Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 4 schools in district

Portsmouth Middle School

125 Jepson Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871Portsmouth →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 05–08Non-Charter
618
Students
Total enrolled
$21,150
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 47% vs nat'l
11.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 27% vs nat'l
48/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 618 students in grades 05–08 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
47% above average funding
District spends $21,150 per pupil, 47% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 48th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Portsmouth Middle School is a large middle in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, serving grades 05–08 with 618 students. The district invests $21,150 per student — 47% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. With only 17% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Portsmouth Middle School

618
Total Students
11.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
17%
Free Lunch
55
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (05–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution322 male · 296 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility17%
National avg 52% · 105 students
Student Composition
82%
9%
Asian3%
White82%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black2%
Multiracial4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 440087000208

Academic Outcomes at Portsmouth Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
48
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 48th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 72th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 02871

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$21,150Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$21,150
State avg
$24,324
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$9,306
Student Support$4,019
Administration$2,538
Operations$3,173
Other$2,115
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $21,150 spent per student, an estimated $9,370 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
78%
State government
13.5%
Local (property tax)
78.4%
Federal programs
8.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $21,150/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 17% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Howard Hathaway SchoolMelville School
↓
High School
Portsmouth High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades05 – 08
Location—
CountyNewport County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPortsmouth →
Phone: (401)849-3700
NCES ID: 440087000208
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Portsmouth seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Portsmouth
High
Portsmouth High School
796 students · 09–12
● 48 opp14% FRL
Elem
Howard Hathaway School
422 students · KG–04
● 48 opp17% FRL
Elem
Melville School
328 students · PK–04
● 48 opp13% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
125 Jepson Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.