Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy

Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy is the sole public charter high school serving grades 9-12 in Providence, Rhode Island. With a total enrollment of 160 students, the school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing high schools in the state, placing 61st out of 61 schools in the most recent academic year.

Despite spending a relatively high $13,417 per student annually, the school's academic performance is significantly below the state average. Only 10.3% of 11th graders at Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 47.8%. Similarly, just 8.3% of 10th graders were proficient in Mathematics, far below the state's 27.2% average. The school's high poverty rate, with 99.38% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, suggests the student population faces significant socioeconomic challenges.

Despite the school's struggles, the high per-student spending and the charter school model indicate that Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy is likely receiving additional resources and support. However, the consistently low academic performance across multiple years suggests the need for a deeper examination of the school's educational approach, student support services, and the broader systemic factors that may be contributing to its challenges.