Ida B. Wells Middle School

Q: Is Ida B. Wells Middle School a good school?

Ida B. Wells Middle School ranks 35 th of 70 District Of Columbia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Ida B. Wells Middle School is a public middle school in Washington, DC, serving 539 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) district, which is ranked 26 out of 47 districts in DC and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ida B. Wells has a diverse student population, with nearly equal percentages of African American (48.24%) and Hispanic (48.42%) students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by proficiency rates on the DC CAPE and PARCC assessments, is generally lower than the DCPS and DC-wide averages, particularly in mathematics. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 13.8% of 6th graders, 12.4% of 7th graders, and 13.2% of 8th graders were proficient or better in mathematics, compared to DCPS averages of 25.1%, 23.7%, and 41.8%, respectively. The school's performance also varies significantly by student subgroup, with African American students performing relatively well but Hispanic students and English Language Learners performing much lower.

Despite the relatively high per-student spending of $25,628 in the 2022-2023 school year, Ida B. Wells has a higher student-teacher ratio (11.4) compared to some of the nearby charter schools, such as Washington Latin PCS - Middle School, Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle, and Paul PCS - Middle School, which have higher proficiency rates on the DC CAPE and PARCC assessments, particularly in mathematics and English Language Arts. However, Ida B. Wells ranks 1st out of 1 DC middle school for its performance on homeless students, indicating that it may be providing effective support and services for this vulnerable population.

Detail:

Public 6-8

405 Sheridan St. NW
Washington, DC 20011

(202) 671-0693

District: District of Columbia Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
35^th of 70 District Of Columbia Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $25,628

Students who attend Ida B. Wells Middle School usually attend:

High:

Coolidge High School

Feeder schools for Ida B. Wells Middle School:

Elementary:	Brightwood Elementary School
	LaSalle-Backus Elementary School
	Takoma Elementary School
	Whittier Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.4

Number of students: 540

Racial breakdown:

African American:

54.4%

Hispanic:

41.9%

Two or more races:

1.5%

See top rated District Of Columbia middle schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Ida B. Wells Middle School ranks worse than 50% of middle schools in District Of Columbia. It also ranks 5^th among 14 ranked middle schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.02. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (54.4%), Hispanic (41.9%), two or more races (1.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ida B. Wells Middle School is 11.4. 7 middle schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Ida B. Wells Middle School employs 47.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ida B. Wells Middle School is $25,628. 11 middle schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ida B. Wells Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ida B. Wells Middle School 35^th of 70 District Of Columbia public middle schools. (See Ida B. Wells Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Homeless students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

District of Columbia Public Schools:

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

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Rank History for Ida B. Wells Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile
2022	47.00	22^nd	59	62.7%
2023	43.78	34^th	69	50.7%
2024	43.02	35^th	70	50.0%

See the entire list of District Of Columbia Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile
2022	55.50	4^th	6	33.3%
2023	62.99	4^th	7	42.9%
2024	27.17	5^th	6	16.7%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	12.49	6^th	6	0.0%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	56.07	15^th	44	65.9%
2024	44.26	24^th	49	51.0%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile
2022	26.09	1^st	1	0.0%
2023	35.92	1^st	1	0.0%
2024	41.82	1^st	1	0.0%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	47.36	16^th	34	52.9%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile
2022	43.72	15^th	27	44.4%
2023	39.28	20^th	36	44.4%
2024	50.58	15^th	42	64.3%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DC State Percentile
2022	29.86	9^th	14	35.7%
2023	33.07	9^th	14	35.7%
2024	22.48	15^th	17	11.8%

See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

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

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

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Enrollment information for Ida B. Wells Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2020	1	97	0	84	2	2	186
2021	3	190	0	169	2	6	370
2022	5	281	0	233	1	10	530
2023	8	260	3	261	0	7	539
2024	7	294	4	226	1	8	540

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 Ida B. Wells Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	186	18.5	10.0	n/a
2021	370	28.2	13.1	n/a
2022	530	40.2	13.1	n/a
2023	539	47.0	11.4	n/a
2024	540	47.3	11.4	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 Ida B. Wells Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2020	186	18.5	10.0	n/a
2021	370	28.2	13.1	n/a
2022	530	40.2	13.1	n/a
2023	539	47.0	11.4	n/a
2024	540	47.3	11.4	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 Ida B. Wells Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2020	$2,533 (9.4%)	$24,489 (90.6%)	$27,022
2021	$2,829 (12.3%)	$20,096 (87.7%)	$22,925
2022	$4,198 (18.1%)	$19,018 (81.9%)	$23,216
2023	$4,359 (17.0%)	$21,269 (83.0%)	$25,628

