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Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge from the west, December 2023Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Foster · Foster Elementary School District, Foster-Glocester Regional School District

Foster’s public schools outscore 65% of Rhode Island districts

On the state reading tests, 48% of Foster’s students scored proficient, above the Rhode Island average (33%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Foster, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Rhode Island, not nationally.

#22of 38 Rhode Island townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Rhode Island state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
48%
▲ 15 pts vs RI 33%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▲ 6 pts vs RI 27%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 8 pts vs RI 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.5K
▼ 10% vs RI $23.9K
FY2024 · Foster-Glocester Regional
Students per teacher
12.4
RI 13.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,506 students on the public path
In brief

Foster’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 51 Rhode Island towns with household incomes within a quarter of Foster’s, its schools beat 29%, lower than their 65% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Foster runs its own schools through grade 5, then shares

Capt. Isaac Paine El. School (PK–5) is Foster’s own. From grade 6, students attend the Foster-Glocester Regional School District with Glocester: Ponaganset Middle School in North Scituate, then Ponaganset High School in North Scituate. The high school’s own results earn an A−, the highest on the path; the middle school earns a B. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 33% across both districts in spring 2022, against 33% and 27% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Foster Elementary spends $27,580 per student and Foster-Glocester Regional $21,493, against $23,945 across Rhode Island (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Foster’s grade

B+ Test scoresB+ Graduation

B+: better than 65% of Rhode Island school districts, #22 of 38 Rhode Island towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Rhode Island average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Rhode Island school districts we grade (60)Better than 65%
Lower resultsHigher results
Rhode Island towns with similar household incomes (51)Better than 29%
Towns in Providence County (10)Better than 30%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 743 test results and a graduating class of 232 could put Foster anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Foster’s students in the tested grades sat them (744 in math, 742 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Foster, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5Capt. Isaac Paine El. SchoolFoster Elementary School DistrictB+
6–8Ponaganset Middle Schoolin North ScituateB
9–12Ponaganset High Schoolin North ScituateA−

Foster runs its own schools through grade 5 (Foster Elementary School District). From grade 6, students attend the Foster-Glocester Regional School District, shared with Glocester. Its middle school is in North Scituate. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Foster

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Foster Elementary School DistrictGrades PK–5 · 1 schools · 241 students, up 16% since 2020–21 · 11.5 per teacher (RI 13.0)
$27,580RI $23,945 · FY2024
B
Foster-Glocester Regional School DistrictGrades 6–12 · 2 schools · 1,265 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 12.7 per teacher (RI 13.0)
$21,493RI $23,945 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–5, Foster Elementary School District37%
State average 33.1% · 101 students tested
Math · PK–5, Foster Elementary School District37%
State average 26.6% · 101 students tested
Reading · 6–12, Foster-Glocester Regional School District50%
State average 33.1% · 641 students tested
Math · 6–12, Foster-Glocester Regional School District32%
State average 26.6% · 643 students tested

Foster vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Rhode Island towns that share Foster’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FosterB+Foster Elementary PK–5 · Foster-Glocester Regional 6–12
ScituateA−Scituate
GlocesterA−Glocester Elementary PK–5 · Foster-Glocester Regional 6–12
CoventryB−Coventry

Killingly, CT and Sterling, CT border Foster but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Foster

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Rhode Island’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Fosterby address
Capt. Isaac Paine El. School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
241 students11:1Rate it →
Also serving Fosterin other towns
Ponaganset Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · North Scituate
B
396 students12:1Rate it →
Ponaganset High School
High · Grades 9–12 · North Scituate
A−
869 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Foster’s schools

Are Foster’s schools good?

By Rhode Island’s own tests, yes: the public schools Foster children attend outscore 65% of Rhode Island’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #22 of 38 Rhode Island towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 29%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Foster in?

Two districts: Foster Elementary School District runs grades PK–5, and Foster-Glocester Regional School District runs grades 6–12, shared with Glocester.

Where do Foster kids go to high school?

Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, with 869 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Foster’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Foster-Glocester Regional School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Rhode Island.

How much does Foster spend per student?

$27,580 in Foster Elementary School District and $21,493 in Foster-Glocester Regional School District (FY2024), against $23,945 across Rhode Island. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Foster families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Foster → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Rhode Island. Stars are from neighbors.