Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Providence’s public schools score below 88% of Rhode Island districts on tests and graduation
Math proficiency in Providence’s districts is 10%, below the Rhode Island average (27%). The grade covers the public school district serving Providence, 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.
From Rhode Island state tests taken in spring 2022, when 94% 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.
Providence’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 10 Rhode Island towns with household incomes within a quarter of Providence’s, its schools beat 20%, higher than their 12% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 15% of tested students were proficient in reading and 10% in math, against 33% and 27% statewide; 94% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
77% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 84% across Rhode Island. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $27,473 per student, against $23,945 across Rhode Island (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
19 elementary schools, then six middle and nine high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Trinity Academy Performing Art, RINI Middle College, Achievement First Providence, AF Providence Mayoral Middle, Achievement First Promesa, Achievement First Providence H, Achievement First Envision Ele, The Hope Academy, SouthSide Elementary Charter, Highlander Elementary Charter, Paul Cuffee Lower School, Paul Cuffee Middle School, Paul Cuffee Upper School, Charette Charter School, Nuestro Mundo Public Charter S, Providence Preparatory Charter, Times2 Elementary School, Times2 Middle/High School, La Salle Academy (private), Wheeler School (private), Moses Brown School (private), Lincoln School (private), St. Pius V School (private), St. Augustine School (private), Bishop McVinney Catholic Regional School (private), French-American School of Rhode Island (private), The Croft School (private), St. Thomas Regional School (private), Blessed Sacrament School (private), The Grace School (private), Bradley School Providence (private), Community Preparatory School (private), Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (private), St. Patrick Academy (private), School One (private), Providence Hebrew Day School (private), Montessori Childrens House (private), The Groden Center (private), The San Miguel School (private), Sophia Academy (private), Mount Pleasant Academy (private), New England Academy of Torah Girls H.S. (private), Tavares Ed. Center (private) and Ocean Tides School (private) are in town. Village Green Virtual, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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.
What’s behind Providence’s grade
D: better than 12% of Rhode Island school districts, #35 of 38 Rhode Island towns. Both inputs trail the Rhode Island average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Providence, with each school’s own grade.
Providence’s public schools are run by Providence 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.
Well below the state in reading
Providence vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Rhode Island towns that share Providence’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Providence | D | Providence |
| East Providence | C+ | East Providence |
| Johnston | B− | Johnston |
| Cranston | B− | Cranston |
| North Providence | B− | North Providence |
| Pawtucket | D | Pawtucket |
Every school in Providence
85 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).
Questions about Providence’s schools
Are Providence’s schools good?
On Rhode Island’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Providence children attend score below 88% of Rhode Island’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #35 of 38 Rhode Island towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Providence in?
Providence School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 19,816 students in 37 schools (2024–25).
Where do Providence kids go to high school?
One of 9 high schools, depending on your address: Classical High School, Central High School, Mount Pleasant High, Hope High School, W B Cooley & Acad Internationa, Dr. Jorge Alvarez HS, E-Cubed Academy, Aventure Academy and Bridge Academy.
What is Providence’s graduation rate?
77% of the class of 2023 in Providence School District graduated in four years, against 84% across Rhode Island.
How much does Providence spend per student?
$27,473 in Providence School District (FY2024), against $23,945 across Rhode Island. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Providence?
Yes: La Salle Academy (Catholic, grades 6–12, 1,443 students), Wheeler School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 813 students), Moses Brown School (religious, grades PK–12, 774 students), Lincoln School (religious, grades PK–12, 472 students), St. Pius V School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 233 students), St. Augustine School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 214 students), Bishop McVinney Catholic Regional School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 211 students), French-American School of Rhode Island (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 181 students), The Croft School (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 163 students), St. Thomas Regional School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 157 students), Blessed Sacrament School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 141 students), The Grace School (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 140 students), Bradley School Providence (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 135 students), Community Preparatory School (nonsectarian, grades 4–8, 135 students), Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (religious, grades PK–5, 101 students), St. Patrick Academy (Catholic, grades 9–12, 85 students), School One (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 82 students), Providence Hebrew Day School (religious, grades PK–8, 72 students), Montessori Childrens House (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 71 students), The Groden Center (special education, grades 2–12, 66 students), The San Miguel School (catholic · all-boys, grades 5–8, 62 students), Sophia Academy (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 5–8, 59 students), Mount Pleasant Academy (special education, grades K–8, 30 students), New England Academy of Torah Girls H.S. (religious · all-girls, grades 10–12, 14 students), Tavares Ed. Center (special education, grades PK–12, 14 students) and Ocean Tides School (catholic · all-boys, grades 8–12, 13 students). Providence also has 18 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Providence families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Providence → 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.