School Choice in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia runs 1 private school choice program, together serving about 1,409 students. None of them reaches a universal tier, so eligibility is limited.
D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program
Voucher- Students
- 1,409
- Eligible
- 27%
- Average award
- $11,318
- Launched
- 2004
The average award is 36% of what the state spends per pupil in its public schools.
Homeschooling in the District of Columbia
Homeschooling is legal in every state. The District of Columbia recognises one legal route to it, compulsory attendance runs from age 5–18, and notice to the state is required. The District of Columbia homeschool requirements are set out in full on their own page.
How the District of Columbia compares
Nationally, 36 jurisdictions run 82 private-choice programs serving roughly 2,279,109 students, and 18 have at least one program any student may apply to. The state-by-state guide sets out how the programs differ.
Where this comes from
Program data from EdChoice's School Choice in America dashboard, retrieved 2026-09-16; homeschool requirements from HSLDA. Participation and award figures are the most recent EdChoice publishes and lag the current school year. Educational information, not legal or financial advice — confirm eligibility with the program before you rely on it.