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 8 Snapshot

Population: 87,724
13% of DC Total
Registered to Vote (June 2026): 50,488
10% of DC Total
Councilmember: Trayon White
SBOE Representative: LaJoy Johnson-Law
Poverty Rate: 31%
Median Income for Families with Children: $47,108
Public School Students Staying in Home Ward (SY2023-24): 57%
Licensed Infant/Toddler Care Seats (FY2025): 1,636
13% of DC Total
Ward 8 Map Boundary
Demographics Icon

Demographics

To understand what it looks like to grow up in Ward 8 we start with Demographics.

Population by Age

24,619
Children and Youth Under 18
19% of DC Total

The population of children is decreasing (-6%) while DC as a whole’s is increasing slightly.

DC +3%

The population of young adults is declining faster (-29%) than DC as a whole.

DC -13%

Child Population by Race

83%
Black
DC 50%
20,447 children and youth
6%
White
DC 22%
1,454 children and youth
5%
Latinx
DC 18%
1,335 children and youth
Economic Justice Icon

Economic Justice

Powerful injustices must be met with equally powerful Economic Justice.

Child Poverty

45%
Black
DC 37%
9,143 children and youth
0%
White
DC 1%
<100 children and youth
17%
Latinx
DC 15%
230 children and youth

Employment

Median Family Income
3,330 (approximate)
Summer Youth Employment Program 2024 Participation
28% of DC Total

Housing Insecurity

48%
Households with High Housing Cost Burden
DC 36%
1830
Students experiencing homelessness in this ward's schools
19% of DC Total
Education Icon

Education

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

Public School Student Enrollment

93%
Black Students
Black Teachers 79%
1%
White Students
White Teachers 12%
4%
Latinx Students
Latinx Teachers 3%

Educational Opportunities

Similar or More Opportunities to DC Average
  • Learn24 OST Program Seats: 21%(FY25 projection)
  • DCPS 21st Century OST Programs: 23%(2021-22)
  • Teachers New to the Profession: 14%(2025-26)
Fewer Opportunities than Overall DC Average
  • Commute Length: 3 Miles(2024-25)
  • DCPS Student-Counselor Ratio: 360(2025-26)
  • AB/IB Participation: 31%(2024-25)
  • Out-of-School Suspensions: 8%(2024-25)
  • Afterschool program coverage for Elementary/Middle Grades: 35%
  • Summer program coverage for Elementary/Middle Grades: 20%(2022)

Educational Outcomes

11%
Math Proficiency
DC 26%
72%
High School 4-Year Graduation Rate
DC 79%
Higher or Similar Rates to DC Average
Lower Rates than Overall DC Average
  • Third-Grade Language Arts Proficiency: 12%(2023-24)
  • Third-Grade Math Proficiency: 12%(2023-24)
  • All Students Language Arts Proficiency: 20%(2024-25)
  • All Students Math Proficiency: 11%(2024-25)
  • Black Students Language Arts Proficiency: 17%(2023-24)
  • Black Students Math Proficiency: 9%(2023-24)
  • Passing AB/IB Exams: 11%(2024-25)
  • High School 4-Year Graduation Rate: 72%(2024-25)
  • Post-Secondary Enrollment Rates: 41%(class of 2023)
Early Childhood Icon

Early Childhood

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

Birth Outcomes

61%
Prenatal Care in First Trimester
DC 64%
12
Infant Mortality in a Single Year
26% of DC Total
16
Deaths Due to Pregnancy or Childbirth Over 5 Years
44% of DC Total

Early Care & Education

1,636
Licensed Child Care Slots
13% of DC Total
Infants & Toddlers for Every Licensed Child Care Slot
2,147
Public Pre-K Enrollment
17% of DC Total

Poverty Under 5

37%
Black
DC 79%
2194 children
0%
White
DC 1%
<100 children
%
Latinx
DC 14%
Margin of error too high to report
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

15,919
SNAP Children Enrollment (2024)
33% of DC Total
29,014
Population Per Grocery Store
DC 8,824

In 2025 (fiscal year), 48 children entered foster care which is 29% of the District total.

Adolescent Well-Being

27
Teen Birth Rates (per 1000)
25% of DC Total

In 2024, 29% of police “use of force” incidents were in Police District 7 (roughly this ward), which is higher than the 22% of DC youth living there.

13%
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

50,488
Registered Voters (June 2026)
10% of DC Total
Eligible Voters by Age
12%
Share of DC’s Eligible Voters

Demographics of Registered Voters

88%
Black
DC 44%
9%
White
DC 47%
1%
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, which will be written as "2023" (with similar 5-year ranges represented by the final year of the range for earlier years). Individuals who are Black and Latinx may be counted in both groups.