At a glance
Washington, D.C. has the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program — a voucher for lower-income students that is federally funded (the only such program in the country). D.C. also has one of the largest public charter sectors anywhere — a big share of D.C. students attend charters.
This state's choice programs
The DC Opportunity Scholarship provides vouchers to help income-eligible D.C. students attend participating private schools. Because it’s federally funded, its continuation depends on Congress — confirm the current status and funding. Separately, D.C.’s public charter schools enroll a large portion of students and use a common lottery.
Eligibility
The Opportunity Scholarship is for lower-income D.C. residents (with income limits and priority rules). Confirm current eligibility.
Applying
Apply for the Opportunity Scholarship through its administering organization; apply to charters via the common lottery (My School DC). Confirm windows and requirements.
Public school choice, too
Remember: “school choice” also includes public options available in every state:
- Open enrollment / transfersAttend a public school outside your zone, where allowed (see our finding-your-school guide)
- Charter schoolsTuition-free public schools of choice (where available)
- Magnet schoolsTuition-free public schools with a specialized focus
- HomeschoolingLegal in all 50 states (rules vary)
Legal & legislative status
The DC Opportunity Scholarship is federally funded, so its funding depends on Congress and can change — confirm the current status.
Tips for families
- Confirm the current programThis area changes fast — verify eligibility, amounts, and deadlines
- Watch the deadlines & capsMany programs have windows and funding caps
- Understand what’s coveredESAs are flexible; vouchers usually cover tuition only
- Check your school participatesNot every private school accepts every program
- Combine with school aidChoice funds can stack with a school’s own financial aid
Frequently asked questions
- Does Washington DC have a private-school-choice program?Yes — D.C. has the federally funded DC Opportunity Scholarship (a voucher for low-income students) plus a very large charter sector.
- What’s the difference between an ESA and a voucher?A voucher pays a private school directly; an ESA is a flexible parent-managed account for many approved expenses.
- What is a tax-credit scholarship?Donors get a tax credit for giving to organizations that fund private-school scholarships.
- Is there public school choice too?Yes — open enrollment, charters, and magnets (plus homeschooling).
- Where do I confirm the details?On the official state program site (see below).
At a glance
- ProgramDC Opportunity Scholarship (voucher)
- DistinctiveFederally funded (unique)
- ForLower-income D.C. students
- PlusVery large public charter sector
- Confirm withThe program administrator
Where to confirm
Confirm current programs and eligibility with the official source: