Health Disparities

Metric 1: What is the number of excess deaths in DC?

Why it matters: Excess deaths represents the number of actual deaths during a time period compared to what would be expected based on DC’s population. During the pandemic, excess deaths soared, especially among non-Hispanic Black residents. This increase may be due to both COVID-19 and residents missing regular doctor’s appointments, prescription refills, and other preventative health activities due to social distancing. The goal is to push excess deaths towards zero.

Overall

By Sex (Total Deaths)

By Sex (COVID-19 Deaths)

By Race/Ethnicity (Total Deaths)

By Race/Ethnicity (COVID-19 Deaths)

By Age (Total Deaths)

By Age (COVID-19 Deaths)

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Data on total excess deaths over time for Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native is missing.
  • Data on total excess deaths over time for people who did not state their age is missing.

Metric 2: What percentage of Medicaid participants had at least one health care visit in the last year?

Why it matters: In the District, Medicaid serves residents who have low incomes or disabilities. Having at least one routine doctor’s visit a year provides an opportunity to diagnose and treat health conditions and indicates a stronger connection to the health care system. The goal is to increase the percentage of residents with at least one visit toward 100%. Changes in health care capacity and federal Medicaid rules may have artificially lowered this metric during the pandemic (see definitions and notes).

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, ambulatory care is “care provided by health care professionals in outpatient settings. These settings include medical offices and clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, and dialysis centers.”
  • Reflects Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) data extracted 5/13/2024, except for well-child visits that reflect MMIS data extracted approximately 6 months after the end of each fiscal year.
  • The percent of Medicaid beneficiaries age 21+ with a preventive or other ambulatory care visit reflects individuals with at least 11 months of coverage during the year and excludes individuals whose Medicaid benefit is limited to payment of Medicare premiums and cost sharing. Visit definition is based on HEDIS measure specifications for Adults’ Access to Preventive/Ambulatory Health Services (AAP), which includes but is not limited to primary care. The definition excludes ED visits. See: https://www.ncqa.org/hedis/measures/adults-access-to-preventive-ambulatory-health-services/
  • The percent of Medicaid beneficiaries under age 21 with a well-child visit reflects individuals with at least 90 days of coverage during the year. Visit definition reflects federal specifications for CMS-416 reporting. See: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/early-and-periodic-screening-diagnostic-and-treatment/index.html
  • Caution should be used when examining trends because the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on both utilization and enrollment beginning with FY 2020. Service use decreased for some types of care for certain periods of time and has not always rebounded to pre-pandemic levels for a variety of reasons. In addition, federal requirements for continuous coverage were in effect during the public health emergency, leading some people to remain enrolled who might be less likely to use their Medicaid coverage (e.g., individuals who obtained employer-provided insurance). Due to a restart of Medicaid eligibility determinations that will not conclude until the summer of 2024, utilization and enrollment are unlikely to stabilize until FY 2025 and beyond.

Metric 3: What is the rate of food insecurity in DC?

Why it matters: Residents who are food insecure do not have adequate access to enough food to live a healthy life. Food insecurity not only affects residents’ health, but also other areas of their lives like school and job performance. The goal is to lower the rate of food insecurity to zero.

Food Security

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • According to the USDA:
    • Households with low or very low food security, are “uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, at some point during the year, enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food.” These households are also known as “food-insecure households.”
    • Households with very low food security are “food insecure to the extent that normal eating patterns of some household members are disrupted at times during the year, with self-reported food intake below levels considered adequate.”

Food Scarcity

Click here for definitions and notes.

Metric 4: What percentage of ED visits are among patients with a mental health diagnosis or an intellectual or developmental disability?

