Brightwood Elementary School

Summary:

Brightwood Elementary School is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, serving 591 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) district, which is ranked 26th out of 47 districts in DC and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Brightwood Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (77.16%) compared to the district and state averages, but lower percentages of White (1.86%) and Asian (0.17%) students. The school consistently underperforms the DCPS and DC state averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 9.9% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 35% for DCPS and 28.2% for DC. Brightwood Elementary has been ranked in the bottom half of DC elementary schools for the past several years, with a consistent 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school performs particularly poorly for its Hispanic and English Language Learner (ELL) student subgroups, but better for its African American student subgroup.

While Brightwood Elementary has seen a significant increase in per-student spending, from $22,850 in 2019-2020 to $33,551 in 2022-2023, and maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, this increased funding does not appear to be translating into improved academic outcomes. Neighboring schools, such as Truesdell Elementary and John Lewis Elementary, demonstrate higher academic performance and better overall rankings compared to Brightwood Elementary, despite serving similar student populations.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1300 Nicholson St. NW
       Washington, DC  20011


(202) 722-5670

District: District of Columbia Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
77th of 126 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $33,551 Help


Students who attend Brightwood Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Ida B. Wells Middle School
High:    Coolidge High School

Student/teacher ratio:  8.9 Help
Number of students:  603

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
72.6%
African American:
24.9%
White:
2.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Brightwood Elementary School ranks worse than 61.1% of elementary schools in District Of Columbia. It also ranks 48th among 75 ranked elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 33.09. (See more...)
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Compare Details Brightwood Elementary School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2019 the calculated Average Standard Score was 44.45. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (72.6%), African American (24.9%), White (2.3%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Brightwood Elementary School is 8.9, which is the 23rd best among 75 elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools. (See more...)
Help
Compare Brightwood Elementary School employs 67.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Brightwood Elementary School is $33,551, which is the 16th highest among 75 elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Brightwood Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Brightwood Elementary School 77th of 126 District Of Columbia public elementary schools. (See Brightwood Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Hispanic students:


District of Columbia Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks District of Columbia Public Schools 27th of 47 District Of Columbia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Brightwood Elementary School

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 37.43 69th 111 37.8%
2011 33.37 76th 111 31.5%
2012 31.63 78th 112 30.4%
2014 35.83 65th 109 40.4%
2015 32.40 57th 97 41.2%
2016 33.43 61st 99 38.4%
2017 48.96 45th 108 58.3%
2018 58.59 41st 120 65.8%
2019 62.04 37th 122 69.7%
2022 23.06 76th 97 21.6%
2023 32.44 76th 128 40.6%
2024 33.09 77th 126 38.9%
See the entire list of District Of Columbia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.06 4th 25 84.0%
2019 58.67 6th 25 76.0%
2022 23.18 19th 21 9.5%
2023 47.79 9th 19 52.6%
2024 40.75 12th 18 33.3%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.76 14th 35 60.0%
2019 42.22 22nd 45 51.1%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 47.73 25th 53 52.8%
2024 38.61 35th 55 36.4%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.24 43rd 110 60.9%
2019 62.20 39th 117 66.7%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school At Risk students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.60 10th 90 88.9%
2019 88.28 5th 91 94.5%
2022 72.05 4th 27 85.2%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.14 39th 113 65.5%
2019 58.54 39th 113 65.5%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.92 21st 100 79.0%
2019 88.22 8th 106 92.5%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Brightwood Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.56 6th 29 79.3%
2019 54.44 9th 30 70.0%
2022 17.61 15th 18 16.7%
2023 28.87 14th 22 36.4%
2024 31.82 20th 30 33.3%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Brightwood Elementary School

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Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 49.84 25th 56 55.4%
2011 29.51 42nd 57 26.3%
2012 52.27 25th 57 56.1%
2014 36.04 40th 57 29.8%
2015 26.26 38th 49 22.4%
2016 24.93 37th 48 22.9%
2017 29.04 38th 56 32.1%
2018 37.05 44th 72 38.9%
2019 44.45 37th 75 50.7%
See the entire list of District Of Columbia Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Brightwood Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

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Enrollment information for Brightwood Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1 450 7 21 1 n/a n/a 0 480
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 483 483
1990 2 435 5 57 0 n/a n/a 0 499
1991 3 467 4 66 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1992 4 462 4 79 2 n/a n/a 0 551
1993 3 430 7 109 0 n/a n/a 0 549
1994 3 429 8 129 0 n/a n/a 0 569
1995 1 345 2 167 0 n/a n/a 0 515
1996 1 345 2 167 0 n/a n/a 0 515
1997 1 320 1 182 0 n/a n/a 0 504
1998 1 315 4 178 0 n/a n/a 0 498
1999 1 272 5 209 0 n/a n/a 0 487
2000 1 243 5 233 0 n/a n/a 0 482
2001 1 234 5 278 0 n/a n/a 0 518
2002 1 204 3 295 0 n/a n/a 0 503
2003 1 204 3 295 0 n/a n/a 0 503
2004 0 187 1 277 0 n/a n/a 0 465
2005 3 160 1 263 0 n/a n/a 0 427
2006 1 131 4 265 1 n/a n/a 0 402
2007 0 131 2 243 0 n/a n/a 0 376
2008 1 176 4 242 0 n/a n/a 0 423
2009 0 124 5 298 0 n/a n/a 0 427
2010 2 171 5 351 0 n/a n/a 0 529
2011 5 162 3 372 2 0 10 0 554
2012 6 149 2 389 0 0 5 0 551
2013 4 157 5 405 0 0 2 0 573
2014 2 174 6 431 0 1 1 0 615
2015 7 166 5 459 0 1 1 0 639
2016 7 164 9 528 0 0 1 0 709
2017 7 167 11 567 2 0 1 0 755
2018 10 150 12 563 1 0 1 0 737
2019 10 147 10 586 1 0 3 0 757
2020 12 117 6 574 1 0 3 0 713
2021 9 110 3 509 1 0 1 0 633
2022 14 120 1 461 1 0 0 0 597
2023 11 121 1 456 1 0 1 0 591
2024 14 150 0 438 0 0 1 0 603

