Garrison Elementary School

Summary:

Garrison Elementary School is a public elementary school in Washington, DC, serving 375 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) district, which is ranked 26 out of 47 districts in DC and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Garrison Elementary stands out for its diverse student population, with 24.8% White, 47.2% African American, and 20% Hispanic students. The school has shown steady academic improvement, rising from a statewide ranking of 94 out of 109 DC elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 26 out of 126 in 2023-2024, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Garrison's performance on standardized tests, such as the DC CAPE and PARCC, is generally higher than the district and state averages, particularly in English Language Arts. The school has also excelled in supporting certain student subgroups, ranking in the top 10 and top 5 among DC elementary schools for African American students and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, respectively.

While Garrison Elementary's performance is stronger than some nearby schools, such as Raymond Elementary and Cleveland Elementary, it lags behind the highly-ranked Ross Elementary School, which is located just 0.62 miles away. Additionally, Garrison Elementary's statewide ranking and SchoolDigger star rating have fluctuated over the years, suggesting some instability or challenges in maintaining consistent academic performance. The school's high spending per student, at $28,386 in the 2022-2023 school year, also raises questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of its resource allocation.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1200 S St. NW
       Washington, DC  20009


(202) 673-7263

District: District of Columbia Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
26th of 126 District Of Columbia Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $28,386 Help


Students who attend Garrison Elementary School usually attend:

High:    Cardozo Education Campus

Student/teacher ratio:  9.8 Help
Number of students:  389

Racial breakdown:

African American:
49.9%
White:
25.4%
Hispanic:
18.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated District Of Columbia elementary schools

 Compare Garrison Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Garrison Elementary School ranks better than 79.4% of elementary schools in District Of Columbia. It also ranks 20th among 75 ranked elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.44. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Garrison Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (49.9%), White (25.4%), Hispanic (18.8%). (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Garrison Elementary School is 9.8, which is the 30th best among 75 elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools. (See more...)
Help
Compare Garrison Elementary School employs 39.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Garrison Elementary School is $28,386. 50 elementary schools in the District of Columbia Public Schools spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Garrison Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Garrison Elementary School 26th of 126 District Of Columbia public elementary schools. (See Garrison Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
African American students:


District of Columbia Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks District of Columbia Public Schools 27th of 47 District Of Columbia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Garrison Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2010 60.81 38th 111 65.8%
2011 37.06 69th 111 37.8%
2012 56.63 39th 112 65.2%
2014 16.48 94th 109 13.8%
2018 26.17 89th 120 25.8%
2019 59.46 43rd 122 64.8%
2022 53.78 33rd 97 66.0%
2023 70.76 26th 128 79.7%
2024 71.44 26th 126 79.4%
See the entire list of District Of Columbia Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 33.61 5th 9 44.4%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 76.95 5th 53 90.6%
2024 75.33 5th 55 90.9%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.24 99th 110 10.0%
2019 52.17 50th 117 57.3%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for At Risk students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.13 62nd 90 31.1%
2019 71.42 17th 91 81.3%
2022 73.42 2nd 27 92.6%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for At Risk Students!

Rank History for Male students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.83 67th 113 40.7%
2019 70.33 26th 113 77.0%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.56 76th 100 24.0%
2019 60.48 37th 106 65.1%
2022 48.79 16th 35 54.3%
2023 58.75 19th 60 68.3%
2024 73.32 10th 63 84.1%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Garrison Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools DC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 66.56 5th 30 83.3%
See the entire list of Best District Of Columbia Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Garrison Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2)
0%

0%

50%

0%

50%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Open Quote We had high hopes for our son's first year at Garrison Elementary, particularly after Principal Kip spoke so highly of the staff and described the 4th
grade class that my son would be joining as "unusually kind" . My son's experience has been far from kind. Garrison failed to meet my expectations of providing a safe learning environment for my child, which has now resulted in an unexpected mid-year withdrawal.

Bullying/School Safety
Between August-December, my son has been bullied on more than one occasion. I met with with Principal Kip after the first incident to express my
concern regarding my son's safety and more specifically, that no one from the school had contacted me to inform me of the incident. The
school officer was on the playground during recess and was aware of the incident, but the incident was never reported.

