Paul Cuffee Charter School

The Paul Cuffee Charter School district in Rhode Island operates three schools: Paul Cuffee Lower School, Paul Cuffee Upper School, and Paul Cuffee Middle School. These schools serve students from elementary through high school grades and are located in a predominantly low-income area.

Among the three schools, Paul Cuffee Upper School ranks the highest in the state, but its math proficiency rate on the SAT is significantly below the state average. In contrast, Paul Cuffee Lower School has the highest enrollment and the best academic performance within the district, though its proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math are still well below the state averages. Paul Cuffee Middle School has the lowest enrollment and the weakest academic performance, with particularly low 8th-grade math proficiency.

Across the district, the schools face significant challenges, with consistently low proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Math compared to the state averages. The high percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, around 80% or more in all three schools, suggests that the district serves a predominantly low-income population, which may contribute to the academic struggles. Despite the high spending per student, the schools' performance remains poor, raising questions about the effective allocation and utilization of resources within the district.