education and English as a Second Language teachers stayed in their schools most often (82 percent), while Career Technical Education teachers were most likely to leave (58 percent).⁵⁴ 

During our listening sessions, teachers emphasized the importance of clear and visionary leadership, stability and consistency throughout the year, and the flexibility to be creative and manage their schedules when deciding whether to stay or leave.  

“I want support but I also want to be respected as an adult [including through] leadership opportunities within the school so I can keep growing in my career but keep teaching.”

Teacher

In school year 2022-23, the citywide vacancy in teaching positions fell to 3 percent from 6 percent in the previous year, suggesting an improved hiring environment for new positions.⁵⁵ Even with this decrease, however, both teachers and students noted in our listening sessions that navigating staffing shortages remained a significant challenge. Schools used various strategies to cope, such as virtual teachers, in-house substitutes, or having teachers cover additional classes, which often proved burdensome. The difficulty in finding substitutes prompted some schools to hire dedicated substitutes to reduce strain. In our listening sessions, teachers mentioned that dedicated substitutes helped reduce stress, had more familiarity with school culture, and were able to better relate to students. 

“The first Wednesday of every month is called Wellness Wednesday. So our dismissal for students is at 1:30. And then once your students are dismissed, then folks can go about doing whatever they need to do to be well.” 

School principal

“Teachers miss because they’re burnt out and underpaid. Any given day we’re short staffed and we’re combining three classrooms and the lesson plan goes out the window. It’s not about the enrichment of the program, it’s about the data. This bleeds into my home life too – when I have to deal with all this at work I’m exhausted, and I don’t have the energy to deal with my own kids’ behavior.”

Teacher

“When you have more teachers, more adults in the building supporting students. Students thrive and teachers thrive because they have that extra support.”

School principal

Principal retention 

In school year 2022-23, D.C.’s public schools employed 235 principals.⁵⁶ Of these, 74 percent continued their roles in the same school as the previous school year and another 5 percent remained as D.C. principals, but in different public schools. Principal retention rates have now stabilized to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a similar trend to teacher retention (see Figure 20). This stabilization follows a period of higher retention during the pandemic. During our listening sessions, teachers expressed a preference for administrators who provided clear direction and flexible schedules and noted that frequent changes in school leadership disrupted the continuity of the school’s vision and mission. 

Look ahead to school year 2023-24 and beyond 

In school year 2023-24, schools continue to work hard to decrease chronic absenteeism, which is estimated to have improved by between 8 and 12 percentage points for DCPS (data were not available for public charter schools) as of December 1, 2023.⁵⁷ Enrollment continued to increase to 2.2 percent across all grades. There are a few policy changes that have the potential to shift the education landscape in the years to come, including three studies from the DME, a new public charter accountability framework, a bigger push for a school climate survey, and a new Education through Employment data system. There are challenges ahead, too, with the potential of a fiscal cliff after ESSER funds run out. 

DME studies

In 2023 and 2024, the DME is undertaking three interrelated studies on school boundaries, school facilities, and school funding. The first study, the Boundary and Student Assignment Study will evaluate the current boundaries, feeder patterns, and student assignment policies of DCPS, with plans to make recommendations in 2024 to be implemented no earlier than school year 2025-26. Some policies would take longer to implement – this is the earliest that boundary revisions would go into effect. 

The second study, the D.C. Public Education Master Facilities Plan (MFP), is a 5- to 10-year strategic plan that aims to optimize school facilities use, guarantee that all students attend modern, state-of-the-art facilities, and ensure that all school facilities are well-maintained.  

The third is a funding adequacy study, the first since 2013, which will assess how D.C. distributes resources to improve school quality. This study may lead to revisions in the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula (UPSFF), adjustments to funding formula weights and policies, changes in non-formula funding, and alterations in how school budgets are developed. 

