- Enrollment
- 243
- Students per teacher
- 9.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Providence, RI
Paul Cuffee Lower School
Federal NCES profile for Paul Cuffee Lower School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 440003200520Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul Cuffee Lower School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Rhode Island median.
- #7 of 26
- elementary schools in Providence · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.9:1
- students per teacher
- 68.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul Cuffee Lower School has class sizes near the Rhode Island median. Computed live against every Rhode Island school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Cuffee Lower School ranks #7 of 26 elementary schools in Providence, RI.
School address
District: Paul Cuffee Charter Sch · Rhode Island
NCES ID 440003200520 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Paul Cuffee Lower School held near 357 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 30.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 440003200520 · Providence, RI Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
358 enr · 11.9:1 · 68.0% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Paul Cuffee Upper School (243 students)
Paul Cuffee Lower School held near 357 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 30.0 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Rhode Island schools → · Find another →
Paul Cuffee Lower School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Paul Cuffee Lower School
358 students
- Paul Cuffee Up
Paul Cuffee Upper School
243 students
- Paul Cuffee Mi
Paul Cuffee Middle School
189 students
What this shows Paul Cuffee Lower School reports 358 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul Cuffee Lower School compares
Paul Cuffee Lower School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Rhode Island and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Rhode Island | Rhode Island avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 14% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.0% | ▲ 72% | 39.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 358 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
358
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the Rhode Island average of 39.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 31% in Rhode Island - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
45.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$23,469
per pupil, district-wide
- above Rhode Island avg of $21,508
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 69.8%
African American 18.2%
Two or More 4.2%
White 3.9%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 69.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.6, Paul Cuffee Lower School is about as mixed as the Rhode Island school average of 47.0.
Programs
District finance for Paul Cuffee Charter Sch reports $23,469 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paul Cuffee Lower School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Cuffee Upper School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Paul Cuffee Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul Cuffee Lower School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 189
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Providence
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Alfred Lima Sr. El School
Standard public school
662 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Frank D. Spaziano Elem School
Standard public school
588 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Achievement First Promesa
Standard public school
548 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
West Broadway Middle School
Standard public school
516 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
George J. West El. School
Standard public school
502 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Carl G. Lauro El. School
Standard public school
475 students 11:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~358 students)
Frequently asked questions about Paul Cuffee Lower School
How many students attend Paul Cuffee Lower School?
Paul Cuffee Lower School has 358 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Providence, RI. CCD year-over-year: 359 (2022-23) → 357 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul Cuffee Lower School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul Cuffee Lower School is 11.9:1, which is 14% lower than the Rhode Island average of 13.8:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul Cuffee Lower School?
68.0% of students at Paul Cuffee Lower School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Rhode Island average of 39.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul Cuffee Lower School?
The largest demographic group at Paul Cuffee Lower School is Hispanic or Latino at 69.8% of enrollment, in Providence, RI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul Cuffee Lower School?
Paul Cuffee Lower School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Paul Cuffee Lower School rank among elementary schools in Providence?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul Cuffee Lower School ranks #7 of 26 elementary schools in Providence, RI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Providence on the city page.
What other schools are in Paul Cuffee Charter Sch?
Besides Paul Cuffee Lower School, Paul Cuffee Charter Sch also operates Paul Cuffee Upper School (243 students) and Paul Cuffee Middle School (189 students). See the Paul Cuffee Charter Sch district page for the complete list.