Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Portsmouth

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Portsmouth Rhode Island Town HallPhoto: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
A
Schools in Portsmouth · Portsmouth School District

Portsmouth’s public schools outscore 88% of Rhode Island districts

50% of students in Portsmouth’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Rhode Island average (27%). The grade covers the public school district serving Portsmouth, 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.

#5of 38 Rhode Island townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Rhode Island state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
53%
▲ 20 pts vs RI 33%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▲ 23 pts vs RI 27%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 12 pts vs RI 84%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.0K
▼ 12% vs RI $23.9K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.0
RI 13.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
2,114 students on the public path
In brief

Portsmouth’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 49 Rhode Island towns with household incomes within a quarter of Portsmouth’s, its schools beat 94%, higher than their 88% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 50% in spring 2022, against 33% and 27% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $21,031 per student, against $23,945 across Rhode Island (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 5 the district’s path is Portsmouth Middle School, then Portsmouth High School. Enrollment is down 7% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart (private), Portsmouth Abbey School (private) and The Pennfield School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Portsmouth’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 88% of Rhode Island school districts, #5 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 88%
Lower resultsHigher results
Rhode Island towns with similar household incomes (49)Better than 94%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,154 test results and a graduating class of 203 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Portsmouth’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,156 in math, 1,153 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–42 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−
5–8Portsmouth Middle SchoolPortsmouth School DistrictA−
9–12Portsmouth High SchoolPortsmouth School DistrictA+

Portsmouth’s public schools are run by Portsmouth School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Portsmouth School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,114 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (RI 13.0)
$21,031RI $23,945 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading53%
State average 33.1% · 1153 students tested
Math50%
State average 26.6% · 1156 students tested

Portsmouth vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PortsmouthAPortsmouth
BristolB+Bristol-Warren Regional
TivertonB+Tiverton
WarwickC+Warwick
North KingstownA−North Kingstown
MiddletownBMiddletown
JamestownA+Jamestown
Little ComptonALittle Compton
BarringtonA+Barrington

Every school in Portsmouth

7 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 Portsmouthby address
Melville School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A−
316 students12:1Rate it →
Howard Hathaway School
Elementary · Grades K–4
B+
409 students14:1Rate it →
Portsmouth Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
A−
604 students12:1Rate it →
Portsmouth High School
High · Grades 9–12
A+
785 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
429 students13:1Rate it →
Portsmouth Abbey School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
337 students8:1Rate it →
The Pennfield School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Nonsectarian
155 studentsRate it →

Questions about Portsmouth’s schools

Are Portsmouth’s schools good?

By Rhode Island’s own tests, yes: the public schools Portsmouth children attend outscore 88% of Rhode Island’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #5 of 38 Rhode Island towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 94%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Portsmouth in?

Portsmouth School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,114 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Portsmouth kids go to high school?

Portsmouth High School, with 785 students; its own test results earn an A+.

What is Portsmouth’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Portsmouth School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Rhode Island.

How much does Portsmouth spend per student?

$21,031 in Portsmouth School District (FY2024), against $23,945 across Rhode Island. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Portsmouth?

Yes: St. Philomena School of the Sacred Heart (Catholic, grades PK–8, 429 students), Portsmouth Abbey School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 337 students) and The Pennfield School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 155 students).

Parents talk

What Portsmouth families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portsmouth → 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.