The data reveals hard truths about child, youth, and young adult well-being in our
Ward Snapshots.
The DC KIDS COUNT 2026 ward snapshots provide the best available ward-level data of child, youth, and young adult well-being by measuring and tracking the demographics, economic justice, education, early childhood, health and safety, and voting and democracy. Because it takes time for agencies to complete collecting, cleaning, and reporting data, some data reflect the old ward boundaries while others reflect the ward boundaries approved at the end of 2021 (based on 2020 Census counts).

Ward 4 Snapshot

Population: 85682
13% of DC Total
Registered to Vote (June 2026): 62,123
13% of DC Total
Councilmember: Janeese Lewis George
SBOE Representative: T. Michelle Colson
Poverty Rate: 11%
Median Income for Families with Children Under Age 18: $220,133
Public School Students Staying in Home Ward (SY2023-24): 64%
Licensed Infant/Toddler Care Seats (FY2025): 2000
16% of DC Total
Ward 4 Map Boundary
Demographics Icon

Demographics

To understand what it looks like to grow up in Ward 4 we start with Demographics.

Population by Age

20,816
16% of DC Total

The population of children is growing at a similar rate (+6%) as DC as a whole.

DC +3%

The population of young adults is declining at a similar rate (-13%) as in DC as a whole.

DC -13%
Children, Youth, and Young Adult Population Over Time

Child Population by Race

37%
Black
DC 50%
7734 Children and Youth Under Age 18
22%
White
DC 22%
4677 Children and Youth Under Age 18
28%
Latinx
DC 18%
6285 Children and Youth Under Age 18
Economic Justice Icon

Economic Justice

Powerful injustices must be met with equally powerful Economic Justice.

Child Poverty

25%
Black
DC 37%
1946 Children and Youth Under Age 18 in Poverty
0%
White
DC 1%
<100 Children and Youth Under Age 18 in Poverty
18%
Latinx
DC 15%
1039 Children and Youth Under Age 18 in Poverty

Employment

Median Family Income
1427 (approximate)
Summer Youth Employment Program 2024 Participation
12% of DC Total

Housing Insecurity

33%
Households with High Housing Cost Burden
DC 36%
1189
Students experiencing homelessness in this ward's schools
12% of DC Total
Education Icon

Education

All children can be lifted up to reach their full potential with Education.

Public School Student Enrollment

40%
Black Students
Black Teachers 42%
15%
White Students
White Teachers 30%
39%
Latinx Students
Latinx Teachers 16%

Educational Opportunities

Similar or More Opportunities to DC Average
  • Teachers New to the Profession: 14%(25-26)
  • Commute Length: 1.8 Miles(24-25)
  • DCPS Student-Counselor Ratio: 254(24-25)
  • DCPS Student-Security Officer Ratio: 144(18-19)
  • Out-of-School Suspensions: 5%(24-25)
  • Afterschool program coverage for Elementary/Middle Grades: 48%
  • Summer program coverage for Elementary/Middle Grades: 26%(2022)
  • DCPS 21st Century OST Programs: 25%(21-22)
  • AB/IB Participation: 59%(24-25)
Fewer Opportunities than Overall DC Average
  • Learn24 OST Program Seats: 11%(FY25 projection)

Educational Outcomes

29%
Math Proficiency
DC 26%
88%
High School 4-Year Graduation Rate
DC 79%
Higher or Similar Rates to DC Average
  • Third-Grade Language Arts Proficiency: 32%(23-24)
  • All Students Language Arts Proficiency: 40%(24-25)
  • Black Students Language Arts Proficiency: 28%(23-24)
  • Third-Grade Math Proficiency: 34%(23-24)
  • All Students Math Proficiency: 29%(24-25)
  • Black Students Math Proficiency: 14%(23-24)
  • Passing AB/IB Exams: 60%(24-25)
  • Post-Secondary Enrollment Rates: 62%(class of 2023)
  • High School 4-Year Graduation Rate: 88%(24-25)
Lower Rates than Overall DC Average
Early Childhood Icon

Early Childhood

Equity for young people at every step starts from Early Childhood.

Birth Outcomes

65%
Prenatal Care in First Trimester
DC 64%
<5
Infant Mortality in a Single Year
1
Deaths Due to Pregnancy or Childbirth Over 5 Years
3% of DC Total

Early Care & Education

2000
Licensed Child Care Slots
16% of DC Total
Infants & Toddlers for Every Licensed Child Care Slot
2,077
Public Pre-K Enrollment
17% of DC Total

Poverty Under 5

30%
Black
DC 42%
518 Children in Poverty
0%
White
DC 1%
<100 Children in Poverty
17%
Latinx
DC 14%
186 Children in Poverty
Health & Safety Icon

Health & Safety

Let’s break down the barriers that stand in the way of our kids’ Health & Safety.

Access to Nutrition & Basic Needs

5156
SNAP Children Enrollment
11% of DC Total
7825
Population Per Grocery Store
DC 8824

In 2025 (fiscal year), 7 children entered foster care which is 4% of the District total.

Adolescent Well-Being

29
Teen Birth Rates (per 1000)
20 of DC Total

In 2025, 14% of DC arrests of minors were in Police District 4 (roughly this ward), which is lower than the 17% of DC teens living there.

10%
High School Suicide Attempts
DC 11%

Policing of Children

Percentage in this Ward's Police District Compared to DC as a Whole
Voting & Democracy Icon

Voting & Democracy

To grow up resilient, powerful, and heard kids must be a priority in Voting & Democracy.

Voting Population

62,123
Registered Voters (June 2026)
13% of DC Total
Eligible Voters by Age
11%
Share of DC’s Eligible Voters

Demographics of Registered Voters

53%
Black
DC 44%
35%
White
DC 47%
9%
Latinx
DC 5%

Voter Turnout

Download an appendix with the data for all DC wards included in our ward snapshots. Find more information about all the ward snapshot measures in our data references section.

Unless otherwise noted, data shown is based on the most recently available data which for most measures is the 2019-2023 5-year average (and a similar 5-year range for previous data). Individuals who are Black and Latinx may be counted in both groups.