Why it matters: Residents with underlying mental health issues disproportionately use emergency departments to receive medical care for non-acute health conditions. Often, this is care that would be more appropriate to receive in a non-emergency setting, such as a primary care office. Overuse of emergency care is costly and puts strain on the emergency care system. The goal is to decrease the percentage of these visits, though not to zero, because residents with mental health diagnoses will continue to need emergency care.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Reflects Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) data extracted 5/13/2024.
  • Caution should be used when examining trends because the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on both utilization and enrollment beginning with FY 2020. Service use decreased for some types of care for certain periods of time and has not always rebounded to pre-pandemic levels for a variety of reasons. In addition, federal requirements for continuous coverage were in effect during the public health emergency, leading some people to remain enrolled who might be less likely to use their Medicaid coverage (e.g., individuals who obtained employer-provided insurance). Due to a restart of Medicaid eligibility determinations that will not conclude until the summer of 2024, utilization and enrollment are unlikely to stabilize until FY 2025 and beyond.
  • The count of ED visits used to calculate percentages includes both outpatient visits and those that led to an inpatient stay. Diagnoses are based on claims for all types of care during the year (not limited to ED) and reflect HEDIS value set codes for mental health and codes in the F70-F79 range for IDD. Although individuals with mental health diagnoses account for a large share of ED visits, it is most often not the primary diagnosis on their ED visits. See note below.
  • As shown, a relatively small percentage of ED visits have mental health as the primary diagnosis.

Gun Violence Prevention (BBDC)

Metric 1: What is the crime rate?

Why it matters: A single crime, particularly a violent crime, is one too many. Each crime has a negative impact on the victim(s) and the community at large. It is important to note that this metric captures the number of crimes reported; however, many crimes go unreported each year.

Total Crime

Violent Crime

Property Crime

Gun Violence

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Here, we use crime rate interchangeably with the total number of DC Code Index Crimes (homicide, sex abuse, assault with dangerous weapon, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft from auto, theft, and arson).
  • Numbers presented in the Gun Violence tab reflect crimes committed with a gun, but do not reflect shootings.

Metric 2: What is the recidivism rate of those receiving services through ARPA-funded Gun Violence Prevention Programs?

Data is not yet available.

Metric 3: What is the employment rate for participants in Gun Violence prevention programs targeted at employment?

Why it matters: Securing full-time employment at a livable wage can help prevent those at risk of involvement in gun violence from engaging in activities or situations that can lead to gun violence. The goal is to push the percentage of unsubsidized employment towards 100%. Employment is one of many measures of success for gun violence prevention programs.

  • Public Works Employment Program

  • Pathways Program

Click here for definitions and notes. * This data was published when these cohorts were still active in their subsidized placements.

Metric 4: What is the graduation rate of those receiving services through these programs? (of any attempted education program)

  • Pathways Program
    • Data not yet available.
  • Community Violence Intervention Certification (UDC)
    • Data not yet available.
  • Pathways/Pre-Pathways Participation Incentives
    • Data not yet available.

Alternatives to 911

Why it Matters: Since the summer of 2020, DC has substantially expanded investments in non-police responses to common 911 calls. DC launched programs to provide a non-police response to parking enforcement issues (Department of Public Works, DPW), vehicle crashes without an injury (District Department of Transportation, DDOT), and calls by individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and more recently calls by third-party callers (individuals with no connection to the person in crisis) (Department of Behavioral Health, DBH). Diverting these calls can provide residents with a more appropriate response and allow police officers more time for core public safety functions. The metric below represents the number of potential 911 calls diverted to each service. Metrics that measure the outcomes of the calls are under development.

Metrics under development for future reporting:

  • How many times was MPD dispatched for an on-scene response to a non-violent behavioral health, non-injury crash, or parking enforcement call?
  • What is the average response/resolution time for a non-violent behavioral health, non-injury crash or parking enforcement call?
  • What percentage of diverted calls resulted in arrest?

Youth Safety - SEL

Metric 1: How many arrests are for crimes perpetrated by juveniles?

