Dunbar High School
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 698-3762
Fax: (202) 673-2223
District: District Of Columbia Public Schools
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades 9,10,11,12 • 892 students
Dunbar High School, a public school located in Washington, DC, serves grades 9-12 in the District Of Columbia Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 3 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Dunbar High School is a public school located in Washington, DC. 892 students attend Dunbar High School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 2/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education data from DC Public Schools. |
| College Readiness | 5/10 | The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 SAT percent college ready data from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and using 2024 demographic data from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. |
| Student Growth | 3/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and using 2025 Percentage of students meeting growth target data from DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. |
Posted: October 24, 2025
Brings joy and happiness to students knowing that they can excel at all levels of education.
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: October 24, 2025
Posted: August 22, 2014
Terrific staff and students! Enroll your children soon! This school is near Capitol Hill and H Street!
Posted: October 20, 2013
I'm a graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar Sr. High, I,graduated in 1981, when I was a student the parents & community were always deeply involved in the day to day functions, educational matter & the overall educational growth of the students attending, I feel that parents these days enroll their children into a school and don't follow up on what's going on with their children until reportcard time. Most of these children are raising themselves, some can't wait to get to school because of negative things occuring in the home. Back when I was attending the school, teacher, cousaelors & administrative staff all had a had in making sure we were well informed and were had all the tools neccessary to succeed. The department of education has a slogan NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, well we all no that's not true most of the youth are more interested in getting paid that that the closest they come to any school is when they walk pass it, or see it out of the back window of a police vehicle, yeah its sad, but its true.
Posted: October 20, 2013
As a community member I am really loving the new building. even though I am not originally from the area, I feel that this high school give the community an uplift. Great Job DCPS.
Posted: January 1, 2012
Well this is the real deal of Dunbar SHS in Washington dc. Now Dunbar is a really creative and outstanding school also if an parent has a son and would love for them to play sports Dunbar has really good sports also for girls cheerleader,so it would help the children do there work because while on the teams u have to have good grades. How ever this school has changed since I was there I graduated in 2009 prom was also good. It's a well educated and fun to go to. This school makes you continue and finish.also the teachers push yo or your child to walk a cross the stage. Dunbar is a wonderful pick to attend to.
Posted: November 24, 2011
For an inner city school, especially DCPS, Dunbar high offers highly qualified teachers and a great administration. The students are, on balance, an inquisitive group that strives for success. After a rough few years in recent news attracting negative attention, Dunbar is on its way to become a highlight in DCPS. In 2013, a new edifice willp open its doors. It will be the first of its kind. You have heard of LEED certified green schools, well this will be of platinum staus in the green category. There will be an arts and humanities academy, a STEM academy, and one of the only education academies in the country.
Posted: February 20, 2010
Posted: April 16, 2009
Posted: January 28, 2009
Posted: October 2, 2007
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The VIO | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Washington SW | DC | 1.6 mi | |
| 2 | Reserve at Potomac Yard | Apartment Complex | Alexandria | VA | 5.3 mi | |
| 3 | Takoma Park | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Takoma Park | MD | 5.4 mi | |
| 4 | Twenty400 | Apartment Complex | Arlington | VA | 5.5 mi | |
| 5 | The Willoughby | Condominium/Townhouse | Chevy Chase | MD | 5.6 mi | |
| 6 | Beverly Hills | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 5.7 mi | |
| 7 | Shirlington | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Arlington | VA | 6.1 mi | |
| 8 | Rivergate | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 6.7 mi | |
| 9 | Henry | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 7 mi | |
| 10 | Leeway Overlee - N Arlington | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Arlington | VA | 7.2 mi | |
| 11 | Fords Landing | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 7.8 mi | |
| 12 | Midtown Alexandria Station | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 8.3 mi | |
| 13 | Forest Knolls | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 8.4 mi | |
| 14 | Hillandale | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Silver Spring | MD | 8.5 mi | |
| 15 | Burgundy Woods | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Alexandria | VA | 8.6 mi | |
| 16 | Falls Church City | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Falls Church | VA | 8.6 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington DC | Washington D.C. | DC | 1 mi | |
| 2 | Capitol Hill | Washington | DC | 1.4 mi | |
| 3 | Georgetown | Washington | DC | 2.1 mi | |
| 4 | Pentagon City | Arlington | VA | 4.6 mi | |
| 5 | Arlington | Arlington | VA | 5.7 mi | |
| 6 | Silver Spring | Silver Spring | MD | 5.8 mi | |
| 7 | Old Town Alexandria | Alexandria | VA | 7.4 mi | |
| 8 | National Harbor | Fort Washington | MD | 8.5 mi | |
| 9 | White Oak | Silver Spring | MD | 8.5 mi |
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Marine Barracks Washington | 2.2 mi. |
| Washington Navy Yard | 2.4 mi. |
| Fort McNair | 2.6 mi. |
| Coast Guard Headquarters DC | 3 mi. |
| Pentagon | 3.4 mi. |
| Fort Myer | 4 mi. |
| Henderson Hall | 4.2 mi. |
| Bolling AFB Joint Base Anacostia | 4.7 mi. |
| Mark Center Alexandria | 7.7 mi. |
| Walter Reed Medical Center | 7.9 mi. |
| Andrews AFB | 9.7 mi. |
| Defense Health Headquarters Falls Church | 10.9 mi. |
| Fort Belvoir | 15.4 mi. |
| Fort Meade NSA | 19.6 mi. |
| NRO Chantilly | 23.6 mi. |
| Indian Head Naval Base | 23.7 mi. |
| US Naval Academy | 28.7 mi. |
| Annapolis Naval Station | 29.7 mi. |
| Coast Guard Curtis Bay | 31.2 mi. |
| Quantico Marine Base | 34.8 mi. |
| Dahlgren NSWC | 39 mi. |
| Fort Detrick | 42.9 mi. |
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