Best Rhode Island Public Schools (2026)

Rhode Island is the #48 largest school system in the United States, serving 134,720 students across the 315 public schools for the 2026 school year (there are , serving 22,705 students). 86% of all K-12 students in Rhode Island attend public schools, compared to the national average of 90%.

The percentage of students achieving in Rhode Island is 29%. The percentage of students achieving is 33%.

The top-ranked public schools in Rhode Island are Nayatt School, Barrington High School, and Community School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test scores.

There are 34 Blue Ribbon Schools, 43 charter schools, and 1 special education schools.

Minority enrollment is 49%, with the majority being Hispanic and the student-teacher ratio is 13:1.

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">Overview

This State (RI)

# Schools

315 Schools

# Students

134,720 Students

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Public School
Year	Rhode Island
2017	368
2016	372
2015	374
2014	414
2013	402
2012	398
2011	408
2010	385
2009	375
2008	392
2007	373
2006	380
2005	397
2004	418
2003	416
2002	404
2001	409
2000	429
1999	408
1998	422
1997	412
1996	412
1995	405
1994	403
1993	390
1992	386
1991	379
1990	372
1989	372
1988	366
1987	378

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Gender %

# Teachers

10,603 Teachers

View Data

Trends in the Average Number of Teachers Per Public School
Year	Rhode Island
2017	45
2016	44
2015	43
2014	46
2013	41
2012	49
2011	46
2010	45
2009	43
2008	47
2007	43
2006	53
2005	49
2004	49
2002	47
2001	45
2000	45
1999	46
1998	45
1997	45
1996	43
1995	43
1994	42
1993	44
1992	43

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Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (1992-2023)
Year	Rhode Island
2023	13:1
2022	13:1
2021	13:1
2020	14:1
2019	14:1
2018	13:1
2017	14:1
2016	14:1
2015	15:1
2014	15:1
2013	15:1
2012	13:1
2011	13:1
2010	13:1
2009	13:1
2008	13:1
2007	17:1
2006	11:1
2005	14:1
2004	15:1
2002	15:1
2001	15:1
2000	15:1
1999	14:1
1998	15:1
1997	15:1
1996	15:1
1995	15:1
1994	15:1
1993	15:1
1992	15:1

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="student-by-grade">Student By Grade

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Rhode Island
Pre-K	3,327
Kind	9,279
1	9,614
2	9,986
3	9,591
4	9,843
5	9,898
6	9,834
7	10,061
8	10,135
9	10,883
10	11,105
11	10,987
12	10,177

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="state-rank">State Acdeamy

State Average (RI)

29%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	29%
2022	27%
2021	23%
2019	30%
2018	28%
2017	33%
2016	31%
2015	26%
2014	57%
2013	58%
2012	57%

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35%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	35%
2022	33%
2021	36%
2019	40%
2018	36%
2017	40%
2016	38%
2015	36%
2014	73%
2013	73%
2012	73%

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30%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	30%
2022	31%
2021	32%

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83%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	83%
2022	83%
2021	85%
2020	85%
2019	86%
2018	86%
2017	85%
2016	88%
2015	86%
2014	83%
2013	81%

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Eligible for

38%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	40%
2022	37%
2021	41%
2020	42%
2019	42%
2018	42%
2017	42%
2016	42%
2015	41%
2014	42%
2013	41%
2012	38%
2011	37%
2010	35%
2009	33%
2008	32%
2007	26%
2006	29%
2005	26%
2004	29%
2003	27%
2002	28%
2001	28%
2000	28%
1999	28%
1998	28%
1997	28%
1996	27%
1995	26%
1994	24%
1993	21%
1992	21%
1991	18%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	6%
2022	4%
2021	5%
2020	6%
2019	6%
2018	6%
2017	6%
2016	5%
2015	6%
2014	5%
2013	6%
2012	6%
2011	6%
2010	7%
2009	7%
2008	6%
2007	7%
2006	7%
2005	6%
2004	6%
2003	6%
2002	5%
2001	5%
2000	5%
1999	5%

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="students-by-ethnicity">Students by Ethnicity:

0.65

View Data

Diversity Score Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	0.63
2022	0.63
2021	0.62
2020	0.60
2019	0.60
2018	0.59
2017	0.59
2016	0.58
2015	0.58
2014	0.57
2013	0.55
2012	0.55
2011	0.53
2010	0.50
2009	0.49
2008	0.49
2007	0.49
2006	0.48
2005	0.46
2004	0.47
2003	0.45
2002	0.44
2001	0.43
2000	0.41
1999	0.39
1998	0.38
1997	0.36
1996	0.36
1995	0.35
1994	0.33
1993	0.32
1992	0.30
1991	0.29

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# American Indian Students

985 Students

% American Indian Students

View Data

Percentage of Public School Students of American Indian Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	1%
2022	1%
2021	1%
2020	1%
2019	1%
2018	1%
2017	1%
2016	1%
2015	1%
2014	1%
2013	1%
2012	1%
2011	1%
2010	1%
2009	1%
2008	1%
2007	1%
2006	1%
2005	1%
2004	2%
2003	1%

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# Asian Students

4,367 Students

% Asian Students

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	3%
2022	3%
2021	3%
2020	3%
2019	3%
2018	3%
2017	3%
2016	3%
2015	3%
2014	3%
2013	3%
2012	3%
2011	3%
2010	3%
2009	3%
2008	3%
2007	3%
2006	3%
2005	3%
2004	3%
2003	3%
2002	3%
2001	3%
2000	3%
1999	3%
1998	4%
1997	3%
1996	4%
1995	4%
1994	3%
1993	3%
1992	3%
1991	4%