In addition to the above studies, the DME is convening a School Safety Enhancement Committee with the objective of providing actionable recommendations on ways schools and those within the school ecosystem can ensure public schools are safe for all youth and children. The committee is comprised of representatives and experts from city education and public safety agencies. The committee will meet between November 2023 and January 2024 and deliver a final report to the Mayor in February 2024.⁵⁸

Public charter schools accountability framework

The D.C. Public Charter School Board (DC PSCB) has proposed a new academic accountability system, Annual School Performance Index Report & Evaluation (ASPIRE)^lix to more effectively evaluate the quality of education for students from marginalized backgrounds. One notable change is a move from a three-tier evaluation scale to a five-tier scale. Another change is the inclusion of school-specific mission and goals in the evaluation rubric. The framework will also consider not just post-secondary outcomes, but also career outcomes, and have a greater focus on absenteeism. This framework will be applied for the first time in school year 2025-26.⁵⁹

Education through Employment data system

DME has created the Office of Education Through Employment Pathways to support D.C. residents on the path to accessing good jobs and to achieve economic mobility. A key initiative of this office is to establish an Education Through Employment data system. This system will collect, analyze, and report data on the progress of D.C. residents in education, workforce training, and employment.⁶⁰

Once this data system is in place, for the first time, D.C. will be able to assess the early career outcomes of former D.C. public school students and gain valuable insights on the effectiveness of programs offered to assist D.C. residents in accessing employment opportunities.  

Fiscal Cliff

D.C.’s public schools may face a fiscal cliff when ESSER funds are no longer available in school year 2024-25, although there will be potential for leveraging late liquidation to help soften the landing with an extension period. Public funding for schools increased by 56 percent from fiscal year 2019 to 2024, alongside a 9 percent increase in enrollment. An estimated two-thirds of this increase came from UPSFF increases and one-third came from ESSER and other one-time funding.⁶¹ Adding a pressure point, Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) or staff counts have risen faster than enrollments at LEAs receiving ESSER funds, and these extra supports and federal resources will be a challenge to replace moving forward (see Figure 21). The Mayor has proposed a historic 12.4 percent increase to the UPSFF in school year 2024-25, which will provide a smoother landing and allow schools to continue to address many of the pandemic recovery challenges. 

Conclusion 

Education in D.C. is at a pivotal time in recovery after the pandemic. As the data show, much work is needed to return to and to surpass the progress that was ongoing pre-pandemic (see Figure 22). Chronic absenteeism is a top priority, as students being in school make it possible to learn, to benefit from mental health supports, to participate in opportunities that connect them to college and career, and so much more. The expanded role of schools, which got even larger during the pandemic, can be a challenge to maintain—while necessary as many student needs are outside of the classroom. 

Moving forward in this new normal, schools in D.C. should come together with a vision for success post-pandemic, how to achieve it, and how to measure it. This could mean reimagining the school experience with a new citywide focus on school climate. It could mean a new look at experiences after high school with the Education Through Employment data system. It could mean thinking through staffing and flexible scheduling to improve teacher retention. In all these areas, D.C.’s schools need a pledge to improve outcomes for young people—a citywide goal and what each school can do to move the needle to these ends. Importantly, there should be a realignment of incentives that have shifted during the pandemic.  