Why it matters: Crimes committed by juveniles represent a breakdown in our ability to protect youth from making life-altering decisions that harm both the victims of crime and the perpetrators’ futures. The goal is to push the number of crimes committed by juveniles, and therefore the number of arrests, towards zero.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Note: The count of arrests reflects the number of youths arrested, but not the overall count of crimes committed by juveniles as many go unreported and other crimes do not result in an arrest.
  • Moreover, DC recently enacted laws to reduce the chance that a crime committed by a youth will result in arrest, and instead encourages resolutions by other methods. For example, MPD has issued policies to reduce youth arrests and increase diversion, DC Council has passed legislation reducing the presence of police in schools and the likelihood of arrest on school ground, and in some situations, the DC Office of the Attorney General must provide input before a youth arrest can occur.
  • Data is from Open Data DC

Metric 2: What is the number of violent incidents within 500 feet of Safe Passage schools?

Why it matters: The fear of experiencing violence en route to or at school can affect whether students attend school regularly. Moreover, experiencing violence, even indirectly, can have lasting impacts on students both inside and outside the classroom. Safe Passage provides a network of trusted adults to help guide students to and from school. This metric represents the number violent crimes committed on school days within 500 feet of schools served by Safe Passage in School Year 2022-23. The goal is to drive this metrics toward zero.

Click here for definitions and notes.

Metric 3: What is the rate of chronic absenteeism?

See Metric 3 under Learning Recovery

Youth SEL

Metric 1: What is the rate of chronic absenteeism?

See Metric 3 under Learning Recovery

Metric 2: What are DCPS school climate scores?

Why it matters: A student’s connection to their school and belief that it will prepare them for life is a vital foundation for success in the classroom and beyond. Through comprehensive surveys, DC Public Schools asks for students’ opinions about their schools across a variety of measures and grade levels. The graphs below report the percentage of that students feel Loved, Challenged, and Prepared by their schools, as well as their overall satisfaction with their school. The goal is to push both measures toward 100%.

Loved, Challenged, and Prepared Index

School Satisfaction Index

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • The Loved, Challenged, and Prepared Index measures the share of students who feel loved, challenged, and prepared, as aligned with DCPS’ vision that every student feel loved, challenged, and prepared to positively influence society and thrive in life.
  • The Student Satisfaction Index measures the percent of students who responded favorably that they were satisfied with aspects of their school such as whether they’d recommend their school to other students and whether their school is clean and well maintained.
  • District-level results from the Family and Student Panorama Surveys are available at https://secure.panoramaed.com/dcps/understand

Metric 3: What is the retention rate of SBMH clinicians?

Data for this metric is not available.

Learning Recovery

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Context:
    • Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, there was no statewide assessment in 2019-20 or 2020-21.
    • Each year in grades 3-8 and twice in high school, students participate in the statewide assessment in both math and ELA, which measures their mastery of state-level standards in those subjects.
    • In the 2023-24 school year, the District established the DC CAPE assessment in lieu of the PARCC assessment. However, the results remain comparable year over year.
  • These graphs show the rate at which students received scores on Statewide Assessments that indicated they met or exceeded expectations (Level 4 or 5 on PARCC [now DC CAPE] or Level 3 or 4 on MSAA).
  • CFSA refers to students under the care of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA or “foster care”).
  • Econ. Disadvantaged is shorthand for economically disadvantaged.
    • In 2022-23, this category is defined as students who qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), have been identified as homeless during the academic year and/or who under the care of the Child and Family Services Agency.
    • Data for prior years comes from the “At-Risk” category, which is no longer used. The “At-Risk” category included slightly different groups of students. For example, in 2018-19, it included students who are homeless, under the care of the District’s foster care system, qualify for TANF or SNAP, or are high school students who are overage.
  • Recently arrived English Learner (EL) students first enrolled in U.S. schools within 12 months from the first day of the previous year’s test window are not included in local assessment performance results reporting.

Metric 2: What is the DC Public School and DC Public Charter School graduation rate?

Why it matters: A high school diploma is a requirement for any postsecondary education but also for many careers. DC has rigorous standards for graduation. The more students who meet those standards, the better prepared DC students will be for future professional and academic opportunities.

Overall

By Race (DCPS only)

By Gender (DCPS only)

By Status (DCPS only)

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • When we use the term “4-year graduation rate” here, we specifically mean the 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, which is the number of students who graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. For any given cohort, students who are entering ninth grade for the first time form a cohort that is subsequently “adjusted” by adding any students who transfer into the cohort later during the next three years and subtracting any students who transfer out, emigrate to another country, or are deceased during that same period.
  • Data suppressed for students identifying as American Indian and Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.
  • Data suppressed for non-binary students.

