The Special Education Observatory · New England · Northeast
Special education in Rhode Island
Students with IEPs in Rhode Island, where they spend the school day, and all 67 districts, from 2024–25 federal data.
- 24,100school-age students with IEPs0.3% of the national total
- 17.7%of enrolled students have an IEP2.4 points above the nation (15.3%) · 11th of 51
- 72.6%in general education 80% or more of the day4.7 points above the nation (67.9%) · 23rd of 51
- 10.3%in general education less than 40% of the day2.8 points below the nation (13.0%) · 31st of 51
- 64districts reporting a countNone withheld for privacy
Rhode Island, district by district
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Loading the Rhode Island district map.
Where students learn
Every setting the federal educational environments file reports for school-age students with IEPs in Rhode Island, beside the national share.
- In general education 80% or more of the day72.6%
- In general education 40% to 79% of the day10.1%
- In general education less than 40% of the day10.3%
- Separate school5.6%
- Residential facility0.4%
- Homebound or hospital0.0%
- Correctional facility0.0%
- Parentally placed in private school2.0%
| Setting | Students | Share | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| In general education 80% or more of the day | 17,258 | 72.6% | 67.9% |
| In general education 40% to 79% of the day | 2,392 | 10.1% | 15.2% |
| In general education less than 40% of the day | 2,222 | 10.3% | 13.0% |
| Separate school | 1,174 | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| Residential facility | 54 | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| Homebound or hospital | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Correctional facility | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| Parentally placed in private school | 396 | 2.0% | 1.8% |
What may be driving it
Where Rhode Island sits among the 50 states and DC on five measures, beside the nation.
- Identification rate17.7%11th highest of 51
- In general education 80% or more of the day72.6%23rd highest of 51
- In separate settings6.4%5th highest of 51
- Spending per student$22,02110th highest of 51
- School-age poverty (estimate)14.0%22nd highest of 51
Questions worth asking
- 17.7% of Rhode Island's students have an IEP, 2.4 points above the nation (15.3%). How do referral, evaluation and eligibility practices shape that share?[1][3]
- 6.4% of students with IEPs learn in separate settings, against 2.8% for the nation. What share of special education spending follows those placements?[2]
- Spending per student is $22,021, against $17,314 for the nation. How much of the difference is cost of living, staffing levels or special education services?[6]
Every district in Rhode Island
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Showing 67 of 67
| Achievement First Rhode IslandProvidence · Independent charter district | 3,209 | 366 | 11.4% | 97.5% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BarringtonBarrington · Regular school district | 3,294 | 417 | 12.7% | 80.6% | 4.6% | 3.4% | $19,531 |
| Beacon Charter SchoolWoonsocket · Independent charter district | 363 | 72 | 19.8% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Blackstone AcademyPawtucket · Independent charter district | 357 | 60 | 16.8% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral AcademyCumberland · Independent charter district | 2,253 | 418 | 18.6% | 87.8% | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Bristol WarrenBristol · Regular school district | 2,693 | 521 | 19.3% | 79.3% | 4.4% | 7.2% | $20,479 |
| BurrillvilleHarrisville · Regular school district | 1,993 | 406 | 20.4% | 73.2% | 7.4% | 8.9% | $19,478 |
| Central FallsCentral Falls · Regular school district | 2,560 | 449 | 17.5% | 66.1% | 17.1% | 26.2% | $24,569 |
| Charette CharterProvidence · Independent charter district | 168 | 16 | 9.5% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| CharihoWood River Junction · Regular school district | 2,966 | 461 | 15.5% | 74.6% | 6.9% | 6.8% | $22,432 |
| CoventryCoventry · Regular school district | 4,056 | 752 | 18.5% | 72.7% | 5.2% | 7.3% | $20,535 |
| CranstonCranston · Regular school district | 10,037 | 1,538 | 15.3% | 64.9% | 9.4% | 11.9% | $19,030 |
| CumberlandCumberland · Regular school district | 4,881 | 769 | 15.8% | 72.4% | 14.2% | 5.6% | $16,007 |
| Davies Career and TechLincoln · State operated agency | 898 | 76 | 8.5% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| DCYFCranston · State operated agency | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| East Bay Educational CollaborativeWarren · Service agency | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| East GreenwichEast Greenwich · Regular school district | 2,490 | 325 | 13.1% | 72.0% | Not published | 3.0% | $19,522 |
| East ProvidenceEast Providence · Regular school district | 5,225 | 1,007 | 19.3% | 72.2% | 6.9% | 12.1% | $19,621 |
| Excel Academy Rhode IslandNorth Providence · Independent charter district | 313 | 30 | 9.6% | 80.0% | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Exeter-West GreenwichWest Greenwich · Regular school district | 1,544 | 179 | 11.6% | 74.3% | 6.7% | 5.5% | $22,575 |
| FosterFoster · Regular school district | 241 | 34 | 14.1% | 85.3% | 0.0% | 9.6% | $27,580 |
| Foster-GlocesterNorth Scituate · Regular school district | 1,273 | 122 | 9.6% | 85.2% | 0.0% | 6.3% | $21,493 |
| GlocesterChepachet · Regular school district | 563 | 80 | 14.2% | 75.0% | 0.0% | 7.2% | $21,924 |
