District of Columbia Education and Teaching Overview

Teaching in Washington DC can be an interesting experience for those who choose to live in the city that houses the American president. Income levels in Washington DC span across all possible levels of society to create very meaningful classroom diversities. For elementary schools, most of the classroom sizes in Washington DC stay below 15 students per teacher, with some schools going as low as just 8 or 10 students per teacher.


District of Columbia Teacher Requirements

In the middle schools and high schools, there can be times where teacher shortages caused by retirement or population growths bring classroom sizes up to doubled while students are forced to share resources until new personnel can be found. Otherwise, most of the Washington DC middle schools and high schools attempt to keep class sizes between 12 and 20 pupils per classroom instructor.

Washington DC graduates about 65.4 percent of their high school seniors through traditional mean of graduation. Other high school aged students graduate through optional methods such as by taking the GED graduation equivalency examinations. Today, some high school aged students opt to become high school dropouts in order to take their GED tests at a younger than normal graduation age, for fast entry into college.

District of Columbia Teacher Requirements

For those thinking about choosing a new career of teaching in Washington State, this is probably a wise decision that will turn into a very enjoyable way of making a living. With our current unemployment rates high across the country, many are turning towards the employment options found in education as a way of adding job security into their lives.

For decades, the teaching industry has received bad press which has resulted in many states not being able to produce enough college graduates who are interested in trying the field of teaching as a career option. Washington and other states are experiencing current teacher shortages for mathematics, sciences, technology, bilingual functions, and within some special education or counseling areas.

In the future, those teaching in Washington can expect to see teacher shortages continue and perhaps higher perks offered to current teachers who would like to go get training in one of the shortage areas. Retirements are also a concern for Washington and many other states as many long-term teachers across the country are reaching retirement age over the next few years to leave more job vacancies to fill.

A possibility for the future that may be seen in Washington is an overhaul ordered for the American public education system from outside of the state. Recently, the president of the United States has been making claims that an overhaul is needed, and voicing various suggestions on how this might be accomplished. When presidents voice their opinions to the media, actions often follow the opinions being voiced. If an educational overhaul is ordered, all teachers in Washington may be in line to profit from the proposed changes.

Online Colleges Offering Education and Teaching Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Programs Offered  
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Teaching with Teaching Credential
Accreditation  

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Accreditation  

The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU’s "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). WGU’s Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Campus Colleges Offering Education and Teaching Degrees

Accreditation  

University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. .

Programs Offered  
  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Arts in Teaching with Teaching Credential
Accreditation  

Kaplan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation  

McCann School of Business & Technology is accredited to award occupational associate degrees and certification diplomas by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education,.

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Teaching Salaries
Elementary School Teacher
$40,584
High School Teaching
$42,802
Education Admin for Elementary School
$65,372
School Principal
$82,696
 Source: PayScale.com
 * Based on 5 years experience