North Providence

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

North Providence, Rhode Island - 8 schools

An equity score of 45/100 ranks North Providence #34 of 53 districts in Rhode Island (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,717 per pupil, North Providence ranks #49 of 60 Rhode Island districts by per-pupil spending (Rhode Island districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,516
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$17,717
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Providence operates 8 public schools serving 3,516 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Rhode Island. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 2 middle, 2 combined, 1 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Providence County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,717 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 60 Rhode Island districts by per-pupil spending. See how Rhode Island compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 45.0% local, 44.5% state, and 10.5% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 45/100, ranked #34 of 53 in Rhode Island against a state average of 51, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (12 AP courses district-wide), a 328.3:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 36.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.1% White, 28.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Joseph a. Whelan School, with a diversity index of 70.1/100.

Its largest campus is North Providence High, enrolling 1,085 students (32% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Centredale School, at 221 students, a 5x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

North Providence High accounts for 30.9% of all North Providence student enrollment

That dominant concentration means North Providence-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

North Providence school enrollment varies 4.9× across entities

North Providence school enrollment ranges from 221 students (lowest) to 1,085 students (highest), a spread of 864 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

North Providence student-counselor ratio is 328:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within North Providence is typically wider than the North Providence-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

North Providence chronic absenteeism rate is 36.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.5%
Federal
44.5%
State
45.0%
Local

Funding Equity

45
Equity Score
34 / 53
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in North Providence.

White 46.1%
Hispanic or Latino 28.1%
African American 14.7%
Asian 3.7%
Multiracial 6.7%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 67.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across North Providence's schools, above the Rhode Island average of 47.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Joseph a. Whelan School 70.1
  2. 2 Greystone School 70.0
  3. 3 North Providence High 68.8
  4. 4 Centredale School 68.8
  5. 5 Birchwood Middle School 67.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
12 AP courses total
328.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
36.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in North Providence

School Enrollment
North Providence High
1,085
Birchwood Middle School
390
Stephen Olney School
388
James L. Mcguire School
384
Dr. Edward Ricci School
378
Greystone School
303
Joseph a. Whelan School
252
Centredale School
221

How North Providence Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Rhode Island districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
West Warwick Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Barrington Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Lincoln Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
North Kingstown Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Johnston Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to North Providence's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Rhode Island

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Providence
20,725 students · 39 schools · $22,536/pupil
Compare vs North Providence →
Cranston
10,225 students · 24 schools · $17,810/pupil
Compare vs North Providence →
Pawtucket
8,056 students · 16 schools · $17,139/pupil
Compare vs North Providence →
Warwick
8,005 students · 19 schools · $22,540/pupil
Compare vs North Providence →
Woonsocket
5,690 students · 10 schools · $18,236/pupil
Compare vs North Providence →

Compare North Providence

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Providence →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in North Providence?

North Providence has 8 schools, including 1 high, 2 middle, 3 elementary, 2 combined. Total enrollment is 3,516 students.

How much does North Providence spend per student?

North Providence spends $17,717 per student. The district has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #34 in Rhode Island.

What is the demographic composition of North Providence?

North Providence students are 46.1% White, 28.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% African American, 3.7% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Providence?

North Providence has an equity score of 45/100, ranking #34 out of 53 districts in Rhode Island.