Metric 3: What is the rate of chronic absenteeism?

Why it matters: Students who attend school regularly are more likely than their peers to graduate on time. Students who are chronically absent – missing 10% or more of school days – are at high risk of high school dropout and other negative outcomes in the school and criminal justice systems. The goal is to drive the rate of chronic absenteeism toward zero.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Chronic absenteeism is defined as having been absent, including both excused and unexcused partial and full-day absences, for at least 10 percent of enrolled instructional days.
  • Data for SY2019-20 are only through March 13th; data include partial days.
  • Data for SY2020-21 include both remote and in-person learning environments; data include partial days.

Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

Metric 1: How many ECE educators met the education requirements?

Why it matters: DC has set high education and training standards for the early childhood educators who play a vital role in supporting the development of our youngest residents. To help early childhood educators meet the education standards for their current or desired roles, DC has invested in providing financial and other support. The graphs below track the percentages of educators at each position meeting the minimum education requirements. The goal is to push these percentages towards 100%.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Per the April 2024 Early Childhood Educator Minimum Education Requirements report:
    • In December 2023, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) further updated the minimum education requirements for the early learning workforce to include additional pathways for meeting the required credentials.
    • The April 2024 data is based on staff members who met the minimum education requirements based on the licensing regulations as of December 20, 2023 for all staff types. The April 2024 report reflects data captured by current reporting fields in DELLT, which does not currently reflect all pathways recognized in the licensing regulations as updated December 20, 2023.

Metric 2: How many affordable childcare slots are available across geographies?

Why it matters: Early childhood education plays a vital role in the academic and social development of children before they reach mandatory schooling ages, but for many families in DC and around the country, it poses a substantial cost. Providing affordable and convenient childcare both helps children develop and helps parents have time to participate in the labor force, if they choose to.

CDFs Accepting Vouchers (By Ward)

Slots or Enrollees (Overall)

Click here for definitions and notes.

Affordable Housing

Metric 1: What is the ratio of affordable and available housing units to households with low, very low, and extremely low-income levels?

Why it matters: Housing is often the biggest recurring expense for a family, especially in growing, high-demand cities like DC. DC has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in building new housing at all levels of affordability before, during, and since the pandemic. This metric displays the number of available units for every 100 households by income brackets. Levels above 100 indicate that there are more units available than households at that income level, but other factors beyond price will affect whether a unit is a good fit for each household.

Ratio (Housing Units)

Ratio (Rental Units)

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • This metric reports the number of housing units affordable for households with low-incomes (below 80% of area median income, or AMI), very low-incomes (below 50% of AMI), and extremely low-incomes (below 30% of AMI) relative to every 100 households with these income levels.
  • Income groups are defined for a local family of 4. Housing units are defined as affordable if the monthly costs do not exceed 30 percent of a household’s income.
  • Values above 100 suggest that there are more affordable housing units than households with those income levels. Values below 100 suggest that the affordable stock is insufficient to meet the need. The affordable housing stock here includes both vacant and occupied units.
  • The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s site does not provide data for this metric for 2020.

Metric 2: What percent of District residents are homeowners (by race and ward)?

Why it matters: Homeownership has long been viewed as a vital piece in the accumulation and transfer of wealth. It is also an indicator of a residents’ investment in their community. Historically, non-white residents have faced both systemic and legal barriers to homeownership. The goal is not 100% homeownership, but for rates to equalize across racial groups.

Overall

Overall Occupied By Race

Owner-Occupied By Race

Renter-Occupied by Race

Owner- vs. Renter-Occupied By Race

Owner- vs. Renter-Occupied By Ward

Homelessness

Metric 1: What percent of the DC population is experiencing homelessness?

Why this matters: DC is a “housing first” jurisdiction, meaning that we view housing as foundational need that must be met before most other needs (e.g. employment) can be addressed. DC has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in services to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. The metrics below illustrate the number of residents experiencing homelessness. The goal is to push this metric toward zero across all demographic groups.

