## D.C. Schools Face Scrutiny as Spending Rises Alongside Stagnant Student Achievement
A recent audit of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) has revealed a concerning trend: staffing levels have surged dramatically while student achievement remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels.
The Office of the District of Columbia Auditor’s report indicates a significant imbalance. Over the past five years, D.C. student enrollment increased by a modest 2.6%, yet staff numbers ballooned by an astonishing 19.5%. This equates to approximately 1,600 new positions added since Fiscal Year 2020, leading to a roughly 43% increase in per-pupil spending.
This situation isn’t unique to D.C.; nationwide, students are still struggling to regain the ground lost during the pandemic. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress—often referred to as the nation’s report card—demonstrated some progress since 2022, but reading and math scores for most students remain below those recorded in 2019.
While D.C. students showed improvement compared to other large urban areas, they haven’t fully returned to pre-pandemic performance levels.
The United States is already a major investor in education, ranking third among developed nations in per-pupil spending within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The pandemic triggered a massive influx of federal funds into public school systems nationwide, but a significant portion appears to be channeled towards staff salaries and benefits rather than directly supporting student learning.
Analysis of national trends reveals a widespread pattern:
- In Wake County Public Schools (North Carolina), 78% of pandemic relief funding was allocated to salaries and employee benefits.
- Chicago’s public schools directed 77% of their pandemic funds towards staff bonuses, salaries, and benefits.
A recent analysis by The 74, a nonprofit education news group, examined staffing and enrollment data across over 9,500 school districts representing roughly 92% of all K-12 students nationwide. Their findings show:
- Nearly 3,000 districts increased staff levels even as student enrollment decreased.
- Some districts reduced their workforce but not quickly enough to match declining student populations.
- Others expanded staffing at a faster pace than they gained students.
Nationally, public schools added approximately 121,000 employees last year – despite serving roughly 110,000 fewer students.
DCPS responded to the audit with a statement from press secretary Evan Lambert:
“DC Public Schools works every day to help all our scholars reach their full potential. This recent report highlights a staffing strategy that prioritizes teachers and led to increases in enrollment and academic performance that stands out from other urban school districts. DCPS will work with the Office of the Chief Financial Officer to identify ways to improve data systems to demonstrate the district’s continued fiscal stewardship.”
Furthermore, Lambert noted that DCPS has increased local funding to schools by decreasing Central Services staff following the expiration of federal pandemic relief.
The current climate surrounding education policy is also shifting. Former President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aiming to transfer educational authority from the federal government to individual states and introduced a bill to effectively close the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that despite significant increases in spending over decades—more than 245% since the 1970s—student achievement has remained virtually unchanged.
“President Donald J. Trump and his administration believe we can, and must, be better,” the order stated.