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Backus Middle School (Closed 2009)

5171 S. Dakota Ave. Ne
Washington, DC 20017

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Backus Middle School serves 159 students in grades 6-8.

The student-teacher ratio of 20:1 was higher than the District Of Columbia state level of 11:1.

School Overview

Grades Offered

Grades 6-8

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Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Backus Middle School
6	13
7	57
8	89

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Total Students

159 students

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Total Students Trends (1989-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School
2025	159
2024	159
2023	159
2022	159
2021	159
2020	159
2019	159
2018	159
2017	159
2016	159
2015	159
2008	159
2007	212
2006	232
2005	342
2004	505
2003	569
2002	519
2001	486
2000	415
1999	481
1998	566
1997	416
1996	438
1995	488
1994	470
1993	283
1992	235
1991	256
1990	291
1989	339

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Total Classroom Teachers

8 teachers

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Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School
2025	8
2024	8
2023	8
2022	8
2021	8
2020	8
2019	8
2018	8
2017	8
2016	8
2015	8
2008	8
2007	19
2006	29
2005	28
2004	32
2002	33
2001	35
2000	36
1999	37
1997	25
1996	26
1995	32
1994	32
1993	21
1992	18
1991	23
1990	27
1989	26
1988	24
1987	29

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School Rankings

This School

State Level (DC)

Student-Teacher Ratio

20:1

11:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	20:1	11:1
2024	20:1	11:1
2023	20:1	11:1	12:1
2022	20:1	11:1	12:1
2021	20:1	12:1	12:1
2020	20:1	12:1	12:1
2019	20:1	12:1	12:1
2018	20:1	11:1	11:1
2017	20:1	11:1	11:1
2016	20:1	12:1	13:1
2015	20:1	12:1	13:1
2008	20:1	13:1	15:1
2007	11:1	11:1	12:1
2006	8:1	12:1	12:1
2005	12:1	14:1	14:1
2004	16:1	13:1	14:1
2002	16:1	14:1	14:1
2001	14:1	13:1	13:1
2000	12:1	13:1	13:1
1999	13:1	13:1	13:1
1997	17:1	18:1	18:1
1996	17:1	18:1	17:1
1995	15:1	17:1	17:1
1994	15:1	17:1	17:1
1993	13:1	16:1	16:1
1992	13:1	17:1	17:1
1991	11:1	17:1	17:1
1990	11:1	17:1	16:1
1989	13:1	14:1	14:1
1988	13:1	15:1	15:1
1987	12:1	15:1	15:1

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Hispanic

19%

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Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1992-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	5%	19%
2024	5%	19%
2023	5%	18%	19%
2022	5%	17%	19%
2021	5%	17%	19%
2020	5%	16%	18%
2019	5%	16%	18%
2018	5%	16%	18%
2017	5%	16%	18%
2016	5%	16%	17%
2015	5%	15%	17%
2008	5%	10%	11%
2007	7%	10%	11%
2006	5%	11%	10%
2005	3%	10%	10%
2004	2%	10%	10%
2003	2%	11%	10%
2002	2%	10%	10%
2001	2%	9%	9%
2000	3%	7%	9%
1999	2%	7%	9%
1998	1%	6%	8%
1994	1%	5%	6%
1993	1%	5%	6%
1992	1%	5%	5%

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Black

95%

62%

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Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	95%	62%
2024	95%	63%
2023	95%	64%	62%
2022	95%	65%	63%
2021	95%	66%	64%
2020	95%	67%	65%
2019	95%	67%	65%
2018	95%	70%	68%
2017	95%	70%	68%
2016	95%	68%	70%
2015	95%	69%	66%
2008	95%	83%	81%
2007	93%	83%	82%
2006	95%	84%	83%
2005	97%	84%	83%
2004	98%	85%	83%
2003	98%	84%	84%
2002	98%	84%	84%
2001	98%	85%	85%
2000	97%	90%	86%
1999	98%	90%	86%
1998	99%	91%	88%
1997	100%	91%	88%
1996	100%	92%	89%
1995	100%	93%	89%
1994	99%	93%	90%
1993	99%	93%	90%
1992	99%	93%	91%
1991	100%	93%	91%
1990	100%	94%	91%
1988	100%	94%	92%

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All Ethnic Groups

100%

86%

0.10

0.56

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Diversity Score Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	0.10	0.56
2024	0.10	0.55
2023	0.10	0.55	0.56
2022	0.10	0.54	0.55
2021	0.10	0.52	0.55
2020	0.10	0.51	0.53
2019	0.10	0.51	0.53
2018	0.10	0.48	0.50
2017	0.10	0.48	0.50
2016	0.10	0.52	0.48
2015	0.10	0.51	0.48
2008	0.10	0.30	0.33
2007	0.13	0.30	0.32
2006	0.10	0.29	0.31
2005	0.06	0.29	0.30
2004	0.04	0.28	0.29
2003	0.04	0.29	0.29
2002	0.04	0.29	0.28
2001	0.04	0.27	0.28
2000	0.06	0.22	0.26
1999	0.04	0.22	0.25
1998	0.02	0.20	0.23
1996	0.02	0.18	0.22
1995	0.02	0.16	0.21
1994	0.02	0.16	0.20

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Eligible for

62%

49%

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Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	62%	49%
2024	62%	49%
2023	62%	50%	63%
2022	62%	52%	64%
2021	62%	53%	65%
2020	62%	58%	68%
2019	62%	58%	68%
2016	62%	61%	72%
2015	62%	86%	89%
2008	62%	43%	47%
2007	62%	50%	55%
2006	68%	51%	59%
2005	71%	62%	62%
2004	55%	48%	58%
2003	52%	58%	58%
2002	58%	57%	57%
2001	52%	67%	67%
2000	58%	55%	60%
1997	54%	73%	71%
1996	49%	72%	71%
1995	30%	68%	67%
1994	44%	65%	63%
1993	33%	61%	60%
1992	20%	58%	58%
1991	16%	34%	34%
1990	19%	29%	29%
1989	36%	47%	46%
1988	38%	46%	45%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2001-2025)
Year	Backus Middle School	District Of Columbia	District Of Columbia Public Schools
2025	3%	7%
2024	3%	8%
2023	3%	8%	1%
2022	3%	8%	1%
2021	3%	8%	1%
2020	3%	9%	1%
2019	3%	9%	1%
2016	2%	10%	1%
2015	2%	2%	1%
2008	3%	6%	6%
2007	3%	4%	4%
2006	6%	4%	5%
2005	7%	7%	6%
2004	8%	4%	5%
2003	8%	6%	6%
2002	11%	6%	6%
2001	7%	5%	5%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

District Of Columbia Public Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DC Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students attend Backus Middle School?

159 students attend Backus Middle School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

95% of Backus Middle School students are Black, and 5% of students are Hispanic.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Backus Middle School?

Backus Middle School has a student ration of 20:1, which is higher than the District Of Columbia state average of 11:1.

What grades does Backus Middle School offer ?

Backus Middle School offers enrollment in grades 6-8

What school district is Backus Middle School part of?

Backus Middle School is part of District Of Columbia Public Schools.

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