Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Providence

Rhode Island · Public School District
39
Schools
20,463
Students
$26,311
Per-Pupil Spend
+83% nat'l
81.7%
Free Lunch Rate
+29pp vs nat'l
75.5%
Graduation Rate
-11.0pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Providence is a public school district in Rhode Island serving 20,463 students across 39 schools. It includes 22 elementary, 7 middle, 10 high schools, among them 2 charter schools. Its graduation rate of 75.5% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $26,311 is above average for a US public school district. 82% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 40/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$26,311+83% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
58%
25%
State
57.9%
Local (property tax)
25.2%
Federal
16.9%

State funding accounts for 58% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
39
Schools
20,463
Students
82%
Free Lunch
$26K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate75.5%
Opportunity Score40/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $26,311 per pupil — 83% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 39 schools including 2 charter schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 75.5%, graduation is 11.0 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Providence?
Providence has 39 public schools, serving a total of 20,463 students.
What is the graduation rate for Providence?
The graduation rate is 75.5%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Providence spend per student?
Providence spends $26,311 per pupil — 83% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Providence?
82% of students in Providence qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Providence?
Yes — 2 of the 39 schools in Providence are charter schools.
What grade levels does Providence serve?
Providence serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Providence?
The median opportunity score across schools in Providence is 40/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
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.