(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) released the results of the District’s statewide assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and math that were taken in spring 2025 by students in grades 3-8 and high school. Overall, results show the largest increase in proficiency rates made since the pandemic in both ELA and math, in all tested grades, in both DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools, and for almost all student groups, reflecting renewed progress and momentum in student achievement.
“This progress didn’t happen by chance — it’s the result of sustained investments and focus on the people and programs that ensure we have world-class public schools in all eight wards,” said Mayor Bowser. “We have fantastic educators who work every day to engage and challenge our students, and in just a few days, they will welcome students back for a new school year and another opportunity to build on this progress.”
The District’s assessments set a high bar for proficiency and DC CAPE has five performance levels; levels 4 and 5 indicate a student is proficient in the subject area and level 3 indicates a student is approaching grade-level expectations. Students scoring in the level 3 range still demonstrate much of the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in later grade levels and postsecondary pathways.
The year-over-year increase in ELA and math proficiency was the highest since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ELA proficiency rate is the highest on record, slightly above the 2019 rate.
Results by grade band also show impressive gains:
- In English Language Arts:
- Grades 3-5: 34.8% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 32.4% the prior year (+2.4);
- Grades 6-8: 40.2% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 36.4% (+3.8); and
- Grades 9-12: 38.8% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 33.6% in the prior year (+5.2).
- In Math:
- Grades 3-5: 31.2% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 28.4 % the prior year (+2.8);
- Grades 6-8: 26.4% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 22.4% the prior year (+4.0); and
- Grades 9-12: 15% of students met or exceeded expectations, up from 11.4% the prior year (+3.6).
In ELA, 57.7% of students scored either a 3, 4, or 5, meaning they were approaching, meeting, or exceeding grade-level expectations; in math, 47.5% of students did. In both ELA and math, fewer students scored in the lowest performance level than in 2024, indicating that even when students didn’t reach proficiency, they still showed improvement.
Districtwide, students are now performing slightly above pre-COVID levels in ELA, and they are improving in math, while still catching up to pre-pandemic proficiency. Accelerated improvements are widespread — all eight wards saw an increase in ELA proficiency.
More than 40% of schools had an increase of at least 5 percentage points in either math or ELA, some schools in both. More than 60% of DC schools show clear, meaningful improvement in both subjects; 137 of 223 tested schools boosted ELA proficiency by 1 or more percentage points and 141 of 223 schools saw math proficiency improve by 1 or more percentage points.
“We have a lot to be proud of in this year’s assessment results. The District is moving in the right direction and there is evidence of excellent teaching and learning happening in our schools,” said State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. “In response to the pandemic, we prioritized and invested in initiatives to support and advance academic recovery. These efforts, and the hard work of our students and educators, have resulted in improvements across the District.”
“We are so proud of the historic gains in academic achievement made by DC Public Schools students, as evidenced by this year’s DC CAPE results,” said DCPS Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. “Supported by our amazing educator workforce, DCPS scholars made undeniable progress in both English Language Arts (ELA) and math — posting the highest growth in proficiency since the pandemic. We are especially encouraged by our math gains, which are the largest on record for DC academic assessments.”
“DC public charter school students are making real strides in ELA and math thanks to the dedication of educators, families, school communities, and the Board of Trustees. Focused instruction, enrichment programs, and data-driven supports are driving meaningful progress,” said Dr. Walker-Davis, Executive Director of the DC Public Charter School Board. “ASPIRE, our academic accountability system, will highlight where schools are succeeding and guide school leaders, families, and communities in working together to drive even greater growth.”
While differences in proficiency among student groups by race/ethnicity persist, almost all student groups improved in proficiency in 2025. Moreover, economically disadvantaged students improved by 3 percentage points in ELA and 2.5 in math. Students with disabilities improved 1.6 percentage points in ELA and 1.5 percentage points in math. While English learners improved 1 percentage point in math, their ELA proficiency rate dropped 1.2 percentage points.
Participation rates continue to be high overall, with 95.4% of eligible students participating in ELA assessments and 94.6% participating in math assessments. High participation rates ensure that trends are representative of the overall student population.
Schools will receive individual student reports in September and distribute them to families. OSSE has posted assessment resources on its website to help schools, parents, and teachers understand the assessment and results. Data from the 2025 DC CAPE, including student growth metrics, will be included on the DC School Report Card in December.
For more information on the DC CAPE annual statewide assessments in ELA and math, visit OSSE’s website.
Over the past nearly two decades, the District has made deep and sustained investments in public schools. Local funding for schools has doubled over the past 10 years, from $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion, with the uniform per student funding formula (UPSFF) foundation level increasing by nearly 60%. With these investments, pay for both DCPS and charter teachers has increased significantly, making District teachers among the best-paid in the nation. In the 2024-25 school year, OSSE and its partners also served approximately 3,500 students with High-Impact Tutoring support in math and 3,000 in ELA. These evidence-based investments are driving positive results for students.
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