Friendship PCS

Friendship PCS is a charter school network operating in Washington, DC, comprising 15 schools across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The district experienced substantial growth, with enrollment increasing 84.3% from the prior year to reach 8,946 students, suggesting rapid expansion or significant enrollment shifts.

The student population is predominantly Black (95.2%), with 70.0% economically disadvantaged and 21.5% identified with disabilities. English learners represent 1.8% of enrollment. The student-teacher ratio stands at 21.4:1 across 419 teachers.

Academic performance presents mixed indicators. Math proficiency at 13.8% falls notably below the DC state average of 19.9%, while reading proficiency at 22.4% similarly trails the state average of 25.4%. However, the graduation rate of 83.5% exceeds the state average of 77.6%, indicating stronger secondary completion outcomes. Chronic absenteeism at 41.6% represents a notable challenge affecting overall academic engagement.

Financially, Friendship PCS operates on a per-pupil spending level of $5,793, nearly aligned with the state average of $5,871. The total budget of $128.9M derives primarily from local sources (90.4%), with federal funding comprising 9.6%. This funding structure reflects the charter school model's reliance on local revenue streams in the DC context.