By Niels Baardseth · Updated May 2026
260 elementary schools serving pre-k through 5th grade (ages 4–11).
Browse all 260 schools that offer elementary grades (PK3–5) in Washington DC — including DCPS public schools, public charter schools, and private/parochial options. Filter by sector, ward, or apply via the DC school lottery.
Quick answer
Washington DC has approximately 200 elementary schools serving Pre-K3 through 5th grade — including 80 DCPS public elementaries, 65 public charter elementaries, and ~50 private and parochial options. Every DC address has a guaranteed in-boundary DCPS elementary seat. Out-of-boundary, charter, and Pre-K seats fill through the unified MySchoolDC lottery (opens November, closes late January). Top-rated DCPS picks include Janney, Lafayette, Brent, Maury, and Murch. Top charter picks: Mundo Verde Bilingual, Two Rivers, Washington Yu Ying.
Looking for the best elementary schools in Washington DC for 2026–27? Top-rated DCPS options include Janney (Ward 3), Lafayette (Ward 4), Brent and Maury (Ward 6), and Murch (Ward 3). Every DC address has a guaranteed in-boundary DCPS elementary seat — start with the Boundary Look-up.
On the charter side, Mundo Verde Bilingual, Two Rivers, Washington Yu Ying (Mandarin immersion) and Latin American Montessori Bilingual consistently rank among DC's top elementary charters. Apply through the unified DC school lottery (opens November, closes late January). Private and parochial PK–5 options have their own applications — see private schools in DC.
Sortable directory — click any school for full profile, contact info, and admissions details.
Janney Elementary School (Ward 3, Tenleytown) is consistently cited as the top-rated DCPS elementary in Washington DC based on OSSE STAR ratings and parent demand. Lafayette Elementary (Ward 4, Chevy Chase) and Murch Elementary (Ward 3, Cleveland Park) are routinely close behind. On the charter side, Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS is widely considered #1 among DC charter elementaries. Rankings change year to year — verify current STAR ratings at schoolreportcard.dc.gov.
A representative top-10 elementary list for Washington DC mixes DCPS and charters: 1) Janney Elementary (Ward 3, DCPS), 2) Lafayette Elementary (Ward 4, DCPS), 3) Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS (Wards 1 & 5), 4) Brent Elementary (Ward 6, DCPS), 5) Maury Elementary (Ward 6, DCPS), 6) Murch Elementary (Ward 3, DCPS), 7) Two Rivers PCS (Ward 6), 8) Washington Yu Ying PCS (Ward 5, Mandarin immersion), 9) Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS (Ward 4), 10) Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (Ward 3, DCPS). Always cross-check current OSSE STAR ratings.
Washington DC has roughly 200 schools serving elementary grades (PK3 through 5): about 80 DCPS public elementaries, 65 public charter elementaries (with PK3-8 or PK3-5 grade bands), 19 independent private, 19 parochial Catholic, plus a small number of Episcopal and Jewish day schools. Browse the full directory above by ward, sector, or program type.
Ward 3 in-boundary DCPS elementaries — Janney (Tenleytown), Lafayette (Chevy Chase), Murch (Cleveland Park), Eaton (Cleveland Park), Stoddert (Glover Park), and Hyde-Addison (Georgetown) — all consistently earn 4-star or 5-star OSSE ratings. Janney is the largest and most heavily applied to from out-of-boundary. Your specific in-boundary assignment depends on address; check enrolldcps.dc.gov Boundary Look-up.
DC has the strongest concentration of Spanish-immersion public elementary options in the mid-Atlantic. Public charter: Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS (J.F. Cook + Calle Ocho campuses), DC Bilingual PCS, Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB), Stokes Community Freedom PCS. DCPS: Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (Woodley Park, the original DCPS dual-language program), Cleveland Elementary (Cardozo/Shaw), and Houston Elementary. Several other DCPS elementaries offer Spanish enrichment without full immersion.
Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School (Ward 5, Brookland) is the only Mandarin-immersion public elementary in DC, serving PK3 through 5th grade with 50/50 Mandarin-English instruction. Yu Ying graduates often continue to DC International School (DCI) for middle and high school IB Mandarin programming.
On the public/tuition-free side: Lee Montessori PCS (East End + Brookland), Breakthrough Montessori PCS, Shining Stars Montessori Academy, LAMB (Spanish + Montessori). DCPS Montessori options: Langdon Elementary (Ward 5, only DCPS elementary with a Montessori strand) and Capitol Hill Montessori @ Logan. Private Montessori leaders: Aidan Montessori (Ward 4), The Montessori School of Washington (Ward 3), Christian Family Montessori School.
The Capitol Hill Cluster is a unique DCPS multi-campus elementary system in Ward 6: Peabody (PK3 to K, at 425 C Street NE), Watkins (1-5, at 12th & E Street SE), and Stuart-Hobson Middle (6-8). One in-boundary enrollment covers all three campuses — Capitol Hill families progress automatically from Peabody to Watkins to Stuart-Hobson without re-entering the lottery. Other Capitol Hill DCPS elementaries include Brent, Maury, and Tyler.
DCPS and most public charter schools start in late August or early September. Pre-K3 starts at age 3 (turning 3 by September 30), Pre-K4 at age 4, Kindergarten at age 5. Each school publishes its first-day calendar at schoolreportcard.dc.gov or its own website. The 2026-27 school year first day is typically the Monday after Labor Day.
Yes. DC offers universal free Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 at all DCPS schools, all public charter schools, and approved community-based providers. The District invests over $200 million annually in early childhood education, the highest per-capita spend among US cities. Apply through the DC school lottery starting in mid-November.
DCPS assigns every DC address to one in-boundary elementary school. Use the official Boundary Look-up tool at enrolldcps.dc.gov — enter your address to see your assigned PK-5 school. You receive a guaranteed in-boundary seat with proof of residency (no lottery required). You can also apply to any other DCPS school or any charter school through the unified MySchoolDC lottery.
Ward 3 (Tenleytown, Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase, Georgetown, Glover Park) has the highest concentration of 4-star and 5-star DCPS elementary schools — Janney, Lafayette, Murch, Eaton, Stoddert, Hyde-Addison. However, top-tier options exist in every ward: Ward 4 (Lafayette, Brightwood EC), Ward 6 (Brent, Maury, Watkins, Tyler), Ward 5 (Langdon Montessori, Bunker Hill), Wards 7 and 8 (growing options like Excel Academy, IDEA PCS, Friendship campuses). OSSE STAR ratings provide the most current performance data.
For your in-boundary DCPS elementary: no, you are guaranteed a seat with proof of DC residency. For any out-of-boundary DCPS school, any public charter school, or any Pre-K3 or Pre-K4 program (even in-boundary), yes — apply through the MySchoolDC lottery between mid-November and late January. Results are released in late March. Private schools have their own separate applications and timelines.
Both are public and tuition-free for DC residents. DCPS elementaries are boundary-based — every DC address has a guaranteed in-boundary school. Charter elementaries are open citywide via lottery with no geographic preference (except siblings and proximity at some schools). Charter schools set their own curriculum, calendar, and school day length within DC regulations. DCPS uses a unified curriculum (CKLA literacy, Eureka Math) across all elementaries; charters vary by network.
Yes — DC has one of the strongest concentrations of bilingual public elementary schools in the US. Spanish: Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS, DC Bilingual PCS, LAMB, Stokes, Oyster-Adams (DCPS), Cleveland (DCPS), Houston (DCPS). Mandarin: Washington Yu Ying PCS. French: French Maternal School (private, Ward 2), plus several DCPS elementaries offer French as a language of instruction without full immersion. Lycée Rochambeau in Bethesda serves many DC families seeking the French national curriculum.
