Chevy Chase · Grades PK4–5
What the data shows
Lafayette Elementary School · 4-star OSSE rating · Lottery required (MySchoolDC) · 4 photos. Student body: 70% white, 10% blackafrican-american.
Source: OSSE School Report Card — official rating from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
Lafayette is the largest DCPS elementary school in Washington DC, enrolling about 900 students from pre-K3 through 5th grade at 5701 Broad Branch Road NW in Chevy Chase (Ward 4). The campus serves as the in-boundary elementary for a slice of upper Northwest DC; the remainder of seats fill through the My School DC lottery.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Lafayette #5 among DC elementary schools, and Niche gives the campus consistently strong marks. The student body draws from all eight DC wards and represents more than 15 home languages — Lafayette markets that diversity as a core strength rather than a logistical challenge.
The school's defining feature is arts integration: visual art, music, drama and dance are woven into every grade and most subject areas, not treated as add-ons. The HSA-funded enrichment lineup covers:
Two annual fixtures — Arts Night and the Spring Auction — anchor the parent community around that arts-forward identity.
Lafayette is the DCPS feeder elementary for Deal Middle School, which itself feeds Jackson-Reed High School. Families using this in-boundary feeder pathway can move from PK3 through 12th grade without ever entering the lottery again, provided they stay on the Lafayette → Deal → Jackson-Reed track. That predictability is a big part of why Ward 4 Chevy Chase real estate prices reflect the Lafayette boundary so visibly.
Out-of-boundary families face long waitlists at every grade level, especially in lower elementary where in-boundary demand absorbs almost the entire incoming class.
To apply for an out-of-boundary seat: register at MySchoolDC.org, list Lafayette on your lottery application before the late-January deadline, and rank it honestly relative to other choices. Results are released in late March. In-boundary families do not need to apply — show proof of DC residency at enrollment. See our full DC school lottery guide for the broader process.
Current enrollment skews white non-Hispanic (about 70%), with Black/African-American at 10%, multiracial at 8%, Hispanic/Latino at 9%, Asian at 3%, and small Native American and Pacific Islander populations. The demographics reflect the Chevy Chase boundary more than DCPS overall — district-wide DCPS is majority Black and Hispanic.
Compare other top DCPS options on our elementary schools in DC directory.
“Lafayette provides a special learning environment with talented, dedicated teachers and staff members supported by an active community. An emphasis on integrating the arts into all subject areas enriches student's learning experiences. Additionally, we have a school wide Peace and Mindfulness program to support our positive school culture.”
Specialized Programs
Enrichment
Environmental Club · Project Lead the Way · Girls on the Run · Math Team
5701 BROAD BRANCH ROAD NW
Required
All DC residents enrolled at Lafayette Elementary School (ages 5–21) qualify for Kids Ride Free — a SmarTrip card that grants free Metrobus, Metrorail, and DC Circulator rides on school days.
From Google business listing — confirm with the school directly.
Lafayette Elementary School serves grades PK4–5 in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Washington DC.
Lafayette Elementary School is located in Ward 4, Chevy Chase, Washington DC.
Lafayette Elementary School is DCPS (DC Public Schools) that requires a lottery application. Applications are submitted through MySchoolDC (myschooldc.org), which opens each November and closes in early February. Results are released in late March.
Lafayette Elementary School received a 4/5 star rating (★★★★☆) from the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in SY 2018-19. OSSE ratings measure academic achievement, growth, and attendance.
Yes. As a DC public school, Lafayette Elementary School is tuition-free and open to all DC residents regardless of ward or neighborhood.
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