Rhode Island’s large investment ($3.66 billion) in elementary and secondary education has not yielded correspondingly high levels of student outcomes.
Analyzing Rhode Island’s K-12 spending and outcomes, RIPEC’s new report finds that the Ocean State’s per pupil spending levels are 8th highest in the nation. The report also finds wide variation in spending and outcomes across the state, including a misalignment between resources and student need. Many districts have not right-sized operations in response to steep enrollment declines, contributing to high spending levels and growing staffing ratios that have not clearly translated into improved student outcomes.
Download the executive summary here.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2023, Rhode Island committed $3.66 billion in state, local, and federal aid to K-12 education, representing 28% of all state general revenue funds and 40% of all city and town spending.
- Rhode Island’s 2023-24 per pupil expenditures of $22,797 ranked 8th highest among states and was 25% above the U.S. total of $17,644. Adjusted for cost-of-living, Rhode Island ranked 6th highest.
- Between FY 2019 and FY 2024, state aid in Rhode Island grew at an average annual rate of 5.4%, compared to a 1.8% average annual increase from local governments.
- For the 2024–25 school year, 6 districts spent more than $30,000 per pupil and 3 spent less than $20,000. Pawtucket and Woonsocket, which served among the highest shares of economically disadvantaged students, had among the lowest per pupil expenditures.
- Charter public schools tend to have lower per pupil expenditures than district schools due to multiple factors, including the ability of resident districts to retain a portion of local tuition payments, lower staffing levels per student, and smaller shares of students with special needs.
- Despite high levels of spending, Rhode Island ranked 27th among states on the 2024 NAEP (average 4th and 8th-grade math and reading)—an outcome not explained by demographic differences.
- Student outcomes across Rhode Island districts largely track proportions of economically disadvantaged students, but similarly situated districts still differ markedly in resources and outcomes. For example, Narragansett and Cumberland had similar demographics and RICAS proficiency in 2024–25, yet Narragansett’s per pupil spending ($34,352) was nearly double Cumberland’s ($17,454).
- Rhode Island devotes a somewhat smaller share of spending to instruction than the U.S. (62.1% vs. 63.7% in 2023–24), and this share is declining. Rhode Island is an outlier in student support services (16.5% vs. 11.0%)—2nd highest among states, and devotes a higher share to transportation (4.8% vs. 4.1%).
- Personnel costs accounted for 78% of K-12 spending in Rhode Island in 2023-24. With 6.4 employees for every student, the state ranked 14th highest and above the U.S. (7.2 per student).
- Between 2015–16 and 2024–25, K–12 staffing increased by 7.2% (1,387 employees) while enrollment declined by 4.3% (6,046 students). Growth was concentrated in paraprofessionals and instructional aides (+27.5%) and other support staff (+23.5%), while teacher staffing declined slightly (–0.5%).
- Rhode Island’s smaller districts tend to have among the highest per pupil expenditures and several of the state’s smallest districts have experienced among the steepest enrollment declines. Seven of the 10 districts with the steepest enrollment declines also rank among the 10 highest-spending districts.
Recommendations
- Rebalance state and local contributions and align resources with student need
- Pursue district consolidation, shared services, and regional collaboration
- Strengthen K-12 spending oversight
- Reduce non-instructional spending, especially support staff and transportation
- Right-size staffing and prioritize instructional personnel
- Increase share of spending on instruction