DC independent private elementary schools typically charge $35,000 to $55,000 per year for K-5, with tuition increases of 3-5% annually. Catholic and parochial elementaries are usually $10,000 to $20,000. Episcopal day schools (St. Albans, National Cathedral lower divisions) are in the upper-independent range. Most independent schools offer need-based financial aid through SSS (School and Student Services), and Catholic schools have parish-supported aid. Pre-K at private schools follows the same tuition tier as K-5.
OSSE STAR Framework rates every DCPS and charter elementary on a 1-star to 5-star scale annually. 5-star DCPS elementaries typically include Janney, Lafayette, Brent, Maury, Murch, Eaton, Stoddert. 5-star charter elementaries include Mundo Verde, Two Rivers, Washington Yu Ying, Latin American Montessori Bilingual, Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS, BASIS DC (lower grades). Check schoolreportcard.dc.gov for the current year and full list — ratings update each September.
No for public. DCPS and DC public charter elementaries are open only to DC residents. Proof of DC residency (lease, utility bill, voter registration, etc.) is required at enrollment. Private elementary schools in DC may accept students from Maryland, Virginia, or beyond at their own discretion — though most have priority for DC residents.
For DCPS in-boundary: enroll any time at enrolldcps.dc.gov with proof of address. For lottery (DCPS out-of-boundary, charter, Pre-K3/4): MySchoolDC lottery opens mid-November 2026, closes late January 2027, results released late March 2027. Private school deadlines vary: most independent schools open applications in September and have January-February deadlines; financial aid deadlines often earlier (December). Apply 12-18 months ahead for kindergarten at the most competitive private schools.
Elementary schools are distributed across all 8 wards. Ward 4 (Petworth, Brightwood, 16th Street Heights) has the most schools (16). Ward 7 (East of the River) has 15. Ward 8 (Anacostia, Congress Heights) has 14. Ward 5 (Brookland, Eckington, Edgewood) has 14 and the highest density of charter elementaries. Ward 3 (the most affluent ward, with 7 elementaries) has the smallest total but highest STAR-rating concentration. Capitol Hill (Ward 6) has the highest density of DCPS elementaries per square mile.
Washington DC's ~200 elementary schools split into three distinct systems, each with different funding, admissions, and accountability frameworks. Understanding the differences matters for any family deciding how to apply.
Boundary-based. Every DC address has a guaranteed in-boundary seat. Unified CKLA literacy + Eureka Math curriculum across all schools. Operated by the DC government via the DCPS central office. Tuition-free for DC residents.
Citywide lottery — no geographic preference (except siblings + proximity at some). Each network sets its own curriculum, calendar, and school-day length. Authorized by the DC Public Charter School Board. Tuition-free for DC residents. See charter schools in DC.
Independent (Sidwell Friends, GDS, Maret, etc.), Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish day, and Quaker schools. Each sets its own admissions process and tuition ($10K–$55K typical). Open to DC residents and out-of-state families. See private schools in DC.
A representative top-10 mixing DCPS and public charter — the schools families across DC most often shortlist. Rankings change year to year; always cross-check the current OSSE STAR rating at schoolreportcard.dc.gov.
DC elementary distribution by ward, ordered by school count. Ward pages show every school assigned to each ward (DCPS, charter, and private).
Petworth, Brightwood, 16th Street Heights, Crestwood, Chevy Chase. Highlights: Lafayette, LAMB, Brightwood EC.
Hillcrest, Deanwood, Marshall Heights, Lincoln Heights, Fort Dupont. Strong DCPS + charter mix; growing investment.
Anacostia, Congress Heights, Barry Farm, Bellevue. Includes Excel Academy (DC's all-girls public).
Brookland, Eckington, Edgewood, Petworth (eastern). Highest density of charter elementaries. Includes Yu Ying, Langdon Montessori, Mundo Verde Cook campus.
