Best public high schools in Rhode Island
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, public education is key: 49.4 million students enrolled in public pre-K-12 schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of those, about a third were in high school, enrolled across about 23,500 public secondary schools nationwide.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these public high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to get into better school districts. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the 30 best public high schools in Rhode Island using 2023 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. School districts are provided when available; otherwise, the city is listed instead.
#30. Tiverton High School
- Enrollment: 495 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#29. Cranston High School East
- Enrollment: 1,540 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#28. Burrillville High School
- Enrollment: 666 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#27. Westerly High School
- Enrollment: 726 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#26. NEL/CPS Construction Career
- Enrollment: 173 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#25. Rogers High School
- Enrollment: 639 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#24. North Providence High School
- Enrollment: 1,095 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#23. West Warwick High School
- Enrollment: 1,044 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#22. Blackstone Academy Charter School
- Enrollment: 343 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#21. Metropolitan Career Tech Center
- Enrollment: 815 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#20. Chariho High School
- Enrollment: 1,084 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B
#19. Cranston High School West
- Enrollment: 1,684 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#18. William M. Davies Jr. Career & Technical High School
- Enrollment: 895 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#17. Smithfield High School
- Enrollment: 791 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#16. North Smithfield High School
- Enrollment: 528 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#15. Middletown High School
- Enrollment: 620 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#14. South Kingstown High School
- Enrollment: 861 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#13. Cumberland High School
- Enrollment: 1,479 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#12. Ponaganset High School
- Enrollment: 949 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#11. Exeter-West Greenwich Regional
- Enrollment: 458 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+
#10. Lincoln Senior High School
- Enrollment: 953 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#9. Portsmouth High School
- Enrollment: 824 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#8. Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing & Visual Arts
- Enrollment: 191 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#7. Blackstone Valley Prep High School
- Enrollment: 403 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#6. Narragansett High School
- Enrollment: 489 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#5. The Greene School
- Enrollment: 208 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-
#4. North Kingstown Senior High School
- Enrollment: 1,451 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#3. East Greenwich High School
- Enrollment: 774 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#2. Classical High School
- Enrollment: 1,103 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A
#1. Barrington High School
- Enrollment: 1,119 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.