Teacher retention in Washington, D.C., has reached a five-year high, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). This positive trend is attributed to a combination of factors, including a 'people-first' investment strategy and competitive teacher salaries. With an average salary of over $100,000, D.C. Public School teachers are being recognized as world-class professionals. However, the city is also taking proactive steps to ensure long-term retention by offering pathways to teaching, such as the OSSE Apprenticeship in Teaching, which enables paraprofessionals to earn a bachelor's degree and teaching credentials while working. This stability in staffing is already showing positive results in the classroom, with a 3.6 percentage point increase in proficiency for both English Language Arts and Math in the 2025 DC CAPE assessment, a significant improvement from the pandemic era. Looking ahead, the Mayor's FY26 Budget proposes an additional $270 million to support continued pay increases for educators, further solidifying D.C.'s commitment to attracting and retaining top talent in education.
