Best schools in RI (Providence, Newport: college, price, moving)

[KH02]

Just curious...

What are the towns in RI with the BEST public school systems?

I've always admired Newport and vacation their frequently and have heard their public schools are less then desireable. So it got me thinking where the best ones are?!?!
Any suggestions?

[traceyr13]

Barrington and East Greenwich are usually considered the top 2 systems in the state - they tend to have the highest scores on standardized tests, highest graduation and college attendance rates, etc. I think that Lincoln is hot on their heels.

[nate14ri]

I Second Barrington and EG by far.

this link has 2008 SAT scores by RI town
http://www.riedc.com/files/Moving%20to%20RI-2008.pdf

[jakedog1]

You know in this case I am not sure you can judge a school district by its SAT scores. Barrington and EG are also two of the most affluent districts in the town. I would be hard pressed to believe that many if not most of those kids go through SAT prep courses which have been proven to improve scores dramatically. Historically those districts have been the most highly regarded but I would be more apt to judge on a school by school basis.
In that arena the best schools in RI would all be private. The private schools in RI are world class and blow Barrington and EG out of the water. This is strictly my opinion as no one seems to be willing to rate the two side by side. (Public V Private)

[nate14ri]

Of course the private schools offer a better education. But they are also the price of a premier college tuition. Anyways, this thread was about the BEST PUBLIC school system with no mentioning of town affluence. Again the answer for this thread is EG and Barrington.

[traceyr13]

Originally Posted by jakedog1

You know in this case I am not sure you can judge a school district by its SAT scores. Barrington and EG are also two of the most affluent districts in the town. I would be hard pressed to believe that many if not most of those kids go through SAT prep courses which have been proven to improve scores dramatically. Historically those districts have been the most highly regarded but I would be more apt to judge on a school by school basis.
In that arena the best schools in RI would all be private. The private schools in RI are world class and blow Barrington and EG out of the water. This is strictly my opinion as no one seems to be willing to rate the two side by side. (Public V Private)

I agree that the majority of kids at Barrington High take SAT prep courses (I would estimates somewhere in the vicinity of 60-70% - I was a school counselor for years there, so I have a pretty good idea). However, I disagree that the SAT scores are the only reason I would consider those districts the "best". Yes, we can trot out the standardized scores because that's "hard evidence", but as someone who worked for years in RI public education, had/have friends in districts all over the state, did a Master's program at Providence College, and attended professional development and conferences at a statewide level for years...I can tell you that I absolutely believe those 2 districts have a higher level of expectations, passionate and invested educators, and dedicated and competent administrators, above many other districts in the state.

That's not to say there aren't excellent, excellent schools in other districts (for example, the elementary school in Greenville, in Smithfield, is fantastic) but as a whole, as a district, the vast majority of educators in Rhode Island, I'm betting, would agree with me.

[wxjay]

Barrington, Portsmouth, Lincoln, and East Greenwich. Narragansett schools are not that bad either.

[CoventryDude]

My wifes cousin is an educator, she and her family moved to Barrington for the schools...I take that as a hardy endorsement...