DC Traditional Public Schools

The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system provides students with neighborhood schools and specialized programs across all eight wards of DC.

Guaranteed Enrollment: DC residents have a guaranteed right to enroll in their assigned neighborhood school for grades K-12 without participating in the lottery. Families can also apply to out-of-boundary DCPS schools through the My School DC lottery.

My School DC Common Lottery: DCPS participates in the same common lottery system as charter schools. Families can rank up to 12 schools (both DCPS and charter schools) on one application, allowing seamless comparison and application across all public school options.

Specialized Programs: DCPS offers various specialized programs including:

• Language immersion programs (Spanish, French, Chinese)
• Montessori schools
• Arts-focused schools
• STEM programs
• Dual language programs

Transportation: DCPS provides free transportation to students attending their in-boundary school or if transportation is required in their IEP (Individualized Education Program).

Tuition: $0. DCPS schools are completely free with no tuition or fees.

Returning to Neighborhood School: Students can return to their in-boundary DCPS school at any time. DC residents have a guaranteed right to enroll without participating in the lottery.