Office of Personnel




Performance Evaluation System

The Performance Evaluation System includes employees in these categories:

  • Unionized Career Service employees
  • Non-supervisory and non-managerial employees in the Career Service.
  • "Special Noncompetitive Appointees" within the Excepted Service, per DC Code § 1-609.04

The Performance Evaluation System, as set forth in Chapter 14, Part II of the District Personnel Manual (DPM) and DPM Instruction No. 14-4, provides the guidelines for District government employee evaluations. The evaluations should be recorded on a Form 12, Report of Performance Rating** (Instructions*). For more information, select from the following:

Performance Evaluation System Resources



Performance Evaluation System Subfactor Rating Guide

The Performance Evaluation System Subfactor Rating Guide* is a tool to help supervisors evaluate employee performance on the PO Form 12. These definitions are to be used as a guideline, and are not mandated by law or regulations.



Rating Period

The rating period is from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. Evaluations for the most recent rating period are due to DCOP no later than June 30 of each year. Agencies may establish internal deadlines. Please check with your HR Advisor.



Rating Levels

There are four rating levels: Outstanding, Excellent, Satisfactory, and Unsatisfactory.

Ratings should be based on performance standards, which must be issued in advance to each employee. Each rating is recorded using a Form 12, Report of Performance Rating** (Instructions*).



Results of Ratings

Rating levels are not directly tied to step increases. A step increase may be denied if a determination is made that an employee is not serving at an acceptable level of competence. Upon receiving an official rating of "Unsatisfactory," an employee must be reassigned or demoted to a position in which it is believed he or she may perform satisfactorily, or removed from the service.

During a reduction in force, a rating of "Outstanding" on an employee's most recent rating results in four years of service credit for purposes of determining the employee's retention standing.



Rating an Employee

Ratings are generally determined by an employee's immediate supervisor, with a review by a higher-level official (usually a second-line supervisor).



DC Performance Rating Impartial Review Committee

Employees who receive ratings of "Unsatisfactory," "Satisfactory," or "Excellent" may, after an internal review by the agency head and at the request of the employee, be reviewed by the DC Performance Rating Impartial Review Committee. The Committee's authority is limited to determining whether the rating should be sustained or increased. This does not apply to employees who report directly to and are rated by the Mayor, the City Administrator, or a Deputy Mayor.


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