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publications | Education

America’s fastest-improving school system still falls short | The Hechinger Report

May 21, 2026
  • D.C. Policy Center

On May 18, 2026, a D.C. Policy Center report was cited in The Hechinger Report:

In 2025, only 26 percent of Washington students met grade-level standards in math and only 38 percent were proficient in reading, according to a separate report from the D.C. Policy Center, an independent local think tank. Just 16 percent of high school juniors and seniors were considered to be college or career ready.

Read more: America’s fastest-improving school system still falls short

Additional Reading: State of D.C. Schools, 2024-25: Forward momentum

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D.C. Policy Center


Established in 2016, the D.C. Policy Center is a non-partisan research and policy organization committed to advancing policies for a strong and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate.

For more information, please see our About page.

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