RIRhode Island rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Rhode Island

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Rhode Island average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 38 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

1 Barrington Bristol County +38.6 pts Math 59.5% · Reading 74.3% 2 Jamestown Newport County +33.9 pts Math 54.8% · Reading 69.6%

3 East Greenwich Kent County +33.8 pts Math 52.8% · Reading 71.6%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

1 BarringtonBristol County · Barrington +38.6 pts 59.5% 74.3%

2 JamestownNewport County · Jamestown +33.9 pts 54.8% 69.6%

East GreenwichKent County · East Greenwich +33.8 pts 52.8% 71.6%

4 North KingstownWashington County · North Kingstown +31.0 pts 50.6% 68.1%

Little ComptonNewport County · Little Compton +26.2 pts 47% 62%

6 NarragansettWashington County · Narragansett +25.6 pts 44.4% 63.5%

7 PortsmouthNewport County · Portsmouth +24.2 pts 44.2% 60.9%

8 SmithfieldProvidence County · Smithfield +21.7 pts 39.3% 60.9%

South KingstownWashington County · South Kingstown +21.2 pts 39.3% 59.9%

10 CharlestownWashington County · Chariho +21.2 pts 47% 52%

11 HopkintonWashington County · Chariho +20.8 pts 41.5% 56.8%

GlocesterProvidence County · Foster-Glocester +18.8 pts 35% 59.2%

North SmithfieldProvidence County · North Smithfield +18.7 pts 37.5% 56.5%

ExeterWashington County · Exeter-West Greenwich +16.2 pts 41% 48%

TivertonNewport County · Tiverton +15.4 pts 36.9% 50.5%

16 RichmondWashington County · Chariho +15.3 pts 33.5% 53.8%

ScituateProvidence County · Scituate +15.0 pts 34.7% 52%

CumberlandProvidence County · Cumberland +14.8 pts 36.2% 50.1%

19 West GreenwichKent County · Exeter-West Greenwich +14.7 pts 36% 50.1%

BristolBristol County · Bristol Warren +14.5 pts 32.1% 53.7%

LincolnProvidence County · Lincoln +12.2 pts 32.9% 48.3%

22 FosterProvidence County · Foster +11.2 pts 37% 42%

MiddletownNewport County · Middletown +8.5 pts 28.2% 45.5%

24 CoventryKent County · Coventry +6.3 pts 25.8% 43.4%

WesterlyWashington County · Westerly +5.4 pts 22.6% 44.9%

North ProvidenceProvidence County · North Providence +2.5 pts 21.3% 40.4%

CranstonCranston 0.0 pts 17.6% 39%

WarwickWarwick −0.9 pts 17.3% 37.5%

East ProvidenceEast Providence −1.2 pts 19.2% 35.2%

BurrillvilleProvidence County · Burrillville −1.7 pts 18.9% 34.5%

WarrenBristol County · Bristol Warren −2.4 pts 16.9% 34.9%

32 JohnstonProvidence County · Johnston −3.3 pts 14.4% 35.6%

West WarwickKent County · West Warwick −7.3 pts 10.9% 31.2%

34 NewportNewport −10.4 pts 11.8% 24.1%

PawtucketPawtucket −13.1 pts 8.7% 21.7%

36 ProvidenceProvidence −13.8 pts 9.4% 19.8%

37 WoonsocketWoonsocket −15.2 pts 6.5% 19.9%

Central FallsCentral Falls −17.5 pts 6.1% 15.6%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Rhode Island average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Rhode Island only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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