Theodore Roosevelt High School is a public high school operated by the District of Columbia Public Schools in the Petworth neighborhood of Ward 4 neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C. Roosevelt enrolls 698 students in ninth through 12th grade.
Serving 908 students in grades 9-12, Roosevelt High School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in District Of Columbia for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 3% (which is lower than the District Of Columbia state average of 19%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 15% (which is lower than the District Of Columbia state average of 31%).
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is higher than the District Of Columbia state level of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Black), which is higher than the District Of Columbia state average of 87% (majority Black).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 908 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
- Minority Enrollment: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 70% (Btm 50% in DC)
- Overall Testing Rank: Bottom 50%
- Math Proficiency: 3% (Btm 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 15% (Btm 50%)
- Science Proficiency: ≤5% (Btm 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DC Dept. of Education
School Overview
Roosevelt High School's student population of 908 students has grown by 40% over five school years.
The teacher population of 78 teachers has grown by 30% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
908 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
78 teachers
Year Founded
1932
Colors
Blue, Orange
School Calendar
School Rankings
Roosevelt High School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 220 schools in District Of Columbia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Roosevelt High School is 0.52, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.55. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#194 out of 220 schools
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
3%
19%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
15%
31%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
≤5%
10%
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1
American Indian
n/a
n/a
Asian
1%
2%
Hispanic
45%
19%
Black
53%
63%
White
1%
13%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
n/a
3%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
70%
76%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
53%
49%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch (11-12)
4%
5%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), DC Dept. of Education
School Notes
- School Mascot: Rough Riders
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Roosevelt High School's ranking?
Roosevelt High School is ranked #194 out of 220 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in District Of Columbia.
What schools are Roosevelt High School often compared to?
Roosevelt High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like H.d. Woodson High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
3% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 19% DC state average), while 15% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 31% DC state average).
What is the graduation rate of Roosevelt High School?
The graduation rate of Roosevelt High School is 70%, which is lower than the District Of Columbia state average of 76%.
How many students attend Roosevelt High School?
908 students attend Roosevelt High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
53% of Roosevelt High School students are Black, 45% of students are Hispanic, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are White.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Roosevelt High School?
Roosevelt High School has a student ration of 12:1, which is higher than the District Of Columbia state average of 11:1.
What grades does Roosevelt High School offer ?
Roosevelt High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Roosevelt High School part of?
Roosevelt High School is part of District Of Columbia School District.
In what neighborhood is Roosevelt High School located?
Roosevelt High School is located in the Northwest Washington neighborhood of Washington, DC. There are 74 other public schools located in Northwest Washington.
School Reviews
5 6/20/2014
The principal is a serious and thoughtful person, making improvements under challenging circumstances. Children arrive at this school very far behind academically, socially and emotionally. The public schools are difficult to work with bureaucratically -- lots of expectations and constraints not placed on the charter schools. The school is in one of DC's older, crumbling facilities. Within that reality, Mr. Mitchel and his senior staff are doing a very credible job of leading the staff and the students. The halls are tightly monitored so students must be somewhere supervised during class hours. They are patient with the students, both holding them accountable and giving them many chances. They have a lot of outstanding staff and teachers that go above and beyond for the students. With more funding expected for their student population under the new funding models, this school should continue to improve, if they retain the principal and his leadership team. My children are high need and the school has worked hard to give them the opportunity to succeed. They have a plethora of after school activities. It is a tough school for someone who is academically advanced, as the majority of the students are in remediation.
2 9/28/2006
I recently visited Roosevelt for a football game, which was called the DC Kick off classic and I could not believe the conditions of the school. First the bleachers were covered with bushes and trash everywhere. Then the bathrooms looked like something out of a horror movie and I just could not believe this was a school that is currently opened.I am a fifth grade teacher in Maryland and am originally from California and I have NEVER seen any open school in those conditions. Why can't you utilize the students who need community service hours to help to clean up the school.
Review Roosevelt High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