Capitol Hill, H Street, Near Northeast, Navy Yard. Includes Capitol Hill Cluster (Peabody → Watkins) and Brent, Maury, Tyler.
Tenleytown, Cleveland Park, Chevy Chase, Georgetown, Glover Park. Highest STAR-rating concentration. Janney, Murch, Eaton, Stoddert, Hyde-Addison, Oyster-Adams.
Mount Pleasant, Cardozo, Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights. Bilingual concentration: Bancroft, Cleveland, H.D. Cooke.
Downtown, Logan Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Dupont. Includes Garrison, Hyde-Addison, Ross.
DC's elementary sector includes an unusual range of specialty programs. Use this guide to filter by what matters to your family.
Charter: Mundo Verde, DC Bilingual, LAMB, Stokes. DCPS: Oyster-Adams, Cleveland, Houston.
Washington Yu Ying PCS — DC's only Mandarin-immersion elementary.
Charter: Lee Montessori (2 campuses), Breakthrough Montessori, Shining Stars, LAMB. DCPS: Langdon (Montessori strand). Private: Aidan, The Montessori School of Washington. Full list at Montessori schools in DC.
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS (East End + Brookland) and the lower division at Washington International School are the primary IB Primary Years Programme elementary options. Full list at international schools in DC.
Lafayette (Ward 4), Shirley Chisholm (Ward 6), Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS, plus DCPS arts-strand schools.
Excel Academy (all-girls PK3-8, Ward 8), Inspired Teaching, Two Rivers, several DCPS elementaries with Project Lead The Way modules.
DC elementary admissions follow three distinct tracks depending on the sector.
If you have a guaranteed in-boundary DCPS elementary, you do not need to apply through the lottery. Enroll directly at enrolldcps.dc.gov with proof of DC residency (lease/utility bill/voter registration). You can enroll any time of year for current school year, or in the spring for the following year.
For any DCPS school outside your boundary, OR for any Pre-K3/Pre-K4 seat (even in-boundary), apply through the MySchoolDC lottery. One application, rank up to 12 schools. Preferences: sibling attending → sibling offered → in-boundary (where applicable) → proximity → everyone else.
All public charter elementaries admit through the same MySchoolDC lottery. No geographic preference (except siblings + proximity at some). Most charter elementaries fill from lottery and operate waitlists numbering in the hundreds for popular networks.
Each private school has its own application: typically opens September, deadlines December-February, decisions in March. Financial aid (SSS profile) due 1-2 months ahead of application deadline. The most competitive independent schools (Sidwell, GDS, Maret, NCS lower division, Beauvoir/National Cathedral connection) require playdates, assessments, and parent interviews.
DC invests $24,535 per pupil across all funds — among the highest per-capita education spending in the United States. The base Uniform Per-Student Funding Formula (UPSFF) is $13,584/student, with significant additional weights for at-risk, English learner, and special-education designations. Both DCPS and charter elementaries receive the same UPSFF base.
On academic performance, the most recent OSSE statewide assessment data shows roughly 35.2% ELA proficiency and 27.8% math proficiency in grades 3-8 citywide — gaps that vary dramatically by school, ward, and student subgroup. Detailed breakdowns by ward, demographic, and at-risk status are in our DC School Test Scores 2026 report.
The charter sector now enrolls 48% of all DC public school students, with significant variation in market share by grade band — see our DC Public Charter Schools 2026 Sector Report for the full breakdown.
All DCPS and DC public charter elementaries are tuition-free for DC residents. There are no application fees, no charter tuition costs, and no requirement to purchase uniforms (though many schools require them and offer financial assistance for the cost).
Private elementary tuition in DC:
Most independent schools offer need-based financial aid via the SSS by NAIS profile. Top-endowed schools (Sidwell, GDS, NCS, Maret) can offer substantial aid packages. Catholic schools have parish-supported aid programs. For families seeking private but need financial flexibility, the Catholic and parochial sector offers the most accessible tuition with strong academic outcomes.