Overall

Sheltered vs Unsheltered

Chronically Homeless

Age

Race/Ethnicity

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Starting in 2022, the category for Black and African American changed to Black, African American or African.
  • Starting in 2022, the category for Asian changed to Asian or Asian American
  • Starting in 2022, the category for American Indian or Alaska Native changed to American Indian, Alaska Native, or Indigenous
  • 2023 data from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Exchange

Metric 2: How many people are at-risk of eviction/have an eviction notice?

Why it matters: For many low-income residents, eviction from their rental unit is the last step before experiencing homelessness. Reducing the number of evictions can both prevent residents from becoming homeless and benefit landlords who receive the rent they are owed. The goal is to push this metric toward zero.

Click here for definitions and notes. * FY24 data only covered October 2023 - Dec. 11, 2023.

Green Transition

Metric 1: What is DC’s annual contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions?

Why it matters: Climate change is a global issue. Greenhouse emissions from residents, visitors, and businesses in the District contribute to climate change that has effects locally and globally. The graph below reports on data submitted by all states to the federal government and displays the source of emissions. The goal is to drive emissions toward zero.

Click here for definitions and notes.

Metric 2: What percentage of DC workers work in the green economy/work in green jobs?

Why it matters: Reducing our emissions and adapting to climate change will require a skillful workforce. Moreover, the “green economy” is a fast-growing industry, with wages that can be a pathway to the middle class. The visualization below shows the number of participants in a DOEE workplace training program who placed in a full-time job post-program. This does not fully reflect the number of workers in the DC green economy; we are further developing this metric and will be working to find more complete data. The goal is to increase the number of workers until the demand from the industry is met.

Metric 3: What percentage of DC residential units have adopted green technology?

Why it matters: Greater adoption of green technology in homes will help drive down emissions and grow the green economy. DC made substantial investments in green technology with federal recovery funds and will do more through the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The graph below shows the number of low-income households who receive energy efficiency upgrades from the Department of Energy and Environment. This metric does not reflect all residents and higher-income households are typically responsible for a larger share of emissions. But low-income households will have the most financial barriers to adopting green technology, so growth in this metric remains important to the District’s goals.

Energy Efficiency Measures and Services

Solar Installations/Benefits

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Data on the number of low-income households receiving energy efficiency measures and services in FY16 is not available.

Business Growth (DOB and DLCP)

Metric 1: In DC, what is the average time from application for business license to license being granted?

Why it matters: Businesses must meet basic licensing requirements to operate safely and within the law. The faster that DC can process Basic Business Licenses (BBLs) that meet the requirements, the easier it is for businesses to serve their communities and contribute to the local economy. This metric tracks the percentage of new online Basic Business License applications for Tier I and Tier II licenses approved within one (1) business day from the date of submission of a complete application.

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) has a quarterly goal that at least 80% of new online Basic Business License applications for Tier I and Tier II licenses be approved within 1 business day from the date of submission of a complete application.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Tier I licenses do not require any special documents from other agencies or approvals. These are licenses that are automatically issued whether you apply online or by mail (within one business day of receipt). Examples of these licenses would be those for a general business, cigarette retail, auto rental, and auto wash.
  • Tier II licenses require additional documentations or approvals from other agencies prior to issuance, and the issuance can vary depending on submission. If the applicant submits online, the license will be issued within 24 hours; should the applicant come into the office and apply for the license, they will walk out with the license the same day; mail-in applications would be processed within one (1) business day of receipt. Examples of these licenses would be those for a restaurant, grocery store, and hotel.
  • Tier III licenses (not covered by this metric) require investigation prior to the issuance of the license. To get these licenses, applicants usually must submit documentation not only from other agencies but also documentation from the State Police, insurance companies, bonding companies, and judiciary systems. Examples of these licenses would be those for a driving school, health spa, and tow truck business.
  • This section of the Recovery Metrics is labeled “Business Growth (DOB and DLCP)” to match the full Learning Agenda’s corresponding section, which has both DC Department of Buildings (DOB) and DLCP metrics.

