Math & reading standards and testing in District of Columbia
Updated June 2026
Washington D.C. uses the Common Core State Standards for ELA and math. Students in grades 3-8 take the DC CAPE (which replaced the former PARCC-based assessment) each spring.
Does District of Columbia hold kids back in 3rd grade for reading?
No. Washington D.C. has no 3rd-grade retention gate; promotion is decided by individual LEAs (DCPS and charters).
Standards
Common Core State Standards
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards, so grade-level skills match what most of the country teaches.
The key test
The District of Columbia state test
DC CAPE covers both math and reading in grades 3-8.
Reading the results
Spring.
Five levels (1 to 5); Levels 4 to 5 meet or exceed grade-level expectations.
On grade level means Level 4 or 5 (meets or exceeds expectations) on DC CAPE ELA.
What's distinctive about District of Columbia
D.C. moved from PARCC to DC CAPE in 2024, keeping a comparable five-level scale so scores stay trackable year to year.
Practice the skills, by grade
Whatever District of Columbia calls its test, the underlying math and reading skills are grade-level. Practice them directly:
Practice the skills behind the test
District of Columbia teaches the Common Core standards. What a third grader has to do does not change: multiply, find the main idea, read a paragraph and say what it meant. KangarooKiddo drills those skills in daily sessions of a handful of questions that end on their own. You see where your kid actually stands, they earn rewards you set up and approve.
Source: District of Columbia Department of Education. Verified for the 2025-26 school year; policies can change, so confirm with your school.