Rhode Island

State K-12 public school system overview

Rhode Island operates a K-12 public education system serving 137,449 students across 64 school districts and 317 schools as of the 2024-25 school year. The state employs 10,747 teachers, resulting in a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 12.8 students per educator. The relatively high number of districts compared to enrollment reflects Rhode Island's local governance structure, with significant variation in district size and resources across the state.

The student population reflects Rhode Island's broader demographic composition, though specific breakdowns by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are not provided in the available data. State-level enrollment figures indicate a moderate-sized K-12 system relative to other northeastern states.

Academic proficiency measures based on 2022-23 federal data show that 33.2% of students met state mathematics standards and 39.4% met reading standards. These figures fall below national averages, indicating that proficiency achievement in both subject areas represents a significant opportunity area for the state's education system. Per-pupil spending averaged $22,238, placing Rhode Island in the upper-middle range of state education funding nationally, though spending variation across districts may affect resource distribution and outcomes.

Rhode Island's education system operates under state accountability frameworks that guide school and district performance evaluation, though specific details about current assessment systems or accountability measures are not included in the provided data. The state's approach to public education reflects a decentralized model with local district control, balanced against state oversight of standards and assessment requirements. Additional context regarding special education services, English learner programming, and career and technical education offerings would provide a more complete picture of the system's comprehensive offerings.

This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 6, 2026.

This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.

Total Students

137K

Districts

64

Schools

317

Teachers

10.7K

Per-Pupil Spending

$22,238

Total Budget

N/A

State Overview

Demographics

Free/Reduced Lunch
N/AThis data is either not available at a state or per-district level, or will be added in the future.
English Language Learners
N/AThis data is either not available at a state or per-district level, or will be added in the future.
Students with Disabilities
N/AThis data is either not available at a state or per-district level, or will be added in the future.

Academic Performance

Math Proficiency
33.2%
Reading Proficiency
39.4%
Graduation Rate
N/AThis data is either not available at a state or per-district level, or will be added in the future.

Finance Overview

Avg Per-Pupil Spending
$22,238
Spending Range
N/AThis data is either not available at a state or per-district level, or will be added in the future.

District Distribution

By Size

Large (10K+)
2
Medium (3K-10K)
13
Small (<3K)
49

By Location

City
17
Suburb
34
Town
0
Rural
13

Career & Technical Education

20,671 total CTE participants (2023-2024)

Secondary
Arts
4,629
STEM
4,290
Health
3,263
Law
2,421
Information
2,296
Finance
2,249
Architecture
1,742
Business
1,500
Top 3: Arts, STEM, HealthSource: U.S. Dept. of Education (Perkins V)

Rhode Island Report Card Data

Rhode Island Report Card (ESSA)

Statewide district accountability summary (2024-25)

Rhode Island assigns star ratings at the school level. District-level ratings are not published by RIDE.

64
Total Districts
Traditional + Charter LEAs
39.4%
Avg ELA Proficiency
RICAS (State: 39%)
33.2%
Avg Math Proficiency
RICAS (State: 33%)
24.9%
Avg Chronic Absenteeism
Target: <15%

Source: Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), Report Card & Data Center. Star ratings are aggregated from school-level ESSA accountability ratings.

Loading districts...