1. Dee, T. S. 2023. “Where the Kids Went: Nonpublic Schooling and Demographic Change during the Pandemic Exodus from Public Schools.” Urban Institute: The Learning Curve. Retrieved from https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Where%20the%20Kids%20Went-%20Nonpublic%20Schooling%20and%20Demographic%20Change%20during%20the%20Pandemic%20Exodus%20from%20Public%20Schools_0.pdf 
2. District of Columbia Public Schools. At-Risk Funding. Retrieved from https://dcpsbudget.com/budget-model/at-risk-funding/
3. Maryland State Department of Education. 2024. “2023 Maryland State Schools at a Glance.” Maryland State Department of Education. Retrieved from https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/AtaGlance/Index/3/17/6/99/XXXX
4. Virginia Department of Education. 2024. “Fall Membership Build-A-Table.” Virginia Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.doe.virginia.gov/data-policy-funding/data-reports/statistics-reports/enrollment-demographics 
5. Coffin, C. and Rubin, J. 2022. Declining enrollment and lower demand: Charting the future of public school enrollment in D.C. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/enrollment-decline/
6. Coffin, C. and Mason, H. 2023. Chart of the week: 9^th grade repetition is down after the pandemic. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/9th-grade-repetition/
7. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. “Office of the State Superintendent of Education Responses to Fiscal Year 2022 Performance Oversight Questions.” DC Council. Retrieved from https://dccouncil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023OS1.pdf
8. D.C Act 23-0548, DC Law 23-0191 Effective from Mar 16, 2021. This bill was originally enacted without sufficient funding to implement it, but OSSE was able to implement it in school year 2022-23.
9. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2022. EL Exit Criteria Change: 2021-22 School Year. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/EL%20Exit%20Criteria%20Change%20for%20Website.pdf 
10. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. Responses to Fiscal Year 2022 Performance Oversight Questions. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/FY22%20OSSE%20Performance%20Oversight%20Hearing%20Council%20Responses.pdf
11. Similar to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME), this State of D.C. Schools report focuses on the three largest races and ethnicities in D.C. as the size of each other group is 3 percent or less.
12. Coffin, C. and Rubin, J. 2023. D.C.’s adult public charter schools: Who they serve, how they serve, and what they achieve. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/adult-charters/
13. Coffin, C., & Rubin, J. 2023. D.C.’s adult public charter schools: Who they serve, how they serve, and what they achieve. D.C. Policy Center. https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/adult-charters/#:~:text=Academic%20programs%20at%20adult%20public,Second%20Language%20(ESL)%20programs.&text=All%20nine%20adult%20public%20charter%20schools%20also%20offer%20workforce%20development,variety%20of%20in%2Ddemand%20fields
14. United States Census Bureau. 2023. “Census Bureau Releases New Educational Attainment Data.” United States Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/educational-attainment-data.html
15. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. 2023 DC School Report Card. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/page/dc-school-report-card-resource-library 
16. The Washington Informer. 2023. DCPS Launches Sixth Grade Academies to Ease Middle School Transition. Retrieved from https://www.washingtoninformer.com/dcps-launches-sixth-grade-academies-to-ease-middle-school-transition/
17. District of Columbia Public Schools. District-Wide Summer Programs. Retrieved from https://dcps.dc.gov/summer 
18. District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). 2023. Introducing DCPS 6th Grade Academies. Retrieved from https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/Sixth%20Grade%20Academy%20One-Pager%20FINAL.pdf 
19. D.C. Education Fund. DC Reading Clinic. Retrieved from https://dcedfund.org/initiative/reading-clinic/
20. D.C. Reading Clinic. In Schools Program. Retrieved from https://www.dcreadingclinic.org/general-6
21. DC Reading Clinic. DC Reading Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.dcreadingclinic.org/how-does-it-work
22. DC Reading Clinic. For Potential Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.dcreadingclinic.org/for-aspiring-reading-specialists
23. EmpowerK12. 2023. Status of K-2 Literacy & Numeracy in DC. Retrieved from https://www.empowerk12.org/research-source/status-k-2-literacy-numeracy
24. EmpowerK12. 2023. Status of K-2 Literacy & Numeracy in DC. Retrieved from https://www.empowerk12.org/research-source/status-k-2-literacy-numeracy
25. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. Early Literacy Education Task Force – Recommendations for structured literacy implementation in the District of Columbia. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Early%20Literacy%20Task%20Force%20Report.pdf
26. Coffin, C. 2023. Chart of the week: New PARCC data show overall gain for DC students last year—but high school progress remained flat. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/parcc-data-gains/ 
27. Coffin, C & Mason, H. 2023. Chart of the Week: 9^th grade repetition is down after the pandemic. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/9th-grade-repetition/
28. Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). 2022. FY2023 Approved Budget and Financial Plan: Volume 3 Agency Budget Chapters – Part II. Retrieved from https://app.box.com/s/cor7yfhlqka2i8j52xdjvjqmw0jr35vz 
29. KIPP DC. College and Career Guidance. Retrieved from https://www.kippdc.org/kipp-forward/college-career-guidance/#:~:text=KIPP%20Forward%20provides%20students%20with,college%2C%20career%2C%20and%20beyond 
30. KIPP DC Public Schools. College and Career Guidance. Retrieved from https://www.kippdc.org/kipp-forward/college-career-guidance/ 
