In a city often riddled with political gridlock, it's refreshing to hit a high note on education. Yesterday, Mayor Muriel Bowser, backed by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, disclosed that the District's public schools have hit an all-time high enrollment figure of 98,649 students for the 2023-24 academic year. This increase marks a new record since OSSE started keeping tabs in 2007. During the Teacher Appreciation Week celebrations at River Terrace Education Campus in Ward 7, these numbers were brought to the fore.
"We love our teachers. This week and every week, we celebrate our teachers in schools across all eight wards who love and challenge our young people and push them to dream big," Mayor Bowser told dc.gov, applauding the efforts of educators in the district. With the Mayor kicking off Teacher Appreciation Week, there's no denying the pivotal role that teachers play in attracting and retaining students in his statement.
Drilling down the numbers, the DC Public Schools saw its numbers swell from 50,131 to 51,293 students, while the charter schools witnessed an increase from 46,392 to 47,356 students. Both sectors chalked up growth over 2%, specifically 2.3% for DC Public Schools and 2.1% for charter schools. This data, audited and confirmed, paints a robust picture of the DC education landscape, something State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant, found worth noting. "It’s a clear indicator that our city values education and is dedicated to the growth and development of every student," Dr. Grant extolled the milestone recorded by the district's schools, as reported by dc.gov.
The responsibility of auditing each year to ensure these numbers are not just wishful thinking falls upon the broad shoulders of OSSE. After the initial figures rolled in October 2023, OSSE hired independent auditors to comb through the enrollment data, as reported by local education agencies. The review wraps up with a chance for LEAs to clean up any anomalies and appeal audit results before final, official enrollment numbers are handed down. This meticulous process, culminating in the latest announcement, underscores the trust entrusted by families to the education system.
