District profile / District of Columbia
District of Columbia Public Schools
52,299
Students
2024-25 school year
117
Schools
2024-25 school year
$24,535
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · about the same as the District of Columbia median
11.0
Students per teacher
2024-25 · District of Columbia median 11.0
District of Columbia Public Schools is a public school district based in Washington, District of Columbia, serving 52,299 students in 117 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 1 District of Columbia districts with 1,000 or more students. Its schools average 447 students each, about the same as the District of Columbia median of 447. It spends about $24,535 per student on day-to-day operations, about the state median. It has roughly 11.0 students per teacher. We've matched 9 news stories to the district.
How District of Columbia compares
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$1.66 billion in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 10%State 0%Local 90%
| Measure | District of Columbia | District of Columbia median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $24,535 | $24,535 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $12,342 | $12,342 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $1.69 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $1.66 billion | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 4,751 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 10,409 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 11.0 | 11.0 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 249 | 249 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The District of Columbia median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
Leadership
Moves tracker →In the news
9 stories matchedPolicy & legislation
The Politics Hour: What’s next for East Potomac Park golf course and federal presence at D.C. schools
Teaching & learning
Teachers and kids carried in a ‘human elevator’ amid disrepair at D.C. schools
Teaching & learning
Parents, students, community groups protest National Guard near DC schools
Leadership
Interim DCPS Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson Meets Parents in Ward 4
Teaching & learning
D.C. Schools May Soon Have a Big Problem: Fewer Kids
Teaching & learning
Master P lends his star power to DC public schools
Teaching & learning
D.C. Schools Lead the Push for Greener Learning Spaces
Teaching & learning
Washington D.C. schools offers cash to fight absenteeism
Teaching & learning
The National Guard keeps appearing outside D.C. schools, stoking tensions
Peer districts in District of Columbia
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Public SchoolsWashington · this district | 52,299 | 117 | $24,535 | 11.0 | #1 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klein ISDKlein, TX | 52,437 | $9,834 | 14.7 |
| Winston Salem / Forsyth County SchoolsWinston Salem, NC | 52,430 | $10,626 | 14.2 |
| St. Johns CountySt Augustine, FL | 52,324 | $8,771 | 18.4 |
| Rutherford CountyMurfreesboro, TN | 52,127 | $9,674 | n/a |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-dc-district-of-columbia-public-schools