For years, D.C. Public Schools officials have used rising test scores and unbelievably strong graduation-rate gains as proof that district reforms are paying off. However, a combination of fraud and flagrant violation of district policies by high-school and district administrators casts doubt about that progress and limit the public’s ability to separate hype from headway. These officials must be held accountable.

In November, NPR reported that many 2017 graduates of D.C.’s Ballou High School had excessive absences or were provided unwarranted opportunities to make up for failed classes, either of which should have made them ineligible to graduate. Shocking preliminary results of an audit of all D.C. public high school’s attendance and graduation outcomes, released last week, show the problem is widespread.