Top Rankings
Portsmouth School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Rhode Island for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,353 students in Portsmouth School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Rhode Island.
Public Elementary Schools in Portsmouth School District have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the Rhode Island public elementary school average of 27%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 31% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Rhode Island public elementary school average of 49% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (RI)
# Schools
4 Schools
232 Schools
# Students
2,143 Students
89,628 Students
# Teachers
181 Teachers
6,950 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Portsmouth School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 62 school districts in Rhode Island (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has decreased from 96% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#9 out of 63 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
27%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
33%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
31%

Graduation Rate
94%
83%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.31
0.65
# American Indian Students
3 Students
659 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
50 Students
2,928 Students
% Asian Students
2%
3%
# Hispanic Students
159 Students
26,752 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
30%
# Black Students
33 Students
7,772 Students
% Black Students
2%
9%
# White Students
1,774 Students
45,537 Students
% White Students
83%
51%
# Hawaiian Students
6 Students
145 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
114 Students
4,855 Students
% of Two or more races Students
5%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
29
2,236
# Students in K Grade:
146
9,071
# Students in 1st Grade:
140
9,614
# Students in 2nd Grade:
136
9,986
# Students in 3rd Grade:
139
9,591
# Students in 4th Grade:
141
9,843
# Students in 5th Grade:
153
9,898
# Students in 6th Grade:
155
9,834
# Students in 7th Grade:
147
9,606
# Students in 8th Grade:
167
9,663
# Students in 9th Grade:
187
73
# Students in 10th Grade:
212
87
# Students in 11th Grade:
199
76
# Students in 12th Grade:
192
50
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $21,062 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,250. The school district revenue/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,306 is less than the state median of $21,467. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$45 MM
$2,998 MM

Spending
$46 MM
$2,892 MM

Revenue / Student
$21,062
$22,250

Spending / Student
$21,306
$21,467

Best Portsmouth School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Howard Hathaway School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
53 Tallman Avenue
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-0500
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-0500
Grades: K-4
| 401 students
Rank: #22.
Melville School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1351 West Main Road
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-1650
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-1650
Grades: PK-4
| 330 students
Rank: #33.
Portsmouth Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Jepson Lane
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 849-3700
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 849-3700
Grades: 5-8
| 622 students
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