| HighlanderProvidence · Independent charter district | 617 | 114 | 18.5% | 96.5% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| International CharterPawtucket · Independent charter district | 377 | 38 | 10.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| JamestownJamestown · Regular school district | 406 | 79 | 19.5% | 68.4% | Not published | 3.1% | $25,995 |
| JohnstonJohnston · Regular school district | 3,191 | 713 | 22.3% | 76.7% | Not published | 12.2% | $20,838 |
| Kingston Hill AcademySaunderstown · Independent charter district | 260 | 48 | 18.5% | 89.6% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Learning CommunityCentral Falls · Independent charter district | 572 | 94 | 16.4% | 95.7% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| LincolnLincoln · Regular school district | 3,278 | 554 | 16.9% | 82.3% | 8.8% | 8.5% | $19,441 |
| Little ComptonLittle Compton · Regular school district | 218 | 49 | 22.5% | 83.7% | 0.0% | 5.2% | $35,521 |
| MET Career and TechProvidence · State operated agency | 817 | 122 | 14.9% | Not published | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| MiddletownMiddletown · Regular school district | 1,860 | 366 | 19.7% | 86.3% | Not published | 7.1% | $21,127 |
| NarragansettNarragansett · Regular school district | 977 | 123 | 12.6% | 81.3% | Not published | 6.6% | $30,963 |
| New ShorehamBlock Island · Regular school district | 126 | 22 | 17.5% | Not published | 0.0% | 3.0% | $46,714 |
| NewportNewport · Regular school district | 1,795 | 415 | 23.1% | 82.9% | Not published | 16.7% | $28,912 |
| North KingstownNorth Kingstown · Regular school district | 3,786 | 562 | 14.8% | 75.6% | 2.0% | 6.1% | $20,981 |
| North ProvidenceNorth Providence · Regular school district | 3,488 | 654 | 18.8% | 70.9% | 4.7% | 12.2% | $19,364 |
| North SmithfieldNorth Smithfield · Regular school district | 1,637 | 251 | 15.3% | 81.7% | 4.4% | 6.0% | $18,305 |
| Nuestro Mundo Public CharterProvidence · Independent charter district | 292 | 28 | 9.6% | Not published | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Paul Cuffee Charter SchProvidence · Independent charter district | 792 | 129 | 16.3% | 94.6% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| PawtucketPawtucket · Regular school district | 7,816 | 1,532 | 19.6% | 78.3% | 5.4% | 19.3% | $18,860 |
| PortsmouthPortsmouth · Regular school district | 2,134 | 355 | 16.6% | 83.4% | Not published | 4.2% | $21,031 |
| ProvidenceProvidence · Regular school district | 20,250 | 3,677 | 18.2% | 61.4% | 20.7% | 26.2% | $27,473 |
| Providence Preparatory CharterProvidence · Independent charter district | 244 | 30 | 12.3% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| R.I. Sch for the DeafProvidence · State operated agency | 77 | 68 | 88.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle CollegeProvidence · Independent charter district | 462 | 31 | 6.7% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| RISE Prep Mayoral AcademyWoonsocket · Independent charter district | 635 | 99 | 15.6% | Not published | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| ScituateClayville · Regular school district | 1,194 | 200 | 16.8% | 82.0% | 0.0% | 5.7% | $24,780 |
| Segue Institute for LearningCentral Falls · Independent charter district | 414 | 46 | 11.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership AcademyProvidence · State operated agency | 187 | 22 | 11.8% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| SmithfieldSmithfield · Regular school district | 2,361 | 352 | 14.9% | 96.0% | 0.0% | 5.3% | $19,498 |
| South KingstownWakefield · Regular school district | 2,253 | 370 | 16.4% | 78.1% | Not published | 6.3% | $25,196 |
| SouthSide Charter SchoolProvidence · Independent charter district | 136 | 19 | 14.0% | Not published | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| The Compass SchoolKingston · Independent charter district | 217 | 45 | 20.7% | 93.3% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| The Greene SchoolWest Greenwich · Independent charter district | 190 | 35 | 18.4% | Not published | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| The Hope AcademyProvidence · Independent charter district | 322 | 57 | 17.7% | 94.7% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| TivertonTiverton · Regular school district | 1,520 | 305 | 20.1% | 59.0% | 3.6% | 5.8% | $22,762 |
| Trinity Academy for the Performing ArtsProvidence · Independent charter district | 234 | 37 | 15.8% | 83.8% | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Urban CollaborativeProvidence · State operated agency | 145 | 20 | 13.8% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| Village Green VirtualProvidence · Independent charter district | 203 | 40 | 19.7% | 100.0% | 0.0% | Not published | Not published |
| WarwickWarwick · Regular school district | 7,853 | 1,556 | 19.8% | 60.5% | 21.5% | 8.0% | $23,605 |
| West Bay CollaborativeWarwick · Service agency | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| West WarwickWest Warwick · Regular school district | 3,469 | 799 | 23.0% | 73.8% | 2.4% | 14.0% | $21,258 |
| WesterlyWesterly · Regular school district | 2,139 | 389 | 18.2% | 80.5% | Not published | 9.2% | $27,086 |
| WoonsocketWoonsocket · Regular school district | 5,541 | 1,536 | 27.7% | 62.2% | 21.9% | 26.6% | $20,060 |
| YouthBuild Preparatory AcademyProvidence · State operated agency | 116 | 21 | 18.1% | 71.4% | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Service agencies in Rhode Island
Agencies from federal data. Membership not compiled for this state.
