Houston Elementary School

At a Glance

Charles H. Houston Elementary School is a DC Public Schools (DCPS) campus serving students from preschool (PK3) through fifth grade. The school is located in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7, in the northeast section of the District, and it draws primarily from families in the surrounding residential community.

As a neighborhood DCPS elementary, Houston is part of the by-right boundary system, meaning families living within its attendance zone are guaranteed a seat. The school's stated mission emphasizes academic growth, social-emotional development, leadership, and bilingual/biliteracy skills, all within what the school describes as a caring environment. It serves a young population that ranges from early learners just beginning their school experience to upper-elementary students preparing for middle school.

What Parents Should Know

A few practical points for DC families considering Houston Elementary:

• Grade span: With PK3 through grade 5, Houston can be a single school home for a child's entire early education, from age three through fifth grade. After fifth grade, families will need to plan a transition to a middle school, either through their in-boundary DCPS middle school or via the My School DC lottery.
• Enrollment basics: Because Houston is a DCPS by-right school, in-boundary families enroll directly through DCPS. Families who live outside the boundary can apply through the My School DC common lottery for any available out-of-boundary seats, including PK3 and PK4 seats, which are lottery-only at every DCPS school.
• PK3 and PK4 access: DCPS offers full-day pre-K at no cost, but all pre-K seats are awarded through the My School DC lottery, even for in-boundary families. Parents interested in starting at age three or four should plan to apply during the lottery window.
• Location context: The school sits in Deanwood, a residential Ward 7 neighborhood served by the Deanwood Metro station on the Orange Line, with bus connections nearby. Families weighing the commute should look at the specific block at 1100 50th Place NE rather than relying on general neighborhood travel times.
• Mission focus: The school's mission language highlights bilingual/biliteracy skill-building alongside core academics and social-emotional learning. Parents who want specifics on how this is implemented in classrooms day-to-day should ask during a tour or open house.

Programs and Approach

As a DCPS elementary, Houston follows the district's standard curriculum framework, with school-level decisions about instructional approach, scheduling, and supports. The mission statement points to differentiated instruction, staff collaboration, and engaging lessons as the school's stated approach, with attention to both academic and social-emotional outcomes.

Enrollment for any non-by-right seat — including all pre-K seats and any out-of-boundary K–5 seats — runs through My School DC (myschooldc.org), DC's common lottery. The lottery typically opens in the winter, with results released in the spring. In-boundary K–5 families do not need the lottery and can enroll directly with DCPS using proof of residency.

For specifics on enrichment, after-school programming, specialized supports, or family engagement opportunities, the school's DCPS profile page is the most current source.

Visiting and Contact

Houston Elementary School is located at 1100 50th Place NE, in the Deanwood neighborhood of Ward 7. To schedule a tour, confirm enrollment steps, or find up-to-date information on programs and school events, visit the school's official page at http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/houston or call the main office at 202-671-6170.