William E. Tolman High

Summary:

William E. Tolman High is a public high school located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,056 students. The school is part of the Pawtucket School District, which is ranked 45 out of 60 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

William E. Tolman High consistently ranks in the bottom half of Rhode Island high schools, typically ranking between 43-49 out of 59-61 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state and district averages, with only 21.6% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts, compared to 47.8% statewide. The school's performance is particularly low for subgroups such as African American, Hispanic, and Multi-racial students, who rank in the bottom quarter of their respective subgroups in the state. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with over 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in recent years.

Interestingly, nearby schools within the same district, such as Jacqueline M. Walsh School, consistently outperform William E. Tolman High on academic measures, ranking in the top third of Rhode Island high schools. Similarly, nearby charter schools, such as Blackstone Academy Charter and Blackstone Valley Prep High, demonstrate higher academic performance than William E. Tolman High, despite serving a similar demographic of students. These comparisons suggest the need for a comprehensive review of the resources, instructional practices, and support systems at William E. Tolman High to address the persistent achievement gap.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 150 Exchange Street
       Pawtucket, RI  02860


(401) 729-6400

District: Pawtucket

SchoolDigger Rank:
47th of 61 Rhode Island High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,278 Help


Feeder schools for William E. Tolman High:

Elementary:    Agnes E. Little School
    Cunningham School
    Curvin-McCabe School
    Fallon Memorial School
    More...
Middle:    Joseph Jenks Middle School
    Lyman B. Goff Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.2 Help
Number of students:  1,056

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
35.4%
White:
29.8%
African American:
26.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  52.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details William E. Tolman High ranks worse than 77% of high schools in Rhode Island. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked high schools in the Pawtucket School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.21. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details William E. Tolman High has the largest high school student body size in the Pawtucket School District. Student population at William E. Tolman High is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (35.4%), White (29.8%), African American (26.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 52.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Pawtucket School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at William E. Tolman High is 14.2, which is the highest among 3 high schools in the Pawtucket School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare William E. Tolman High employs 74 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at William E. Tolman High is $11,278, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Pawtucket School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

William E. Tolman High:

SchoolDigger ranks William E. Tolman High 47th of 61 Rhode Island public high schools. (See William E. Tolman High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Pawtucket:

SchoolDigger ranks Pawtucket 45th of 60 Rhode Island school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for William E. Tolman High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 22.45 39th 49 20.4%
2010 25.28 39th 50 22.0%
2011 20.52 36th 45 20.0%
2012 22.19 36th 45 20.0%
2013 16.54 37th 45 17.8%
2014 28.05 36th 47 23.4%
2015 25.71 44th 56 21.4%
2016 20.38 50th 57 12.3%
2017 19.58 45th 56 19.6%
2018 12.34 49th 57 14.0%
2019 16.56 45th 59 23.7%
2021 17.07 43rd 59 27.1%
2022 13.96 46th 59 22.0%
2023 12.28 47th 60 21.7%
2024 15.21 47th 61 23.0%
See the entire list of Rhode Island High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 22.61 18th 20 10.0%
2024 6.23 25th 25 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 15.68 44th 54 18.5%
2023 13.55 52nd 58 10.3%
2024 18.82 48th 58 17.2%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 14.61 45th 58 22.4%
2023 12.38 48th 59 18.6%
2024 18.48 43rd 56 23.2%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 13.91 43rd 54 20.4%
2023 11.41 48th 56 14.3%
2024 12.62 48th 57 15.8%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 18.84 27th 28 3.6%
2023 20.13 24th 26 7.7%
2024 23.74 23rd 28 17.9%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 21.28 41st 49 16.3%
2023 18.52 44th 53 17.0%
2024 24.74 38th 54 29.6%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at William E. Tolman High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 9.01 38th 42 9.5%
2023 9.63 38th 43 11.6%
2024 5.60 39th 43 9.3%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Rhode Island Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

William E. Tolman High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

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Enrollment information for William E. Tolman High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1079 21 11 38 4 n/a n/a 0 1153
1989 1037 19 13 39 6 n/a n/a 0 1114
1990 916 20 18 52 7 n/a n/a 0 1013
1991 904 25 11 60 12 n/a n/a 0 1012
1992 914 20 13 78 9 n/a n/a 0 1034
1993 977 32 6 95 10 n/a n/a 0 1120
1994 931 38 6 107 15 n/a n/a 0 1097
1995 907 57 12 137 10 n/a n/a 0 1123
1996 907 57 12 137 10 n/a n/a 0 1123
1997 921 66 12 135 12 n/a n/a 0 1146
1998 942 71 6 132 8 n/a n/a 0 1159
1999 966 94 12 148 10 n/a n/a 0 1230
2000 953 102 12 171 9 n/a n/a 0 1247
2001 922 123 10 182 8 n/a n/a 0 1245
2002 888 151 24 234 10 n/a n/a 0 1307
2003 888 151 24 234 10 n/a n/a 0 1307
2004 860 153 17 250 4 n/a n/a 0 1284
2005 844 155 20 280 6 n/a n/a 0 1305
2006 851 169 23 328 11 n/a n/a 0 1382
2007 820 215 19 368 6 n/a n/a 0 1428
2008 764 216 12 365 10 n/a n/a 0 1367
2009 615 224 9 368 13 n/a n/a 0 1229
2010 652 235 9 365 7 n/a n/a 0 1268
2011 531 200 11 444 11 2 78 0 1277
2012 489 191 12 388 6 1 71 0 1158
2013 391 187 12 384 6 2 68 0 1050
2014 368 189 13 384 5 1 74 0 1034
2015 356 197 12 358 7 1 65 0 996
2016 389 216 9 340 6 2 50 0 1012
2017 359 218 11 305 3 5 52 0 953
2018 326 205 10 286 4 3 53 0 887
2019 333 229 13 266 5 3 57 0 906
2020 334 253 12 287 3 4 66 0 959
2021 372 263 7 326 3 4 67 0 1042
2022 389 281 6 327 3 3 82 0 1091
2023 315 278 4 374 5 4 76 0 1056