| Agency | Kind | Member districts |
|---|---|---|
| East Bay Educational Collaborative | Service agency | Not compiled |
| West Bay Collaborative | Service agency | Not compiled |
Rhode Island in the New England division
The U.S. Census Bureau groups Rhode Island with these states in the New England division of the Northeast.
| State | Identification rate | 80% or more | Under 40% | School-age poverty | Spending per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 18.1% | 67.2% | 8.7% | 12.5% | $24,832 |
| Maine | 20.8% | 59.0% | 10.9% | 11.0% | $19,746 |
| Massachusetts | 19.8% | 67.0% | 13.5% | 10.4% | $24,429 |
| New Hampshire | 18.1% | 81.8% | 5.3% | 6.1% | $23,133 |
| Rhode Island | 17.7% | 72.6% | 10.3% | 14.0% | $22,021 |
| Vermont | 18.3% | 82.0% | 4.2% | 8.7% | $23,789 |
How these figures are built
Both parts. Rates use only the districts that reported both parts of the fraction. A district missing either part is left out of that rate, never counted as zero.
Not published. Not published means the publisher suppressed the figure to protect student privacy, did not report it, or the count is fewer than 10 students. It is never zero.
- Students with IEPs, school age
- Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21 served under IDEA Part B on the state’s child count date.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year.
- Identification rate
- School-age students with IEPs as a share of all students enrolled in the same districts. A district that sends students to another district’s schools can count residents with IEPs it does not enroll, so its rate can run high.Who is counted: School-age students with IEPs, over all students enrolled prekindergarten through grade 12.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: School-age students with IEPs (IDEA child count), over Students enrolled (Common Core of Data membership).
- In general education 80% or more of the day
- Share of school-age students with IEPs inside the regular class 80% or more of the school day.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in this setting, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- In general education less than 40% of the day
- Share of school-age students with IEPs inside the regular class less than 40% of the school day.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in this setting, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- In separate settings
- Share of school-age students with IEPs in a separate school, a residential facility, at home or in a hospital, or in a correctional facility, taken together. Counted only where all four are published.Who is counted: Students with IEPs ages 5 (in kindergarten) through 21.Source: IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year.Both parts: Students in the four separate settings, over All school-age students with IEPs in the environments file.
- School-age poverty (estimate)
- Estimated share of related residents ages 5 to 17 living in families in poverty, within the district’s boundaries. A model-based estimate with a margin of error.Who is counted: Related residents ages 5 to 17 living within the district’s boundaries.Source: SAIPE school district estimates, Income year 2024.Both parts: Residents ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty, over Related residents ages 5 to 17.
- Spending per student
- Current spending on elementary-secondary education per pupil, as the Census Bureau publishes it: spending for students outside the system’s fall membership, capital outlay and debt service are excluded.Who is counted: All students enrolled in the school system (Census fall membership).Source: Public elementary-secondary education finance data, per-pupil spending by school system (table elsec24t), Fiscal year 2024 (the 2023–24 school year).Both parts: Current elementary-secondary spending, over Fall membership.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Child Count (file specification 002), district level, 2024–25 school year. data.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. IDEA Section 618 Part B Educational Environments (file specification 089), district level, 2024–25 school year. data.ed.gov. Licensed CC BY. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district membership (final), 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Common Core of Data, district directory (final), 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. SAIPE school district estimates, Income year 2024. www.census.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (F-33). Public elementary-secondary education finance data, per-pupil spending by school system (table elsec24t), Fiscal year 2024 (the 2023–24 school year). www.census.gov. Public domain. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE program. School district boundaries (composite), simplified for display, 2024–25 school year. nces.ed.gov. Public domain.
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