Business Growth

Metric 1: What is the number of new businesses created in DC, net of closures?

Why it matters: Businesses faced many challenges resulting from stay-at-homes orders and other shifts in daily life brought on by the pandemic. A growing economy needs new businesses that contribute jobs to our workforce. The graphs below show the number of businesses that started (births) and closed (deaths) each quarter. The goal is for businesses starting up to outpace closures, and for the number of jobs created to outpace those lost, though there is no ideal target for this metric.

Establishments (Totals)

Establishments (Net Change)

Jobs, Gross (Net Change)

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Establishment: The physical location of a certain economic activity - for example, a factory, mine, store, or office. A single establishment generally produces a single good or provides a single service. An enterprise can consist of a single or multiple establishments.
  • Establishment births: Establishments reporting positive employment in the current quarter and zero or no employment in the previous quarter.
  • Establishment deaths: Establishments reporting positive employment in the previous quarter and zero employment in the current quarter.
  • Establishment births and deaths do not include those establishments that temporarily closed during the previous quarter but have newly reopened in the current quarter, such as seasonal businesses that may only be open for a few months per year. Note that self-employed entities are not included in Business Employment Dynamics data, and so this data likely undercounts microbusinesses in the District. * Values for private sector establishment deaths are not available for the most recent three quarters by definition (Q1-Q3 of 2023 here).
  • Source for definitions: Sadeghi, A. (2008). The births and deaths of business establishments in the United States. Monthly Lab. Rev., 131, 3. https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/12/art1full.pdf
  • Source for data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 24, 2024). Quarterly Data Series on Business Employment Dynamics. https://www.bls.gov/web/cewbd.supp.toc.htm#dctot

Metric 2: What is the unemployment or labor force participation rate?

See Metric 1 under Prosperity and Pathways

Metric 3: What is the distribution of employer business ownership in DC by race, ethnicity, and gender?

Why it matters: A healthy economy supports and benefits from a diverse set of entrepreneurs. Historically, business ownership has been dominated by white men. This metric tracks the extent to which ownership of businesses becomes more (or less) equal by race. There is no ideal number of firms, but the goal is for the distribution of business ownership to match the overall demographics of DC.

Race

Ethnicity

Gender

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Data is lagged and not available for more recent years.
  • Data were withheld for the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander group in 2019 to avoid disclosing data for individual companies; data are included in higher level totals.
  • Estimates for the American Indian and Alaska Native group in 2020 and 2021 as well as the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander group in 2021 did not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability, poor response quality, or other concerns about the estimate quality.
  • Estimates for the “Equally Hispanic/non-Hispanic” sub-group in 2019-2021 do not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability, poor response quality, or other concerns about the estimate quality.

Metric 4: How many new jobs in DC were created or are projected to be created in high-growth sectors?

Why it matters: One of the best ways to promote economic growth and sustainability is by creating jobs in growing industries. This metric tracks the number of jobs created in DC that are in high-growth sections of the economy, as identified by the DC’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. There is no optimal number of jobs in these sectors, but increasing the number of jobs is a positive as long as these sectors remain in high demand.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • High-growth sectors were those sectors defined in the District’s 2023 – 2027 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. Learn more about each sector here.

Prosperity and Pathways

Metric 1: What is the unemployment or labor force participation rate?

Why it matters: The unemployment rate is a core metric of the health of our local economy, because it shows how many people are earning money to sustain their households. During the pandemic, unemployment rates soared, particularly for Black and Hispanic residents. Importantly, a healthy economy depends on both the percentage of people who are employed–the unemployment rate–and the percentage of working-age adults who are willing and able to work—the labor force participation rate. Both rates are represented in the graphs below.

Labor force participation rate

Unemployment rate

Metric 2: What is household income at 20th, 50th, and 80th percentiles in DC?

