The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Randle Highlands Es
Randle Highlands Elementary sits in the southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the District of Columbia Public Schools system. The school draws a predominantly Black student body, with nearly all enrolled students identifying as Black and small numbers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Enrollment is modest for a DCPS elementary school, with the pre-kindergarten group forming the largest single grade cohort.
On state assessments, Randle Highlands shows proficiency rates that fall well below where most families would want to see an elementary school performing. In math, roughly one in six tested students met or exceeded expectations in the most recent reporting year. In English language arts, just under a quarter of students reached proficiency. Science results from the prior testing cycle were lower still, with only a handful of fifth graders demonstrating proficiency on the state science assessment. These are sobering figures. A parent considering this school would want to ask the administration directly about what interventions and supports are in place, how the school plans to move these numbers, and what the classroom experience looks like day to day.
Several data points that would help round out the picture are not available in the provided material. Free and reduced-price lunch information was not reported, so the economic background of the student body cannot be characterized here. Special education and English learner rates are also missing. Discipline data, staffing levels, attendance figures, course offerings, and Title I status were not provided. Without these, it is hard to assess the level of wraparound support or the teacher-to-student ratio the school maintains. A parent may want to look into these areas further with the school directly.
The school sits in the 20020 zip code, an area where home values run well below the D.C. citywide benchmark. Typical home values here are roughly a third lower than the broader district median, and the area has seen a modest year-over-year decline in prices. Rents are comparatively affordable relative to much of the city, sitting below what a family would face in more central D.C. neighborhoods. For a family weighing where to live relative to the school, housing costs in this part of Southeast are among the more accessible in the district. The gap between monthly mortgage costs and rents remains wide given current interest rates, so renting may be the more feasible path for many families.
Randle Highlands operates within DCPS, a large urban district serving the entire city. Washington itself is a federal government-driven city, cosmopolitan and diverse, with civic life distributed across many neighborhoods rather than concentrated in a single downtown. The district recently implemented a system-wide cell phone restriction for the current school year, aimed at reducing classroom distraction. DCPS is also working through a multi-year strategic plan focused on academic success, student connection, and readiness for what comes next. In Southeast specifically, the district recently added middle school capacity at a nearby education campus, which could matter to families thinking about where Randle Highlands students transition after fifth grade.
What the data does not capture is the lived experience inside the building. The proficiency numbers tell one part of the story. The missing fields make a full assessment from the page alone difficult. A parent would benefit from visiting, speaking with current families, and asking school leaders about culture, climate, and the specific supports available to students working below grade level.
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