31. KIPP Public Schools. KIPP College Partnerships. Retrieved from https://www.kipp.org/approach/kipp-forward/college-partnerships/
32. E.L. Haynes. Alumni Resources. Retrieved from https://www.elhaynes.org/resources/alumni-resources/ 
33. E.L. Haynes Public Charter School. Pre-College Programs. Retrieved from https://www.elhaynes.org/resources/pre-college-program/ 
34.  FutureEd. 2024. “Explainer: Progress in Spending Federal K-12 Covid Aid: State by State.” FutureEd. Retrieved from https://www.future-ed.org/progress-in-spending-federal-k-12-covid-aid-state-by-state/
35. Office of the State Superintendent of Education. (OSSE). 2023. LEA Esser Dashboard. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/page/lea-esser-dashboard
36. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. LEA Continuous Education Plans. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/page/2022-23-lea-continuous-education-plans
37. District of Columbia – Office of the State Superintendent of Education. 2023. High-Impact Tutoring Report: Fiscal Year 2023. Retrieved from https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/53648/Introduction/RC25-0078-Introduction.pdf?Id=169622
38. District of Columbia – Office of the State Superintendent of Education. 2023. High-Impact Tutoring Report: Fiscal Year 2023. Retrieved from https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/53648/Introduction/RC25-0078-Introduction.pdf?Id=169622 Note: OSSE defines priority schools as a school identified as a comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) school under DC’s Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan or a school with 70% or more of the student body designated as at-risk.
39. The New York Times. 2023. Track Covid-19 in Washington, D.C. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/washington-district-of-columbia-covid-cases.html
40. Carroll, K., Patel, P., Lambert, E., and Steel King, M. 2023. Students Speak: A Snapshot of Youth Well-Being in the District of Columbia. Bellwether. Retrieved from https://bellwether.org/publications/students-speak/
41. Bellwether – Education Partners. 2023. Students Speak – A Snapshot of Youth Well-Being in the District of Columbia. Retrieved from https://bellwether.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/StudentsSpeak_Bellwether_April2023.pdf
42. DCPS Connected Schools. DCPS Connect Schools. Retrieved from https://dcps.dc.gov/page/dcps-connected-schools
43. DCPS Connected Schools. Our Model. Retrieved from https://www.dcpsconnectedschools.org/our-model
44. DCPS Connected Schools. DCPS Connect Schools. Retrieved from https://www.dcpsconnectedschools.org/
45. Social workers have a Master’s degree in social work, professional counselors have a Master’s degree in social work, psychologists have Master’s degrees in psychology, and psychiatrists have completed psychology training as well as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Graduate mental health workers practice under supervision.
46. Attendance Works. 2023. Rising Tide of Chronic Absence Challenges Schools. Retrieved from https://www.attendanceworks.org/rising-tide-of-chronic-absence-challenges-schools/#:~:text=Released%20through%20Ed%20Data%20Express,year%20prior%20to%20the%20pandemic.
47. Institute of Education Sciences. 2023. Teacher Attrition and Mobility. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2024/2024039SummaryM.pdf
48. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023.  District of Columbia – Attendance Report 2022-23 School Year. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/publication/attachments/2022-23%20Attendance%20Report_FINAL_0.pdf
49. Mason, H. 2023. Chronic absenteeism is still higher than pre-pandemic, especially in high school grades. D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/chronic-absenteeism-dc-public-schools/ 
50. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. State of Discipline: School Year 2021-22. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/2021-22%20Discipline%20Report_2.pdf 
51. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. State of Discipline: School Year 2021-22. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/2021-22%20Discipline%20Report_2.pdf
52. Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). 2023. Open Data DC: Crime Incidents. Retrieved from https://opendata.dc.gov/
53. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2022-23 Educator Workforce Data. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/page/dc-educator-workforce-data Note: 8,732 teachers comprises of PK3-12^th grade teachers only.
54. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. Educator Workforce Retention Brief. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/EduRetention_1pager_022423.pdf
55.  Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. 2022-23 Educator Workforce Data. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/page/dc-educator-workforce-data
56.  Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). 2023. Educator Workforce Retention Brief. Retrieved from https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/EduRetention_1pager_022423.pdf
57.  District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). 2023. “Chronic Absenteeism is Down Across All Wards.” DCPS. Retrieved from https://x.com/dcpublicschools/status/1737205410485219638?s=20
58. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME). 2023. Boundary and Student Assignment Study. Retrieved from https://dme.dc.gov/boundaries2023
59. District of Columbia Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB). 2023. “A New Way Forward on Charter School Academic Accountability. DC PCSB. Retrieved from https://dcpcsb.egnyte.com/dl/PDtknsippu
60. Department of Education; establishment; authority. § 38–191. (2018). https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/38-191
61. Sayin, Y. and Coffin, C. 2024. “The fiscal future of public education in the District of Columbia.” D.C. Policy Center. Retrieved from https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/dc-fiscal-future-in-education/