Data source: District Of Columbia Department of Education

Schools Near Ida B. Wells Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				DC Science Science (2024)	DC CAPE English Language Arts (2024)					DC CAPE Mathematics (2024)					DC CAPE Algebra I (2024)		DC CAPE Geometry (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DC Science Science End of Course	DC CAPE English Language Arts 4th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 5th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 6th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 7th Grade	DC CAPE English Language Arts 8th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 4th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 5th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 6th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 7th Grade	DC CAPE Mathematics 8th Grade	DC CAPE Algebra I 8th Grade	DC CAPE Algebra I End of Course	DC CAPE Geometry 8th Grade	DC CAPE Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ida B. Wells Middle School	Public	6-8	405 Sheridan St. NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 671-0693	540	47	11.4		7 (1.3%)	294 (54.4%)	226 (41.9%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	43	35^th of 70 public middle schools	50.0%		43.8	34^th of 69 public middle schools	50.7%	1	1.7			38.3	31.3	26.4			13.8	12.4		13.2	13.2			$25,628	$4,359	$21,269
Capital City PCS - Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	100 Peabody Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Capital City PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 808-9800	336	41	8.1		13 (3.9%)	75 (22.3%)	224 (66.7%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.5%)	36.7	46^th of 70 public middle schools	34.3%		33.6	45^th of 69 public middle schools	34.8%	1	5.1		10.5	27.9	26.2	15.2		5.3	15.5	12.2		10.5	10.5			$30,706	$4,072	$26,635
Paul PCS - Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	5800 8th Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Paul PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 291-7499	313	35	8.9		1 (0.3%)	147 (47.0%)	164 (52.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	48.1	28^th of 70 public middle schools	60.0%		66.2	14^th of 69 public middle schools	79.7%	14	5.9		26.7	34.0	34.1	40.0			7.6	12.9	4.5		35.0			$31,963	$4,952	$27,010
Friendship PCS - Ideal Middle	Public, Charter	4-8	6130 North Capitol Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Friendship PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 518-3928	172	16	10.6		0 (0.0%)	162 (94.2%)	9 (5.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	60.2	20^th of 70 public middle schools	71.4%		50.4	26^th of 69 public middle schools	62.3%	6	7.0	31.0	51.3	32.1	38.7	58.8	24.1	20.5	14.3	16.1	17.6					$28,186	$6,173	$22,013
Washington Latin PCS - Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	5200 2nd Street NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Washington Latin PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(202) 223-1111	393	24	16.4		198 (50.4%)	103 (26.2%)	55 (14.0%)	13 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.1%)	97.8	3^rd of 70 public middle schools	95.7%		91.1	6^th of 69 public middle schools	91.3%	3	37.8		64.9	72.4	74.0	81.3		51.5	58.2	50.5			48.5	89.7	89.7	$23,334	$1,364	$21,969
Social Justice PCS	Public, Charter	5-8	5450 3rd Street NE	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	Social Justice PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 968-5380	124	16	7.7		0 (0.0%)	112 (90.3%)	12 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.5	41^st of 70 public middle schools	41.4%		46.5	32^nd of 69 public middle schools	53.6%	9				11.5	36.7	20.8			8.0	20.0	4.2					$26,745	$3,537	$23,208
MacFarland Middle School	Public	6-8	4400 Iowa Ave. NW	Washington	20011	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 671-6033	499	54	9.3		8 (1.6%)	206 (41.3%)	271 (54.3%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	42.4	36^th of 70 public middle schools	48.6%		38	41^st of 69 public middle schools	40.6%	5	3.6			28.5	28.3	19.3			14.0	22.6	1.0	56.9	56.9			$29,115	$3,647	$25,468
E.L. Haynes PCS - Middle School	Public, Charter	5-8	3600 Georgia Avenue NW	Washington	20010	District Of Columbia	E.L. Haynes PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 667-4446	377	33	11.6		11 (2.9%)	109 (28.9%)	253 (67.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	36.7	48^th of 70 public middle schools	31.4%		38.9	39^th of 69 public middle schools	43.5%	9	3.9		23.1	21.7	17.9	21.8		17.3	18.1	17.0	1.4					$29,983	$3,822	$26,161
Brookland Middle School	Public	6-8	1150 Michigan Ave NE	Washington	20017	District Of Columbia	District of Columbia Public Schools	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 759-1999	370	33	11.1		3 (0.8%)	295 (79.7%)	67 (18.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	27.2	56^th of 70 public middle schools	20.0%		32.6	48^th of 69 public middle schools	30.4%	8				16.5	20.2	23.0			5.4	11.6		14.2	14.2			$27,562	$3,801	$23,760
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science PCS	Public, Charter	6-8	405 Howard Road Place NW	Washington	20059	District Of Columbia	Howard University Middle School of Math and Science PCS	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(202) 806-7725	253	34	7.4		0 (0.0%)	241 (95.3%)	9 (3.6%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	41.9	37^th of 70 public middle schools	47.1%		32.7	47^th of 69 public middle schools	31.9%	10				19.2	24.7	39.5			4.1	4.6	12.0					$32,029	$6,258	$25,771

Frequently Asked Questions about Ida B. Wells Middle School

What district is Ida B. Wells Middle School in?

District of Columbia Public Schools

How many students attend Ida B. Wells Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 540 students attended Ida B. Wells Middle School.

Is Ida B. Wells Middle School a good school?

Ida B. Wells Middle School ranks 35^th of 70 District Of Columbia middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Ida B. Wells Middle School attend?

Students who attend Ida B. Wells Middle School usually go on to attend Coolidge High School

What is the racial makeup of Ida B. Wells Middle School?

Students at Ida B. Wells Middle School are 54% African American, 42% Hispanic, 1% Two or more races, 1% White.

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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.