The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kramer Ms
Kramer Middle School sits on Q Street Southeast in Washington's Ward 8, part of the District of Columbia Public Schools system. It is a traditional public middle school serving grades six through eight, and its enrollment is small for a DCPS middle school. The student body is nearly entirely Black, with a small Hispanic presence and a handful of students identifying as multiracial. No white, Asian, or American Indian students were reported in the current enrollment figures.
The academic results from the most recent state assessment cycle are low across every subject DC measures. In math, the share of students meeting or exceeding expectations was in the very low single digits. English language arts proficiency was higher but still well below what most DCPS middle schools post. Science results, drawn from an earlier testing year for eighth graders, fell in the lowest reported band, with no students reaching proficiency in that cohort. Participation in the science assessment was strong, so the result reflects actual performance rather than a testing gap. A parent considering Kramer may want to look into this further with the school, including what supports and interventions are in place and how leadership plans to move these numbers. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say from the provided data whether performance is improving, flat, or declining.
Several data fields that families often rely on were missing entirely. Free and reduced-price lunch counts were not reported, so the economic profile of the student body cannot be characterized from the data provided. Special education and English learner rates were also absent. No information on staffing ratios, teacher credentials, attendance patterns, or disciplinary actions was available. Program offerings such as advanced coursework, arts, athletics, or extracurriculars were not included in the data. A family looking at Kramer will need to go directly to the school and DCPS for most of the texture that normally fills out a school profile.
The surrounding ZIP code offers housing that is relatively affordable for the District. Typical home values sit below the DC statewide benchmark and roughly in line with the national figure, and values have been softening. Rents, by contrast, have been rising modestly. The rent-to-income ratio in the area is manageable relative to the mortgage burden a buyer would face at current interest rates, which makes renting the more economical option for most households here. This is a Southeast Washington neighborhood, geographically and culturally distant from the monumental core and the lobbying corridors around K Street that define the city's broader image.
DCPS as a district has been moving on a few fronts relevant to middle school families. A district-wide cell phone restriction took effect with the current school year, tied to legislation aimed at reducing classroom distractions across all DCPS schools. The district is also operating under A Capital Commitment, its five-year strategic plan running through 2028, which focuses on academic success, student connection to school, and post-graduation readiness. In January 2026, DCPS opened a new middle school addition at Leckie Education Campus, also in Ward 8, which expands middle-grade capacity in Southeast and may shift enrollment patterns in that part of the city over time.
What the data paints is a small, community-rooted Southeast middle school serving an almost entirely Black student population, with proficiency levels that are low by any measure and a thin publicly reported profile beyond that. The absence of economic, staffing, and program data means a family cannot fully assess this school from available records alone. The right next step is a direct conversation with the school about its academic plan, its culture, and what it offers students day to day.
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