DC families are invited to hit up EdFEST, the city's public school fair arranged over the upcoming two weekends. Starting yesterday, parents and guardians can drop by Eastern High School to get the lowdown on high schools, then scoot over to Kraken Kourts & Skates on December 13 for pre-K3 to middle school info. Mayor Muriel Bowser is big on the event, seeing it as a showcase of the investments and improvements in District schools. Alongside the fest’s announcement, the mayor trumpeted the District’s highest graduation rate in over a decade—a hefty 78.7% for the 2024-25 school year.
Mayor Bowser, in her statement obtained by mayor.dc.gov, said, “DC residents and taxpayers have been serious about investing in our public schools for nearly two decades. And we didn’t just invest in fantastic facilities, we also invested in fantastic people and programming. And because of those investments and those improvements, we’re seeing strong results — from our student achievement data to our graduation rates. I’m proud of our schools, I’m proud of our educators, and I’m proud of our students.”
The office of the State Superintendent of Education is right there with her, especially State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell. The state's top ed official boasted about the District's drive for continuous improvement that's clearly paying off—not only in graduation rates but also in the engagement of students through programs that cater to a variety of interests and academic needs.
For those aiming for the inside track on schools before the 2026-27 My School DC Lottery kicks off, EdFEST’s got you covered. Registration's open at myschooldc.org/events/edfest and with a slot in the lottery starting December 15. Beyond showcasing schools, there's a fresh DC School Report Card on tap to give families a deeper dive into data about schools. The report cards include insights from the first-ever DC Survey About Your School (DC SAYS), which managed to gather opinions from a notable majority of students, staff, and parents. Bowser's team isn't shy about touting a decade of growth in the District’s public education, from early childhood programs to cutting-edge high-tech centers saving millions in college tuition for families.
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