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at William E. Tolman High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1153 n/a n/a 4.3
1989 1114 n/a n/a 2.7
1990 1013 n/a n/a 3.1
1991 1012 75.0 13.4 3.3
1992 1034 75.0 13.7 4.9
1993 1120 71.0 15.8 4.6
1994 1097 72.0 15.2 5.7
1995 1123 74.0 15.2 17.6
1996 1123 74.0 15.2 17.6
1997 1146 78.0 14.7 26.9
1998 1159 75.0 15.5 21.7
1999 1230 79.5 15.5 23.5
2000 1247 86.0 14.5 24.2
2001 1245 82.0 15.2 30
2002 1307 n/a n/a 33.6
2003 1307 n/a n/a 33.6
2004 1284 90.0 14.3 36.6
2005 1305 92.0 14.2 35.9
2006 1382 109.0 12.7 38.7
2007 1428 94.0 15.2 39.1
2008 1367 102.0 13.4 39.8
2009 1229 102.0 10.2 60.8
2010 1268 98.0 12.9 65.5
2011 1277 96.0 13.3 61.8
2012 1158 89.0 13.0 61.3
2013 1050 103.0 10.1 62.5
2014 1034 106.0 9.7 74
2015 996 88.0 11.3 58.7
2016 1012 85.0 11.9 66
2017 953 81.1 11.7 60.2
2018 887 75.0 11.8 56.5
2019 906 60.6 14.9 73.1
2020 959 61.1 15.6 70.6
2021 1042 60.8 17.1 67.2
2022 1091 69.5 15.6 69.4
2023 1056 74.0 14.2 52.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio William E. Tolman High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1153 n/a n/a 4.3
1989 1114 n/a n/a 2.7
1990 1013 n/a n/a 3.1
1991 1012 75.0 13.4 3.3
1992 1034 75.0 13.7 4.9
1993 1120 71.0 15.8 4.6
1994 1097 72.0 15.2 5.7
1995 1123 74.0 15.2 17.6
1996 1123 74.0 15.2 17.6
1997 1146 78.0 14.7 26.9
1998 1159 75.0 15.5 21.7
1999 1230 79.5 15.5 23.5
2000 1247 86.0 14.5 24.2
2001 1245 82.0 15.2 30
2002 1307 n/a n/a 33.6
2003 1307 n/a n/a 33.6
2004 1284 90.0 14.3 36.6
2005 1305 92.0 14.2 35.9
2006 1382 109.0 12.7 38.7
2007 1428 94.0 15.2 39.1
2008 1367 102.0 13.4 39.8
2009 1229 102.0 10.2 60.8
2010 1268 98.0 12.9 65.5
2011 1277 96.0 13.3 61.8
2012 1158 89.0 13.0 61.3
2013 1050 103.0 10.1 62.5
2014 1034 106.0 9.7 74
2015 996 88.0 11.3 58.7
2016 1012 85.0 11.9 66
2017 953 81.1 11.7 60.2
2018 887 75.0 11.8 56.5
2019 906 60.6 14.9 73.1
2020 959 61.1 15.6 70.6
2021 1042 60.8 17.1 67.2
2022 1091 69.5 15.6 69.4
2023 1056 74.0 14.2 52.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for William E. Tolman High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $814 (5.7%) $13,593 (94.3%) $14,407
2019 $756 (5.9%) $12,045 (94.1%) $12,801
2020 $1,023 (8.1%) $11,539 (91.8%) $12,563
2021 $1,149 (10.2%) $10,129 (89.8%) $11,278

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on William E. Tolman High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 45th of 59 High schoolsRanks 47th of 60 High schools
 2.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (William E. Tolman High)39.929.3
 10.6%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Pawtucket)35.529.7
 5.8%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)60.155.3
 4.8%
10th Grade Mathematics (William E. Tolman High)12.17.7
 4.4%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Pawtucket)9.76.9
 2.8%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)3127.2
 3.8%
11th Grade English Language Arts (William E. Tolman High)24.124.3
 0.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Pawtucket)27.824.9
 2.9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)50.549.1
 1.4%
11th Grade Mathematics (William E. Tolman High)6.85.8
 1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Pawtucket)9.47.8
 1.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)31.225.3
 5.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students9061056
 16.6%
African American229278
 21.4%
American Indian55
Asian134
 69.2%
Hispanic266374
 40.6%
Pacific Islander34
 33.3%
White333315
 5.4%
Two or More Races5776
 33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients73.1%52.5%
 20.6%


Schools Near William E. Tolman High









Frequently Asked Questions about William E. Tolman High

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,056 students attended William E. Tolman High.

Students at William E. Tolman High are 35% Hispanic, 30% White, 26% African American, 7% Two or more races.

William E. Tolman High ranks in the bottom 23.0% of Rhode Island high schools.

William E. Tolman High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Agnes E. Little School
Elementary : Cunningham School
Elementary : Curvin-McCabe School
Elementary : Fallon Memorial School
Elementary : Flora S. Curtis School
Elementary : Potter-Burns School
Middle : Joseph Jenks Middle School
Middle : Lyman B. Goff Middle School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Rhode Island Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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