(Washington, DC) DC Public Schools (DCPS) continues to maintain growth in reading and math performance, according to data released today from the 2017 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA).

“These results reinforce a lot of what we already know – that we’ve come a long way, but that there is more work to do,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “As we continue to close gaps between students in DC and their peers around the nation, it is critical that we build on and sustain the gains we’ve made over the years while finding new ways to tackle our own achievement gaps.”

Overall, DCPS’ performance in reading and math held steady from 2015 to 2017. DCPS students grew by one point in 8th grade reading and four points in 8th grade math over the 2015 test, which was not statistically significant. DCPS students also saw a slight decrease of one point in 4th grade reading and math, which also was not statistically significant.

“We have the best teachers and students in the nation, and DCPS’ TUDA progress in the last decade proves that,” said Interim Chancellor Amanda Alexander. “As we finish the school year strong and prepare for next school year, DCPS will work even harder to ensure that our teachers and students have the resources they need to ensure overachievement is the norm for every student.”

DCPS has seen continuous improvement over the course of the last nine years. Since 2009—the first year TUDA began reporting on DCPS)—DCPS students have grown by 10 points in 4th grade reading and 11 points in 4th grade math. Over that same period, DCPS 8th graders have grown by six points in reading and 11 points in math.

Based on the steady gains since 2009, DCPS continues to be the fastest improving urban school district in 4th grade math, and the second fastest improving urban school district in 4th grade reading and 8th grade math, with cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.

Since 2009, the performance of students receiving special education services has substantially increased in both subject areas and grade levels, increasing nearly 30 points in 4th grade reading. DCPS has also seen steady gains in performance over time with Black students across in both subject areas and grade levels. DCPS has also seen steady growth for students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, growing 8 points in 4th grade reading, 9 points in 4th grade math, and 4 points in 8th grade math.

“The District of Columbia Public Schools maintained their historic gains in 4th grade reading and math on the new National Assessment of Educational Progress results, while posting important progress in the 8th grade,” said Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools.

Over the past three years, the Bowser Administration has made unprecedented investments in the District’s public schools and taken steps to address long-standing and persistent gaps between students in Washington, DC and their peers across the country. The current school year is the first year when every middle school student in DCPS has the option to participate in at least one extracurricular program. Additionally, building on recommendations from the Algebra Task Force, this school year, all DCPS middle schools offer algebra.

About the Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA)

The 2017 Trial Urban District Assessment (TUDA) specifically gauges math and reading skills of 4th and 8th grade students by using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 21 participating urban school districts.

See the 2017 results for DC Public Schools on the Trial Urban District Assessment.^[PDF]

See the 2015 results for DC Public Schools on the Trial Urban District Assessment.