It's now January and yet another bullying incident recently occurred on the playground during recess. An adult eventually intervened and escorted my son to see the school nurse. The school officer was made aware of the incident and yet again, no one contacted me to inform me that my son was being seen by the school nurse in relation to this incident (not the nurse, the school officer, or anyone else from the school).

Communication
Communication needs improvement, in addition to the lack of communication related to the above-mentioned incidents. I raised concern with not having a parent teacher's conference. Principal Kip assured me that a parent teacher conference would be scheduled the following week. Still no parent teacher conference was ever scheduled. Communication concerning field trips has been minimal. For example, permission slips have been sent home for signature, seemingly more so focused on waiving liability to DCPS rather than providing adequate details beyond the date and location. Other pertinent info (i.e., departure and return time, plans for lunch, method of transportation) was never shared. The fourth grade class rode the Metrobus for their last field trip due to financial constraints rather than for a learning experience. While I can appreciate the creativity of the teachers making it happen, perhaps the PTO or individual parents may have been willing to support if this was communicated in advance.

On a positive note, I do have to say the IEP team (Ms. Dorn, Mr Saxton, and Mr. H in particular) were genuinely committed to doing what was in the best interest of my son throughout the IEP evaluation process. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, April 4, 2019

Open Quote Mr. Kipp is very much involved with the students. My child has better confidence while taking test. However the Class sizes are not fit for the teachers. There are to many children for the S:T ratio Close Quote



Enrollment information for Garrison Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 0 363 0 27 0 n/a n/a 0 390
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 442 442
1990 0 322 0 40 0 n/a n/a 0 362
1991 0 376 5 52 0 n/a n/a 0 433
1992 1 414 0 69 0 n/a n/a 0 484
1993 0 434 1 76 0 n/a n/a 0 511
1994 0 438 1 94 0 n/a n/a 0 533
1995 1 456 4 87 0 n/a n/a 0 548
1996 1 456 4 87 0 n/a n/a 0 548
1997 1 472 2 77 0 n/a n/a 0 552
1998 0 473 5 85 1 n/a n/a 0 564
1999 0 415 6 84 1 n/a n/a 0 506
2000 1 393 5 85 1 n/a n/a 0 485
2001 1 345 4 71 0 n/a n/a 0 421
2002 4 303 2 77 0 n/a n/a 0 386
2003 4 303 2 77 0 n/a n/a 0 386
2004 6 308 2 69 0 n/a n/a 0 385
2005 5 257 2 52 0 n/a n/a 0 316
2006 5 242 1 50 0 n/a n/a 0 298
2007 5 218 0 43 0 n/a n/a 0 266
2008 5 193 1 54 0 n/a n/a 0 253
2009 5 175 3 44 0 n/a n/a 0 227
2010 6 147 5 50 0 n/a n/a 0 208
2011 10 142 0 60 0 1 0 0 213
2012 14 157 1 61 4 0 1 0 238
2013 15 157 2 51 0 0 3 0 228
2014 17 194 4 60 1 0 4 0 280
2015 24 139 4 69 1 0 7 0 244
2016 25 126 5 84 1 0 3 0 244
2017 33 132 5 78 1 0 4 0 253
2018 37 123 8 75 1 0 6 0 250
2019 52 136 8 75 1 0 5 0 277
2020 57 137 10 82 1 0 4 0 291
2021 61 157 16 78 0 0 7 0 319
2022 80 160 12 69 1 0 9 0 331
2023 93 177 17 75 1 0 12 0 375
2024 99 194 13 73 0 0 10 0 389