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# Hispanic Students

40,594 Students

% Hispanic Students

30%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	30%
2022	29%
2021	28%
2020	26%
2019	26%
2018	25%
2017	25%
2016	24%
2015	24%
2014	24%
2013	22%
2012	22%
2011	21%
2010	19%
2009	19%
2008	18%
2007	18%
2006	18%
2005	17%
2004	16%
2003	16%
2002	15%
2001	14%
2000	13%
1999	12%
1998	11%
1997	11%
1996	10%
1995	9%
1994	9%
1993	8%
1992	7%
1991	6%

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# Black Students

12,033 Students

% Black Students

View Data

Black Student Percentage Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	9%
2022	9%
2021	9%
2020	9%
2019	9%
2018	8%
2017	8%
2016	8%
2015	8%
2014	8%
2013	8%
2012	8%
2011	8%
2010	9%
2009	9%
2008	9%
2007	9%
2006	8%
2005	8%
2004	8%
2003	8%
2002	8%
2001	8%
2000	8%
1999	8%
1998	7%
1997	7%
1996	7%
1995	7%
1994	7%
1993	7%
1992	7%
1991	6%

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# White Students

68,392 Students

% White Students

51%

View Data

White Student Percentage Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	52%
2022	53%
2021	54%
2020	57%
2019	57%
2018	59%
2017	59%
2016	60%
2015	60%
2014	61%
2013	63%
2012	64%
2011	65%
2010	68%
2009	68%
2008	69%
2007	69%
2006	70%
2005	71%
2004	71%
2003	72%
2002	73%
2001	74%
2000	75%
1999	77%
1998	78%
1997	79%
1996	79%
1995	80%
1994	81%
1993	82%
1992	83%
1991	84%

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# Hawaiian Students

204 Students

% Hawaiian Students

n/a

# Two or more races Students

6,910 Students

% of Two or more races Students

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	5%
2022	5%
2021	5%
2020	4%
2019	4%
2018	4%
2017	4%
2016	4%
2015	4%
2014	3%
2013	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="state-revenue-and-spending">State Revenue and Spending

This State (RI)

Total Revenue

$2,998 MM

View Data

Median Total Revenues Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	$32 MM
2022	$26 MM
2021	$32 MM
2020	$26 MM
2019	$26 MM
2018	$29 MM
2017	$24 MM
2016	$21 MM
2015	$36 MM
2014	$27 MM
2012	$34 MM
2011	$33 MM
2010	$36 MM
2009	$37 MM
2008	$36 MM
2007	$32 MM
2006	$31 MM
2005	$35 MM
2004	$33 MM
2003	$36 MM
2002	$34 MM
2001	$34 MM
2000	$31 MM
1999	$28 MM
1998	$25 MM
1997	$24 MM
1996	$24 MM
1995	$23 MM

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Spending

$2,892 MM

View Data

Median Total Expenditures Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	$27 MM
2022	$27 MM
2021	$27 MM
2020	$27 MM
2019	$27 MM
2018	$29 MM
2017	$24 MM
2016	$20 MM
2015	$35 MM
2014	$28 MM
2012	$35 MM
2011	$34 MM
2010	$35 MM
2009	$34 MM
2008	$34 MM
2007	$33 MM
2006	$31 MM
2005	$34 MM
2004	$31 MM
2003	$35 MM
2002	$34 MM
2001	$32 MM
2000	$28 MM
1999	$27 MM
1998	$25 MM
1997	$23 MM
1996	$22 MM
1995	$22 MM

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Revenue / Student

$22,250

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	$23,468
2022	$19,239
2021	$22,907
2020	$19,239
2019	$20,169
2018	$22,746
2017	$18,483
2016	$15,535
2015	$18,095
2014	$18,833
2012	$19,695
2011	$18,521
2010	$18,095
2009	$17,432
2008	$16,331
2007	$14,216
2006	$12,750
2005	$13,627
2004	$12,702
2003	$12,769
2002	$11,775
2001	$10,382
2000	$9,655
1999	$8,918
1998	$8,386
1997	$7,783
1995	$7,673
1992	$6,417

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Spending / Student

$21,467

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Rhode Island
2023	$20,011
2022	$19,744
2021	$19,533
2020	$19,744
2019	$20,897
2018	$22,652
2017	$18,449
2016	$15,081
2015	$17,880
2014	$19,504
2012	$20,336
2011	$18,824
2010	$17,880
2009	$16,408
2008	$15,284
2007	$14,332
2006	$12,570
2005	$13,421
2004	$12,004
2003	$12,230
2002	$11,929
2001	$9,986
2000	$8,883
1999	$8,581
1998	$8,176
1997	$7,545
1995	$7,315
1992	$6,202

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<�鶹��ý class="list-title center">Best Rhode Island Public Schools by County (2026)

County

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

Bristol County

6,353

23%

Kent County

18,872

26%

Newport County

8,001

32%

Providence County

203

87,868

63%

Washington County

13,626

17%

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Rhode Island?

The top-ranked public schools in Rhode Island include Nayatt School, Barrington High School, and Community School.

How many public schools are located in Rhode Island?

315 public schools are located in Rhode Island.

What percentage of students in Rhode Island go to public school?

86% of all K-12 students in Rhode Island attend public schools (compared to the national average of 90%).

What is the racial composition of students in Rhode Island?

Minority enrollment in Rhode Island is 49%, with the majority being Hispanic.

Which public schools in Rhode Island are often viewed compared to one another?

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