- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
High school (grades 9-12) · North Scituate, RI
Ponaganset High School
Federal NCES profile for Ponaganset High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 440042000116
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponaganset High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Rhode Island median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Rhode Island schools.
- #6 of 6
- public schools in North Scituate · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- students per teacher
- 11.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponaganset High School has class sizes near the Rhode Island median. Computed live against every Rhode Island school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponaganset High School ranks #6 of 6 public schools in North Scituate, RI.
School address
District: Foster-Glocester · Rhode Island
NCES ID 440042000116 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Ponaganset High School held near 900 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 71.5 → 70.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-21 students YoY 440042000116 · North Scituate, RI High · MID · TRAD
869 enr · 12.2:1 · 11.6% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Ponaganset Middle School (396 students)
Ponaganset High School held near 900 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 71.5 → 70.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Rhode Island schools → · Find another →
How Ponaganset High School compares
Ponaganset High 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 | 12.2:1 | ▼ 12% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 11.6% | ▼ 71% | 39.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 869 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
869
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
11.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% below the Rhode Island average of 39.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 36% in Rhode Island - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.9%
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
$20,494
per pupil, district-wide
- below Rhode Island avg of $21,508
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 217 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
60
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.6%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
Two or More 3.9%
Asian 0.9%
African American 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 88.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.0, Ponaganset High School is less mixed than the Rhode Island school average of 47.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
District finance for Foster-Glocester reports $20,494 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponaganset High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponaganset Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponaganset High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar high schools in North Scituate
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~869 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponaganset High School
How many students attend Ponaganset High School?
Ponaganset High School has 869 students enrolled. It is a high school in North Scituate, RI. CCD year-over-year: 921 (2022-23) → 900 (2023-24), nearly flat (-21).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponaganset High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponaganset High School is 12.2:1, which is 12% lower than the Rhode Island average of 13.8:1 and 22% 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 Ponaganset High School?
11.6% of students at Ponaganset High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Rhode Island average of 39.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponaganset High School?
The largest demographic group at Ponaganset High School is White at 88.6% of enrollment, in North Scituate, RI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponaganset High School?
Ponaganset High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ponaganset High School rank among public schools in North Scituate?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponaganset High School ranks #6 of 6 public schools in North Scituate, RI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in North Scituate on the city page.
What other schools are in Foster-Glocester?
Besides Ponaganset High School, Foster-Glocester also operates Ponaganset Middle School (396 students). See the Foster-Glocester district page for the complete list.