DC Launched Student Career Outcomes Database
Washington families can now track graduation and salary data to better understand local workforce trends.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The District of Columbia government has unveiled an interactive dashboard that tracks wage, career, and higher education outcomes for public and charter school graduates. The tool, which includes data for students from the class of 2016 onward, aims to provide clear insights into economic mobility for local families.
Why it matters
The dashboard visualizes economic mobility gaps to help residents understand how educational attainment influences long-term earning potential in the region. By comparing student outcomes against local benchmarks, families can better evaluate the impact of different academic paths on future financial stability.
The database highlights a $20,000 earnings gap for students with more than a high school diploma compared to those with only a degree. Additionally, the platform provides 10 analytical briefs covering employment rates and industries for local graduates.
The players
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education
A D.C. government office responsible for coordinating and overseeing the city's public education and workforce development strategies.
ETEP
A government entity involved in developing the data platform to track student career transitions and economic success.
The details
Seven government agencies collaborated to develop the platform, which aggregates data from public and charter school alumni. The system calculates outcomes by tracking career and higher education progress, though it only captures individuals working within the District. Users can review these findings to see how specific educational milestones align with regional economic requirements.
Timeline
The interactive dashboard launched on September 28, 2026.
Data availability begins with the high school graduating class of 2016.
The 2024-2025 academic year saw a DCPS graduation rate of under 78%.
The Compact for 2043 initiative targets 2043 for its primary goals.
The Home Front
This dashboard provides the transparency needed to measure progress toward the ambitious 90% graduation and 100% post-graduation plan targets set for 2043. It aligns local educational accountability with broader economic development goals for the District.
Families should review the dashboard to see how different degree levels correlate with local living wage thresholds. This data can inform discussions about post-graduation planning and long-term financial expectations for students currently navigating the D.C. public school system.
The takeaway
Understanding the local earnings gap can help families make informed decisions about post-secondary academic goals. Parents are encouraged to explore the dashboard to see how recent graduation outcomes compare to the $55,000 living wage benchmark.
Further reading
For more information on local schooling pathways, visit the Washington Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Washington Sun.
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Do you believe tracking education data will improve student outcomes in your local school district?
