Staffing Ratio Allocations
The Basics
In addition to student-based dollars, the model also includes funding allocations based on staff and faculty counts. These staffing ratios ensure that essential services and instruction, such as special education and multilingual instruction, are resourced to schools that need these educators and staff most.
Staffing Allocations in the School Funding Model
Below is a chart outlining the staffing allocations provided to schools in the FY25 DCPS School Funding Model.
Staff | Ratio | Additional Information |
Principal | 1 at every school | Exceptions: Military Road, Stevens ELC, McKinley MS & McKinley Tech HS, Peabody ES, Watkins ES |
Early Childhood Education | 1 teacher and 1 aide for every 16 PK3 students and 20 PK4 students | 1 teacher and 1 aide for every 17 students in Mixed Age (PK3/PK4) classrooms |
Multilingual Learners | 1 teacher for every 22 ML students; 0.5 teacher for 11-16 ML students. Secondary schools receive 1.0 ML teachers if between 11-16. | 1 aide allocated for every 50 ML Level 1 students |
Special Education Staff | Staff allocated based on programmatic need | See budget guide for more information |
School Counselors | 1 for every 400 middle school student, 1 for every 250 high school student | Allocations are rounded up to the nearest 0.5 (e.g., a middle school with 600 students receives 1.5 Guidance Counselors) |
Librarians | 1 at every school | 1 additional at Columbia Heights EC and Oyster-Adams EC to cover each library building |
Psychologists & Social Workers | Staff allocated based on programmatic need | See budget guide for more information |
Custodial Staff & Supplies | 1 Foreman, 1 RW-5, and 1 RW-3 at every school Supplies are allocated based on square footage | Additional RW-3s allocated based on school enrollment and square footage. High schools receive a base of 2 RW-3s |
