Chapter 1 describes the adult and child population of Washington, DC over time and neighborhood, as well as the public school student population. Some questions that this chapter helps answer are:
- How has Washington, DC's population changed over time?
- What are the citywide trends of public school enrollment?
- Where do public school students live and are there differences by special needs categories (English learner, at risk of academic failure, and special education)?
- How many children are enrolled in private school?
- What is the forecasted number of future school-age children?
Population
Total Population Trends: A historical overview of Washington, DC’s population from 1950 to 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau).
Adult and Youth Population Trends: Detailed breakdowns of population trends in Washington, DC by age group, including adults and children from 1990 to 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau).
Number of Births and Birth Rates: The number of births in Washington, DC from 1990 to 2024, including year-by-year changes and key inflection points. Birth counts by ward are also available from 2010 to 2024, highlighting geographic shifts in birth patterns (multiple sources).
Births to Kindergarten Enrollment Ratio: Explore how birth trends impact kindergarten enrollment in DC, with ratios, historical data, and interactively project kindergarten enrollment for future planning.
Race and Ethnicity of Adults and Children: Explore the estimated number of adults (age 18 and older) and children (under age 18) living in the District over time.
Where Adults and Children Live: Explore the American Community Survey's estimated number of adult and children living in Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) over time.
Public School Enrollment
Public School Enrollment by Race and Ethnicity: Explore audited enrollment by the race/ethnicity of students over time in aggregate and by grade band.
Where Public School Students Live: Explore where public school students live over time by ward, planning area, neighborhood clusters, and DCPS high school boundary.
Where Public School Students Miss School: Explore the map that shows the areas of the city where students who are chronically absent live.
Public School Students by Race/Ethnicity and Geography: The following map displays how many students of each racial/ethnic cateogry live by ward, planning area, neighborhood clusters, and DCPS high school boundary.
Public School Students by Special Needs Categories: Explore the share of public school students who are identified as receiving special education services, English learners, or who at risk of academic failure.
Where Students Receiving Special Education Services Live: The following map displays how many students receiving special education services live by ward, planning area, neighborhood clusters, and DCPS high school boundary.
Where Students At Risk of Academic Failure Live: The following map displays how many students identified as at risk of academic failure by ward, planning area, neighborhood clusters, and DCPS high school boundary.
Where English Learner Public School Students Live: The following map displays how many students identified English learners live by ward, planning area, neighborhood clusters, and DCPS high school boundary.
Private School Enrollment: Explore the latest American Community Surey estimates for citywide PK-12 grade private school enrollment and by ward.
Population Forecasts
Forecasted Total Population Growth: Explore the DC Office of Planning's 10-year forecasts for the District's total population, released in June 2023.
Forecasted Youth Population Growth: Explore the DC Office of Planning's 10-year forecasts for the District's population by age categories, released in June 2023.
Forecasted Youth Population Growth by Neighborhood Cluster: Explore the DC Office of Planning's forecasts for the number of children by neighborhood cluster, released in June 2023.
Population and Students - Sources and Methodology