What share of students in Rhode Island are proficient in math?

In 2024, 26% of eighth graders in Rhode Island public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (25th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 30% in reading, compared with 29% and 35% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Rhode Island, United States: official figures

83.3% of public high school students in Rhode Island graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 13th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

83.3%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

270

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$22,110

FY2024

Public school enrollment

136,154

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

39.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Rhode Island rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Rhode Island was 83.3% in 2021-22, compared with 77% in 2011-12 and 83.9% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Rhode Island?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Rhode Island was 75.7% for economically disadvantaged students, 66.0% for students with disabilities and 67.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Rhode Island?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Rhode Island was 80.0% for Black, 76.9% for Hispanic and 87.2% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Rhode Island score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Rhode Island averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 220 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Rhode Island score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Rhode Island averaged 258 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 21st highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 262 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 30% scored at or above Proficient and 34% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Rhode Island score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Rhode Island averaged 237 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 38% scored at or above Proficient and 24% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Rhode Island score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Rhode Island averaged 270 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 276 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Rhode Island spend per student?

Public school systems in Rhode Island spent $22,110 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 10th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Rhode Island going up?

Current spending per pupil in Rhode Island rose from $16,750 in fiscal 2019 to $22,110 in fiscal 2024, up 32.0% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 4.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Rhode Island spend school money on?

Of the $22,110 spent per pupil in Rhode Island in fiscal 2024, $12,368 went on instruction and $9,153 on support services; salaries and wages came to $12,332 per pupil and employee benefits $5,855.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Rhode Island come from?

Public school systems in Rhode Island received $3.1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 12.7% from the federal government, 40.3% from the state and 47.1% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Rhode Island spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Rhode Island was $3.2 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $2.9 billion was current spending and $197.01 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Rhode Island?

136,154 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Rhode Island in fall 2023, down 5.2% on fall 2019 (143,557) and down 4.1% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Rhode Island?

Public schools in Rhode Island had 10,786 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 12.7 pupils per teacher, joint 11th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Rhode Island in fall 2019: 13.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Rhode Island have a college degree?

39.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Rhode Island, about 311,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 15th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.5 percentage points on 2021 (36.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Rhode Island have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 16.5% of adults 25 and over in Rhode Island had a graduate or professional degree and 8.0% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Rhode Island did not finish high school?

90.4% of adults 25 and over in Rhode Island had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 9.6% without one; that share is joint 15th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Rhode Island compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Rhode Island ranks 37 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
34	South Carolina	83.8%
35	Washington	83.6%
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%
39	Vermont	82.8%
40	Colorado	82.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Rhode Island ranks 36 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%
37	Vermont	75.0%
38	Arizona	73.3%
39	New Hampshire	73.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216
19	Hawaii	216
20	Rhode Island	216
21	North Dakota	216
22	New York	215
23	Tennessee	215

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
20	Tennessee	259
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257
25	Louisiana	257
26	Hawaii	257

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
27	Montana	238
28	Iowa	237
29	Kansas	237
30	Rhode Island	237
31	Illinois	236
32	Georgia	236
33	Alabama	236

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
24	Iowa	27.2%
25	Kansas	26.3%
26	New York	26.2%
27	Rhode Island	26.0%
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 31 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
28	Louisiana	39.6%
29	Washington	39.5%
30	Iowa	39.5%
31	Rhode Island	39.3%
32	Minnesota	39.1%
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Rhode Island ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
7	Hawaii	$23,878
8	New Hampshire	$22,978
9	Delaware	$22,201
10	Rhode Island	$22,110
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091
13	Alaska	$21,004

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Rhode Island ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
23	New Jersey	+32.8%
24	Mississippi	+32.7%
25	Louisiana	+32.5%
26	Rhode Island	+32.0%
27	North Carolina	+31.8%
28	Florida	+31.6%
29	New Hampshire	+31.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Rhode Island ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
17	Massachusetts	48.1%
18	New Jersey	47.4%
19	Louisiana	47.1%
20	Rhode Island	47.1%
21	Maryland	46.5%
22	South Carolina	44.6%
23	Montana	43.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Rhode Island ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
38	Kansas	12.9
39	Missouri	12.8
40	Arkansas	12.7
41	Rhode Island	12.7
42	Wyoming	12.6
43	North Dakota	12.4
44	Massachusetts	12.0

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Rhode Island ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%
44	Rhode Island	-5.2%
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%
47	New Hampshire	-6.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 15 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
12	Minnesota	40.0%
13	Illinois	39.2%
14	Utah	39.1%
15	Rhode Island	39.0%
16	California	38.1%
17	Oregon	37.8%
18	Hawaii	37.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Rhode Island ranks 17 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
14	Oklahoma	9.8%
15	Florida	9.6%
16	New Jersey	9.6%
17	Rhode Island	9.6%
18	Tennessee	9.4%
19	Indiana	9.4%
20	Illinois	9.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Rhode Island: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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