The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Moten Es
Moten Elementary School sits on Morris Road in Southeast Washington and operates as a regular public school within the District of Columbia Public Schools system. It serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, which means there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course offerings to describe. State assessments cover third through fifth grade, and the earlier grades are not part of those results.
The enrollment is small for an elementary school covering this grade band. The student body is almost entirely Black, with a very small number of Hispanic students and students identified as two or more races. Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, so the economic background of the enrolled families cannot be characterized from what was provided. Information on individualized education programs and English learner status was also missing. A parent wanting to understand how the school serves students with disabilities or multilingual learners would need to ask the school directly.
On the most recent DC state assessments, covering the 2024-25 school year, Moten's results in both English language arts and math were below the state midpoint. In math, fewer than a quarter of tested students met or exceeded expectations. In ELA, the share was modestly higher but still fell below the statewide middle point. Science results, drawn from an earlier testing cycle and limited to fifth grade, showed very few students reaching proficiency, with the reported range sitting at the bottom of the scale. Participation in science testing was strong. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say from the provided data whether these results reflect a recent shift or a longer-standing pattern. A parent may want to look into how the school is responding to these numbers and what academic supports are in place.
Moten operates within DCPS, which has recently implemented a district-wide cell phone restriction tied to the Heads Up! Distraction-Free Learning Amendment Act, effective in the 2025-26 school year. The district's strategic plan, A Capital Commitment 2023-2028, centers on academic success, student connection to school, and preparation for what comes next. In January 2026, DCPS opened a new middle school addition at Leckie Education Campus in Ward 8, also in Southeast Washington, which may be relevant for families thinking about the transition after fifth grade.
The housing market in the school's zip code is more affordable than the District as a whole, with typical home values sitting well below the DC benchmark and close to the national figure. Home values here have been declining over the past year, while rents have risen modestly. For a family considering renting, the monthly cost is meaningfully lower than what a mortgage would require at current interest rates, making renting the more economical option in this area by a considerable margin. The price-to-income ratio is elevated relative to the national picture, reflecting the broader housing-cost pressures of the D.C. region even in neighborhoods where values sit below the citywide mark.
Washington is a federal-government-driven city, with employment concentrated in government, international organizations, and the lobbying and association sector. The L'Enfant Plan's wide diagonal avenues and quadrant system create distinct neighborhood identities, and Southeast Washington, where Moten is located, has its own character separate from the monumental core around the National Mall.
Several pieces that would help a parent form a fuller picture were not available. There was no detail on staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, attendance rates, discipline data, or program offerings such as after-school activities or arts instruction. A locale-specific brief for the school's immediate surroundings was not available beyond the citywide description. A parent evaluating Moten would benefit from visiting and asking about academic improvement plans, student support services, and what the school day looks like in practice.
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