Report finds D.C. public schools gained in 2024-25, while absenteeism and readiness gaps persist

Key indicators point to stabilization after pandemic-era disruption

Washington’s public school system posted measurable gains in school year 2024-25 across enrollment, academic performance, and educator stability, while continuing to face stubbornly high rates of chronic absenteeism and uneven indicators of postsecondary readiness.

The findings, drawn from a citywide review of District of Columbia Public Schools and public charter schools, describe 2024-25 as a year of “forward momentum” following several years of disruption. The report characterizes the period as moving beyond recovery in some areas while highlighting risks to sustaining improvement in the year ahead.

Enrollment rose for a third consecutive year, with shifts by grade and ward

Total public school enrollment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade reached 91,337 students in 2024-25, an increase of about 1% from the prior year. Growth was concentrated in middle and high school grades, while early-grade patterns were shaped by declining birth cohorts and signals that some families are leaving the city or opting out of public options in the earliest years.

Enrollment changes were uneven geographically, with the largest increases reported in Wards 4 and 6 and the largest decreases in Wards 1 and 8.

Academic results improved citywide, alongside rising graduation rates

Student performance on the District’s statewide assessment (DC CAPE) improved in both English language arts and math by roughly four percentage points, representing the largest year-over-year increase since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In English language arts, 38% of students met or exceeded expectations, described in the report as the strongest results in the last decade.

High school outcomes also improved. The four-year graduation rate rose to 79%, the highest level in more than a decade. The report notes that gains were driven in part by rising graduation rates among Black students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities, while declines were also recorded for some groups, including Latino students and English learners.

Educator retention improved, but student engagement indicators remained weak

Teacher stability continued to strengthen. Citywide, 84% of teachers were retained, with 76% remaining in the same school—an increase from the previous year.

Student engagement remained a central concern. Chronic absenteeism was reported at 40% and did not improve from the prior year. Suspension rates held steady at 6%, with disproportionately higher rates among Black students, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students.

College and career readiness measures were mixed

The transition beyond high school remains a pressure point. Postsecondary enrollment within six months of graduation for the class of 2024 was reported at 55%, down one percentage point from the prior year. Participation in advanced coursework—such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual enrollment—was reported at 52% of high school students, though the report cautions that changes in how the metric is constructed complicate comparisons over time.

• PK–12 enrollment: 91,337 students (up about 1%)
• Chronic absenteeism: 40% (unchanged)
• Four-year graduation rate: 79% (highest in more than a decade)
• Postsecondary enrollment within six months: 55% (down 1 point)

Across multiple measures, the system’s strongest gains in 2024-25 coincided with persistent attendance challenges and uneven outcomes in the transition to college and careers.

Uncertainty in 2025-26 could test whether gains hold

Looking ahead, the report flags heightened uncertainty for school year 2025-26, including policy and economic pressures affecting schools and families. The central question, as framed by the year’s results, is whether the improvement seen in 2024-25 can be sustained while narrowing disparities and reducing chronic absenteeism—factors closely tied to long-term academic and workforce outcomes.