DC Schoolers Improve Reading, Math Scores
By • September 8, 2025 0 415
A 3.6-percent increase in both English language arts and math proficiency skills of D.C.’s public school students was reported by Mayor Muriel Bowser at her annual State of Schools address Sept. 3 with D.C. educational leaders gathered round. The mayor was reporting results from the 2025 Statewide Assessment Results that was released nation-wide mid-August. “In fact, our DCPS fourth graders out-performed those students nationwide.” Bowser said.
The ELA proficiency rate is slightly above the 2019 rate, the highest proficiency rate the District has ever measured, the mayor noted. Last school year, 37.6 percent of D.C. students were proficient in English language arts — the highest rate ever recorded in the District. In math, 26.4 percent of students reached proficiency.
Overall, nearly 58 percent of all D.C.’s some 12,000 students at public and charter schools, are “approaching, meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations” in reading, and nearly 48 percent in math. Fewer students scored at the lowest levels, “indicating that even when students didn’t reach proficiency, they still showed improvement,” the mayor’s office said.
“Last year, our fourth graders were only five points behind students nationwide and one point above their big city peers,” Bowser said. The report showed that almost all student groups improved in proficiency in 2025 even though there were differences among student groups by race or ethnicity.
Almost every city ward showed slight increases in student enrollment in their public and charter schools. Ward 2 had the largest increase in high school attendance because of the new high school and low rates before that. Almost all wards showed a high rate of teacher retention. The average salary now for a D.C. teacher is $110,000 per year — far above the average of national school districts.
“Officials are focusing on three key areas to boost academic outcomes: ensuring students feel safe both in and out of school, expanding access to career training and a school advanced courses, and supporting learning acceleration with extra help for students who are falling behind” Deputy Mayor for Education Brian Kihn said.
DC Public Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, State Superintendent of Education Antoinette Mitchell and Executive Director of the Public Charter School Board Michelle Walker-Davis stood by the mayor during the presentation.
