📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts Rhode Island
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Barrington Public Schools | Barrington | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #2 | East Greenwich School District | East Greenwich | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #3 | Narragansett School District | Narragansett | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #4 | North Kingstown School District | North Kingstown | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #5 | Portsmouth School District | Portsmouth | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #6 | Cumberland School District | Cumberland | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #7 | North Smithfield School District | Forestdale | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #8 | Smithfield School District | Greenville | 8/10 Good | 76th |
| #9 | Lincoln School District | Albion | 8/10 Good | 73th |
| #10 | South Kingstown School District | Wakefield | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #11 | Scituate School District | Clayville | 7/10 Good | 66th |
| #12 | Bristol-Warren Regional School District | Bristol | 7/10 Good | 63th |
| #13 | Chariho Regional School District | Ashaway | 7/10 Good | 60th |
| #14 | Foster-Glocester Regional School District | Chepachet | 6/10 Average | 56th |
| #15 | Tiverton School District | Tiverton | 6/10 Average | 53th |
| #16 | New Shoreham School District | Block Island | 6/10 Average | 50th |
| #17 | Westerly School District | Westerly | 5/10 Average | 47th |
| #18 | Middletown School District | Middletown | 5/10 Average | 44th |
| #19 | Coventry School District | Coventry | 5/10 Average | 40th |
| #20 | North Providence School District | North Providence | 4/10 Below Average | 37th |
| #21 | Johnston School District | Johnston | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
| #22 | Cranston School District | Cranston | 4/10 Below Average | 31th |
| #23 | Warwick School District | Warwick | 3/10 Below Average | 27th |
| #24 | East Providence School District | East Providence | 3/10 Below Average | 24th |
| #25 | Burrillville School District | Glendale | 3/10 Below Average | 21th |
Best School Districts in Rhode Island (2026)
This ranking covers 31 rated public school districts in Rhode Island, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data (2021–22 for 90% of districts, 2017–18 fallback for the rest). Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
Rhode Island School Districts at a Glance
- 31 of the 36 regular school districts operating in Rhode Island have a published rating on this site.
- 9 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NCES EDFacts, and every district is ranked against other districts in Rhode Island only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Barrington Public Schools in Barrington, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in Rhode Island is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in Rhode Island? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 or 2017–18 fallback), the top-rated district is Barrington Public Schools in Barrington, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in Rhode Island? ▼
Rhode Island has 36 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 31 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are Rhode Island school district ratings based on? ▼
NCES EDFacts. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in Rhode Island and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in Rhode Island are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
9 of the 31 rated districts in Rhode Island score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in Rhode Island, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in Rhode Island? ▼
In Rhode Island nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; Rhode Island is not one of them.