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Garrison Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 390 23.0 16.9 75.4
1989 442 25.0 17.6 66.5
1990 362 20.0 18.1 1.4
1991 433 20.0 21.6 1.2
1992 484 22.0 22.0 78.5
1993 511 27.0 18.9 83.8
1994 533 27.0 19.7 90.4
1995 548 27.0 20.3 94.9
1996 548 27.0 20.3 94.9
1997 552 25.0 22.1 94.9
1998 564 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 506 36.0 14.1 n/a
2000 485 34.5 14.1 74
2001 421 31.0 13.6 99.3
2002 386 n/a n/a 87.8
2003 386 n/a n/a 87.8
2004 385 29.0 13.3 74.5
2005 316 26.0 12.2 87
2006 298 24.0 12.4 84.2
2007 266 29.0 9.2 80.5
2008 253 4.0 63.3 73.9
2009 227 16.4 13.8 86.8
2010 208 21.0 9.9 88.9
2011 213 21.2 10.0 86.9
2012 238 22.5 10.5 42.9
2013 228 21.1 10.8 98.7
2014 280 26.6 10.5 98.9
2015 244 27.0 9.0 100
2016 244 27.0 9.0 100
2017 253 29.7 8.5 n/a
2018 250 26.0 9.6 n/a
2019 277 29.0 9.5 n/a
2020 291 28.0 10.3 n/a
2021 319 33.5 9.5 n/a
2022 331 32.0 10.3 n/a
2023 375 35.5 10.5 n/a
2024 389 39.6 9.8 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Garrison Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 390 23.0 16.9 75.4
1989 442 25.0 17.6 66.5
1990 362 20.0 18.1 1.4
1991 433 20.0 21.6 1.2
1992 484 22.0 22.0 78.5
1993 511 27.0 18.9 83.8
1994 533 27.0 19.7 90.4
1995 548 27.0 20.3 94.9
1996 548 27.0 20.3 94.9
1997 552 25.0 22.1 94.9
1998 564 n/a 0.0 n/a
1999 506 36.0 14.1 n/a
2000 485 34.5 14.1 74
2001 421 31.0 13.6 99.3
2002 386 n/a n/a 87.8
2003 386 n/a n/a 87.8
2004 385 29.0 13.3 74.5
2005 316 26.0 12.2 87
2006 298 24.0 12.4 84.2
2007 266 29.0 9.2 80.5
2008 253 4.0 63.3 73.9
2009 227 16.4 13.8 86.8
2010 208 21.0 9.9 88.9
2011 213 21.2 10.0 86.9
2012 238 22.5 10.5 42.9
2013 228 21.1 10.8 98.7
2014 280 26.6 10.5 98.9
2015 244 27.0 9.0 100
2016 244 27.0 9.0 100
2017 253 29.7 8.5 n/a
2018 250 26.0 9.6 n/a
2019 277 29.0 9.5 n/a
2020 291 28.0 10.3 n/a
2021 319 33.5 9.5 n/a
2022 331 32.0 10.3 n/a
2023 375 35.5 10.5 n/a
2024 389 39.6 9.8 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Garrison Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $2,361 (11.2%) $18,780 (88.8%) $21,141
2020 $2,621 (11.9%) $19,480 (88.1%) $22,101
2021 $3,008 (13.2%) $19,845 (86.8%) $22,853
2022 $4,573 (17.0%) $22,296 (83.0%) $26,869
2023 $3,562 (12.5%) $24,824 (87.5%) $28,386

Data source: District Of Columbia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Garrison Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 43rd of 122 Elementary schoolsRanks 26th of 128 Elementary schools
 14.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Mathematics (Garrison Elementary School)33.339
 5.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)43.237.4
 5.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)41.830.6
 11.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Garrison Elementary School)22.331.7
 9.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)35.832.3
 3.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)33.126.1
 7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Garrison Elementary School)42.941.7
 1.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)39.734.8
 4.9%
   4th Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)38.529.2
 9.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Garrison Elementary School)46.438.9
 7.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)41.441.3
 0.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)38.234.7
 3.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Garrison Elementary School)29.243.2
 14%
   5th Grade Mathematics (District of Columbia Public Schools)33.428.8
 4.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (District Of Columbia)32.425.4
 7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Garrison Elementary School)62.551.4
 11.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (District of Columbia Public Schools)36.438.1
 1.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (District Of Columbia)35.533.7
 1.8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students277375
 35.4%
African American136177
 30.1%
American Indian11
Asian817
 112.5%
Hispanic7575
Pacific Islander00
White5293
 78.8%
Two or More Races512
 140%


Schools Near Garrison Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Garrison Elementary School

Garrison Elementary School ranks 26th of 126 District Of Columbia elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 389 students attended Garrison Elementary School.

Students at Garrison Elementary School are 50% African American, 25% White, 19% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

Students who attend Garrison Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Cardozo Education Campus


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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