With enrollment growth flattening in the current school year (SY2025-26), we compare enrollment to the prior year rather than to SY2008-09, the first year presented in the downloadable dataset (scroll to end of page). The largest decline between SY2024-25 and SY2025-26 occurred in the prekindergarten (PK) grade level, which decreased by 362 students, or 3%. Public charter schools saw a larger PK decrease than DCPS -- 3.9% compared to 2.1%, respectively.
In contrast, high school enrollment increased by 135 students, or nearly 1%. Public charter high schools experienced a 3.6% increase over the period, while DCPS high schools saw a 1.2% decrease.
Users can filter the visualizations below by sector or compare trends using different base years.
Number of Public School Students by Grade Band, SY2024-25 & SY2025-26
Number of Public School Students by Grade, SY2024-25 & SY2025-26
Note: The combined grade level Adult, ALT, SPED refers to students attending adult schools, alternative schools, and special education schools. Grades are attributed to students based on their UPSFF grade; in cases where there is not a UPSFF grade, the student's enrollment grade is used. Source: OSSE Audited Enrollment, SY24-25 and SY25-26
