DC teacher retention reaches a five-year high as schools report steadier staffing and leadership

Teacher retention rises across DCPS and charter schools

Washington, D.C. reported its strongest teacher retention levels in five school years, with new districtwide figures showing more educators staying both in the city’s public school system and in the same schools year over year. The data covers teachers in DC Public Schools (DCPS) and the city’s public charter local education agencies, which together make up D.C.’s public education sectors.

For school year 2025–26, 86% of teachers continued working in a D.C. public school, while 78% remained in the same school and role as the prior year. The same-school figure is up 2 percentage points from 2024–25 and 4 points from 2021–22, marking the highest point over the past five years.

Recent history shows steady citywide stability

Over the last five years, D.C. has consistently retained at least 80% of teachers in the city’s public education system. In 2024–25, 84% of teachers were retained in D.C. and 76% stayed in the same school as the prior year. Over the past five school years, the weighted average retention rate has been 84% for staying in D.C. schools and 75% for staying in the same school.

Sector-level data for 2024–25 showed differences between DCPS and charter schools: 87% of DCPS teachers and 81% of charter teachers remained working in D.C. public schools, while 79% of DCPS teachers and 72% of charter teachers stayed in the same school. Charter same-school retention has climbed in recent years, increasing from 62% in 2022–23 to 69% in 2023–24 and 72% in 2024–25.

More experienced teachers are staying at higher rates

The 2025–26 figures also break out retention patterns by experience and evaluation category. Among teachers retained this school year, 94% of retained DCPS teachers and 88% of retained charter teachers had been rated effective or highly effective in the prior year. Retention in the same school rose with experience: 83% for teachers with more than 10 years of experience, 77% for those with 6–10 years, 72% for those with 2–5 years, and 69% for novice teachers.

Principal retention continues to rise

Leadership stability also improved. In the transition from school year 2024–25 to 2025–26, 81% of principals were retained in the same school, up from 78% the prior year. For 2024–25, the city recorded 83% principal retention in D.C. and 78% same-school principal retention.

Key takeaways from the retention data

• 2025–26: 86% of teachers stayed in D.C. public schools; 78% stayed in the same school and role.
• 2024–25: 84% of teachers stayed in D.C.; 76% stayed in the same school.
• 2024–25 by sector: same-school retention was 79% in DCPS and 72% in charter schools.
• 2025–26 principals: 81% stayed in the same school, up from 78% the prior year.

The retention figures are based on a fall staffing snapshot collected each year to measure how many educators remain in D.C. schools and whether they stay in the same schools.

District officials tied the upward trend to compensation, professional development, school-based supports, and other investments intended to strengthen working conditions, while the data itself points to a measurable increase in staffing continuity across both sectors.