DCSchools.com
DC Schools — All 330 Washington DC Schools
Washington DC has 330 schools across 8 wards — 116 traditional DCPS public schools, 123 independent public charter schools, and 91 private and parochial institutions. Nearly half of all DC public school students (48.1%) attend charter schools. Families apply through the unified DC school lottery each November.
330
Schools in DC
97,951
Students enrolled (2025-26)
48.1%
Attend public charter schools
26,117
Lottery applications (2025-26)
Browse DC schools
Four ways to find the right school.
Applying through the DC school lottery?
The DC school lottery is the unified application for DCPS and public charter schools. Application opens November, closes early February. We track every school's lottery rules, deadlines, and waitlist behavior.
About DC schools
Washington DC has three types of publicly funded schools serving families across all 8 wards. DC Public Schools (DCPS) operates 116 traditional neighborhood schools tied to home address boundaries — students are guaranteed a seat at their in-boundary school. Washington's 123 public charter schools are independently governed but publicly funded, open to all DC residents regardless of address through the DC school lottery. Private and parochial schools — including Catholic, Episcopal, Montessori, and independent schools — serve another 51 institutions across the District.
Finding the right school in DC means understanding grade bands, school types, and lottery rules before the application window opens. The DC school lottery — the unified application for DCPS and most charter schools — opens each November and closes in late January. Families rank up to 12 schools on a single application. Decisions release in March. In-boundary DCPS seats are guaranteed regardless of lottery results.
By the numbers: Washington DC's public school system enrolled 97,951 students for the 2025-26 school year — 51.9% in DCPS and 48.1% in public charter schools (OSSE, 2025-26 Audited Enrollment). The base per-pupil funding rate (UPSFF) for FY2026 is $14,660 before weights for at-risk status or special needs. The unified DC school lottery processed 26,117 applications for 2025-26, with 11,438 students remaining on charter school waitlists after placements. Ward 8 has the largest student population (21,058 students, 21.5% of total); Ward 2 the smallest (3,820). Overall, 59.2% of DC public school students are designated at-risk.
DCSchools.com lists all 330+ schools in Washington DC with OSSE star ratings, ward locations, grade ranges, and contact information. Search by neighborhood, filter by school type, or browse by ward. Whether you're looking for a bilingual immersion program in Ward 1, an IB school in Ward 3, or a K–12 private school near Capitol Hill, every DC school option is here in one place — updated for the 2026–27 school year.