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Brightwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 480 27.0 17.7 36.5
1989 483 30.0 16.1 36.2
1990 499 22.0 22.6 20
1991 540 22.0 24.5 22.4
1992 551 25.0 22.0 58.8
1993 549 31.0 17.7 66.7
1994 569 23.0 24.7 68
1995 515 20.0 25.8 81.2
1996 515 20.0 25.8 81.2
1997 504 20.0 25.2 76.2
1998 498 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 487 36.0 13.5 n/a
2000 482 38.0 12.7 33.8
2001 518 42.0 12.3 93.4
2002 503 n/a n/a 70.6
2003 503 n/a n/a 70.6
2004 465 46.0 10.1 79.8
2005 427 21.0 20.3 89.9
2006 402 21.0 19.1 86.6
2007 376 40.0 9.4 88.6
2008 423 19.0 22.3 65.7
2009 427 38.2 11.2 90.4
2010 529 52.0 10.1 93.4
2011 554 46.5 11.9 89.2
2012 551 48.0 11.4 37.4
2013 573 44.0 13.0 45.9
2014 615 53.3 11.5 99.5
2015 639 57.0 11.2 100
2016 709 64.0 11.0 100
2017 755 74.0 10.2 n/a
2018 737 70.0 10.5 n/a
2019 757 74.0 10.2 n/a
2020 713 72.1 9.8 n/a
2021 633 73.6 8.6 n/a
2022 597 66.2 9.0 n/a
2023 591 68.0 8.6 n/a
2024 603 67.1 8.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Brightwood Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 480 27.0 17.7 36.5
1989 483 30.0 16.1 36.2
1990 499 22.0 22.6 20
1991 540 22.0 24.5 22.4
1992 551 25.0 22.0 58.8
1993 549 31.0 17.7 66.7
1994 569 23.0 24.7 68
1995 515 20.0 25.8 81.2
1996 515 20.0 25.8 81.2
1997 504 20.0 25.2 76.2
1998 498 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 487 36.0 13.5 n/a
2000 482 38.0 12.7 33.8
2001 518 42.0 12.3 93.4
2002 503 n/a n/a 70.6
2003 503 n/a n/a 70.6
2004 465 46.0 10.1 79.8
2005 427 21.0 20.3 89.9
2006 402 21.0 19.1 86.6
2007 376 40.0 9.4 88.6
2008 423 19.0 22.3 65.7
2009 427 38.2 11.2 90.4
2010 529 52.0 10.1 93.4
2011 554 46.5 11.9 89.2
2012 551 48.0 11.4 37.4
2013 573 44.0 13.0 45.9
2014 615 53.3 11.5 99.5
2015 639 57.0 11.2 100
2016 709 64.0 11.0 100
2017 755 74.0 10.2 n/a
2018 737 70.0 10.5 n/a
2019 757 74.0 10.2 n/a
2020 713 72.1 9.8 n/a
2021 633 73.6 8.6 n/a
2022 597 66.2 9.0 n/a
2023 591 68.0 8.6 n/a
2024 603 67.1 8.9 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Brightwood Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $2,263 (10.9%) $18,419 (89.1%) $20,682
2020 $2,440 (10.7%) $20,411 (89.3%) $22,850
2021 $3,257 (12.7%) $22,370 (87.3%) $25,627
2022 $4,430 (15.4%) $24,406 (84.6%) $28,837
2023 $3,518 (10.5%) $30,033 (89.5%) $33,551

Data source: District Of Columbia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Brightwood Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 37th of 122 Elementary schoolsRanks 76th of 128 Elementary schools
 29%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Brightwood Elementary School)56.920.5
 36.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)43.237.4
 5.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)41.830.6
 11.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Brightwood Elementary School)38.56.4
 32.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)35.832.3
 3.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)33.126.1
 7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Brightwood Elementary School)59.137
 22.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)39.734.8
 4.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)38.529.2
 9.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Brightwood Elementary School)4422.2
 21.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)41.441.3
 0.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)38.234.7
 3.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Brightwood Elementary School)3915.8
 23.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)33.428.8
 4.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)32.425.4
 7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Brightwood Elementary School)25.615.4
 10.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)36.438.1
 1.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)35.533.7
 1.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students757591
 21.9%
African American147121
 17.7%
American Indian11
Asian101
 90%
Hispanic586456
 22.2%
Pacific Islander00
White1011
 10%
Two or More Races31
 66.7%


Schools Near Brightwood Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Brightwood Elementary School

Students who attend Brightwood Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ida B. Wells Middle School
High : Coolidge High School

Students at Brightwood Elementary School are 73% Hispanic, 25% African American, 2% White.

In the 2023-24 school year, 603 students attended Brightwood Elementary School.

Brightwood Elementary School ranks 77th of 126 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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