August 30, 2024, Washington, DC: DC Bilingual students make gains on DC CAPE assessment and achieve the highest scores in the school’s history with gains in both ELA and math and making DC Bilingual the highest performing elementary LEA (local education agency) in the city. DC Bilingual is excited to share the results of the state-mandated DC CAPE Assessment taken in the spring by DC Bilingual’s 2023-2024 3rd-5th graders.
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, DC implemented a new name for its general statewide assessment system, which includes assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics and science. The District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) include the DC ELA assessment (DC ELA), the DC Math assessment (DC Math) and the DC Science assessment (DC Science). Together, these assessments create a comprehensive system that provides important information on students’ progress and proficiency relative to DC’s educational standards. The assessment aligns with Common Core State Standards for ELA and math and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for science.
In comparison to data from 2022-2023, the number of 3rd-5th grade students that scored 4+ or higher increased by 1 percentage point in ELA and 4 percentage points in math.
Across all three years, DC Bilingual students made gains in both ELA and math. In the 2023-2024 school year, DC Bilingual’s 5th grade students scored the highest in both ELA and Math for this age group across all elementary charter schools in the city.
DC Bilingual is incredibly proud of our students for their performance on the DC CAPE assessment. In fact, DC Bilingual students in grades 3rd-5th scored significantly higher on average than 3-5th grade data released for DC Public Schools and charter schools across the city.
Every year our Pre-K classrooms are evaluated by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) for quality and effectiveness using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS®). The system provides scores based on three primary domains: Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support. The chart below shows program averages at DC Bilingual for the 2023-2024 school year, based on observations of all eight of our PK classrooms.
DC Bilingual classrooms exceeded the OSSE ceiling (6) in the Emotional Support and Classroom Organization domains. DC Bilingual is excited to see an incremental increase in each category’s score for this year. For more information about CLASS, read this resource. Early childhood classrooms across the country have historically struggled to reach the target for the “Instructional Support” domain. We are excited to approach the target score (4) AND continue to see growth. All in all, this assessment data reinforces that our school provides high quality bilingual PK programming for all students.
While these scores are certainly cause for celebration, we believe in continuous improvement and know we must work hard to continue to see this kind of growth year after year. Below are some of the ways DC Bilingual ensures students reach their full academic potential.
- Placing and retaining highly skilled teachers in the classroom who focus on individual student needs and strong learning environments for students.
- Our 50/50 dual immersion program.
- An aligned vision for academic instruction from Pre-K to 5th grade with consistent data driven reflection on lessons and academic scopes to make needed changes so students stay engaged and see themselves in their learning.
- Providing coaching support to all teachers, and a strong instructional leadership team that oversees curriculum design and professional development.
- Offering a strong multi-tiered system of supports, including response to intervention (RTI) cycles, and strong Student Support and Special Education teams.
- Providing intervention programs and supports that start as early as possible in the school year to help bring students to their highest academic potential.
- Continued focus on building a strong community that prioritizes the physical, mental, and social well-being of staff, students, and families.
- Offering a holistic approach that ensures children receive high-quality, nutritious meals throughout the day and prioritizing programming that engages the whole child through specials like art, movement, music, gardening, technology, and dance.
Please join us in congratulating all of our classroom teachers who educate and inspire our emerging global LEADers to do their best at all times. Thank you to all the amazing staff who provide critical support to students throughout the school year, including language specialists, SPED teachers, paraprofessionals, behavior specialists, social workers, counselors, and the specials team. Olé to the instructional leadership who coach and support our educators, and a big olé to Co-Principals Eleni McCabe and Ina Borjas for their thoughtful, engaged leadership!
To further understand DC CAPE Assessment results, you can contact our Data and Compliance Manager Felix Pitty by email at fpitty@dcbilingual.org.
Together We LEAD!
.png)