Why it matters: Increases in household income can be a sign of a prosperous community, but if that growth is only happening in households that are already well-off, then we may be leaving our most vulnerable households behind. This metric is drawn from the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Metrics and tracks how much income has increased for households at three income levels: low (20th percentile), middle (50th percentile), and high (80th percentile). To create a more equal economy, the goal is for lower and middle income levels to rise more steeply than income at the highest level.

Metric 3: What percent of individuals who participated in workforce development programs transition into jobs?

Data for this metric is not available.

Transportation

Metric 1: How long does it take residents of different income levels to get to their place of work?

Why it matters: A well-functioning transportation system allows residents to get to important places such as school, work, food, and doctors’ offices in as little time as possible. Historically, it has been easier for higher income people to get places faster than low-income people. This metric tracks the amount of time it takes to get to work for residents at different income levels. The goal is for the amount of time to decrease for all groups, but also for the times to become more equal across income levels.

Overall

By Income

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Standard ACS 1-year data for 2020 is not available.

Metric 2: What percentage of income do residents spend on transportation?

Why it matters: Historically, low-income households are forced to spend more of their income on transportation than middle or high-income households. These costs can become barriers to seeking employment, attending school, going to doctor’s appointments and accessing other spaces where residents live, work and play. This metric tracks the percentage of a household’s income that is spent on transportation. There is not an ideal percentage, but the goal is for the percentage to become more equal across income levels.

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, public and other transportation includes “mass transit, buses, trains, airlines, taxis, boats, and school buses for which a fee is charged.”
  • According to the two-year mean tables:
    • Data are likely to have large sampling errors.

Metric 3: How many fatalities and major injuries occurred by mode of transport?

Why it matters: One death on our roadways is too many. Fatalities on roads increased dramatically during the pandemic recovery across the country and in DC. This metric tracks the number of major injuries and deaths on our roadways, broken down by the mode of transportation the person injured was using. The goal is to drive the number of injuries to zero.

Fatalities

Major Injuries

Click here for definitions and notes.
  • Context: In DC, Vision Zero is a comprehensive, multi-agency effort to eliminate crash fatalities and major injuries through engineering, education, and enforcement. Many elements of DC’s Vision Zero strategy will be expanded in coming years. DC’s nation-leading safety engineering involves everything from intersection-level “tactical” improvements to corridor-level major infrastructure projects. 6 corridor projects are budgeted for FY25, with more slated for the following fiscal years. These projects will improve safety on DC’s High Injury Network, the small proportion of roads that account for about half of DC’s crash fatalities and serious injuries. DC’s education programs keep the public informed about how to travel safely around the District by driving sober, driving the speed limit, using seatbelts and car seats, and obeying traffic regulations. DC’s enforcement efforts continue to grow, and they are focused on the High Injury Network. As of May 2024, DC’s Automated Traffic Enforcement program has grown to 477 cameras, which provide proven safety benefits by discouraging speeding and reducing injury crashes. At the same time, MPD has launched highly visible enforcement on the High Injury Network and nearby streets, while DPW has expanded its efforts to boot and tow “scofflaw” vehicles with large numbers of unpaid traffic citations.

Good Government

Metric 1: What is the overall trust/confidence score for DC government?

Data for this metric is not available.

Metric 2: What percent of new enhancements are submitted with evidence base?

Why it matters: Every year, DC government agencies submit hundreds of millions of dollars in new budget requests–called enhancements–that are reviewed by The Lab @ DC. When an enhancement request presents evidence that a similar program has worked well in DC or elsewhere, it gives us more confidence that it will have a positive impact on the District if funded. This metric tracks the percentage of eligible enhancements are supported by strong or moderate evidence based on federal evidence standards or that are supported by any evidence at all. The goal is not to reach 100%, because there has to be some room for new, innovative enhancements, but increases are positive.

Metric 3: What is the retention of the DC government workforce?

Why it matters: The District government requires a skilled and stable workforce to deliver on its promises to residents. Some employee turnover is natural, but high rates of employees leaving can slow down services and make it harder for agencies to achieve their goals. This metric tracks the retention rate of DC government employees over time. Many businesses aim for an employee retention rate of 90%, but the goal is not to reach 100%.