Public schools in Wards 5 and 4 have the highest total enrollment, followed by those in Wards 7 and 8. Enrollment in Ward 5 schools has increased substantially every year since SY2013-14, driven mostly—though not entirely—by growth in public charter schools. Ward 4 schools have also seen a steady upward trend, with enrollment holding steady in SY2025-26 compared to the previous year. In contrast, aggregate enrollment in Ward 8 schools has declined nearly every year since SY2018-9, except for SY2022-23 and the most recent school year. DCPS schools in Ward 8 have experienced greater declines than public charter schools, particularly this year. Users can view trends for individual grades (or groups of grades) by ward, as well as select specific school years. Scroll below to see enrollment changes by grade band.
Enrollment Trends by School Ward, SY13-14 to SY25-26
By grade band, in the most recent school year, enrollment in the elementary grades (PK-5) declined for the first time since COVID‑19. Middle school (6-8) enrollment showed only a slight increase after three years of stronger growth. High school (9-12) enrollment peaked in SY2021-22 and has decreased at slower rates in each subsequent year. Users can select either DCPS or public charter schools to explore each sector’s trends, and can also view the dashboard by individual grade. View the full‑screen dashboard by individual grade here.
Enrollment Trends by Grade Band, SY13-14 to SY25-26
Source: OSSE Audited Enrollment, SY13-14 to SY25-26
