Portsmouth Middle School

Q: Is Portsmouth Middle School a good school?

Portsmouth Middle School ranks 9 th of 64 Rhode Island middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Portsmouth Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 5-8 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, which is part of the highly-ranked Portsmouth School District. With 618 students, the school has consistently ranked among the top 10-12 middle schools in Rhode Island over the past decade, currently ranking 9th out of 64 middle schools in the state.

Portsmouth Middle School excels academically, consistently outperforming the state averages in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics on the RICAS assessments. In the 2023-2024 school year, 45.9% of students were proficient or better in ELA and 45.9% were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 49.2% and 52.1%, respectively. The school also shines in science, with 56.1% of students proficient or better on the NGSA assessment, higher than the district average of 59.4%. With a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 11.1 and higher spending per student ($15,812 in 2020-2021) compared to the state average, the school's strong academic performance is likely supported by these factors.

While Portsmouth Middle School outperforms the state, some nearby schools, such as Wickford Middle School and Jamestown School-Lawn, have even higher proficiency rates in ELA and Mathematics. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Portsmouth Middle School (16.99% in 2022-2023) is lower than some nearby schools, such as Warwick Veterans Middle School (39.93%) and Frank E. Thompson Middle (76.74%), which have higher percentages of economically disadvantaged students. The presence of other high-performing middle schools in the region suggests a strong commitment to quality education in the area.

Detail:

Public 5-8

125 Jepson Lane
Portsmouth, RI 02871

(401) 849-3700

District: Portsmouth

SchoolDigger Rank:
9^th of 64 Rhode Island Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,812

Students who attend Portsmouth Middle School usually attend:

High:

Portsmouth High School

Feeder schools for Portsmouth Middle School:

Elementary:	Howard Hathaway School
	Melville School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.1

Number of students: 618

Racial breakdown:

White:

81.9%

Hispanic:

8.6%

Two or more races:

4.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 17%

See top rated Rhode Island middle schools

Compare Portsmouth Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Portsmouth Middle School ranks better than 85.9% of middle schools in Rhode Island. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 85.46. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (81.9%), Hispanic (8.6%), two or more races (4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 17% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Portsmouth Middle School is 11.1. (See more...)

Compare Portsmouth Middle School employs 55.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Portsmouth Middle School is $15,812.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Portsmouth Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Portsmouth Middle School 9^th of 64 Rhode Island public middle schools. (See Portsmouth Middle School in the ranking list.)

Portsmouth:

SchoolDigger ranks Portsmouth 5^th of 60 Rhode Island school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Portsmouth Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	RI State Percentile
2009	84.65	6^th	53	88.7%
2010	83.46	7^th	54	87.0%
2011	84.74	5^th	49	89.8%
2012	80.16	12^th	48	75.0%
2013	77.85	12^th	48	75.0%
2014	83.01	6^th	49	87.8%
2015	78.66	10^th	59	83.1%
2016	79.66	12^th	59	79.7%
2017	86.28	7^th	57	87.7%
2018	81.63	10^th	53	81.1%
2019	77.90	11^th	61	82.0%
2021	84.86	5^th	62	91.9%
2022	85.03	8^th	60	86.7%
2023	85.75	9^th	64	85.9%
2024	85.46	9^th	64	85.9%

See the entire list of Rhode Island Middle School Rankings!

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

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Portsmouth Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	747	8	11	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	772
1989	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	825	825
1990	797	10	14	1	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	822
1991	794	11	11	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	821
1992	815	12	11	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	840
1993	818	26	7	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	856
1994	811	23	10	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	848
1995	819	11	13	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1996	819	11	13	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	853
1997	779	13	17	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	815
1998	795	15	19	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	834
1999	828	18	20	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	871
2000	856	21	24	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	906
2001	895	17	19	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	939
2002	916	14	10	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	945
2003	916	14	10	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	945
2004	871	22	11	17	2	n/a	n/a	0	923
2005	873	19	15	14	2	n/a	n/a	0	923
2006	864	22	12	12	3	n/a	n/a	0	913
2007	885	31	17	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	946
2008	663	29	15	8	4	n/a	n/a	0	719
2009	615	23	13	7	4	n/a	n/a	0	662
2010	584	24	20	15	3	n/a	n/a	0	646
2011	882	20	26	39	3	0	9	0	979
2012	884	23	20	38	1	0	14	0	980
2013	888	19	15	36	1	0	17	0	976
2014	884	19	9	34	2	0	13	0	961
2015	879	17	6	28	2	1	15	0	948
2016	825	24	12	28	2	0	17	0	908
2017	820	17	14	38	2	0	21	0	912
2018	637	16	14	32	4	1	25	0	729
2019	615	16	17	41	3	1	25	0	718
2020	585	15	19	44	2	1	28	0	694
2021	563	8	17	36	0	1	25	0	650
2022	544	13	14	44	1	1	17	1	635
2023	506	13	19	53	1	1	25	0	618

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 Portsmouth Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	772	n/a	n/a	3.4
1989	825	n/a	n/a	3.2
1990	822	n/a	n/a	3.5
1991	821	62.4	13.1	3.7
1992	840	65.0	12.9	4.8
1993	856	60.6	14.1	4.7
1994	848	58.0	14.6	6.8
1995	853	59.1	14.4	5.2
1996	853	59.1	14.4	5.2
1997	815	57.4	14.2	6
1998	834	57.8	14.4	6.1
1999	871	59.5	14.6	10.2
2000	906	61.5	14.7	8.5
2001	939	62.0	15.1	6.1
2002	945	n/a	n/a	6.7
2003	945	n/a	n/a	6.7
2004	923	61.0	15.1	8.8
2005	923	69.5	13.3	8
2006	913	50.0	18.3	9.7
2007	946	67.0	14.1	10.7
2008	719	53.1	13.5	10
2009	662	50.9	10.9	9.5
2010	646	54.6	11.8	13.2
2011	979	74.5	13.1	12.3
2012	980	72.0	13.6	15
2013	976	60.4	16.1	14
2014	961	51.9	18.5	14.3
2015	948	50.0	18.9	14.1
2016	908	59.0	15.3	13.4
2017	912	61.6	14.8	14.9
2018	729	52.5	13.8	15.9
2019	718	53.8	13.3	15.5
2020	694	55.3	12.5	18.3
2021	650	54.5	11.9	15.4
2022	635	52.7	12.0	9.8
2023	618	55.2	11.1	17

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 Portsmouth Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	772	n/a	n/a	3.4
1989	825	n/a	n/a	3.2
1990	822	n/a	n/a	3.5
1991	821	62.4	13.1	3.7
1992	840	65.0	12.9	4.8
1993	856	60.6	14.1	4.7
1994	848	58.0	14.6	6.8
1995	853	59.1	14.4	5.2
1996	853	59.1	14.4	5.2
1997	815	57.4	14.2	6
1998	834	57.8	14.4	6.1
1999	871	59.5	14.6	10.2
2000	906	61.5	14.7	8.5
2001	939	62.0	15.1	6.1
2002	945	n/a	n/a	6.7
2003	945	n/a	n/a	6.7
2004	923	61.0	15.1	8.8
2005	923	69.5	13.3	8
2006	913	50.0	18.3	9.7
2007	946	67.0	14.1	10.7
2008	719	53.1	13.5	10
2009	662	50.9	10.9	9.5
2010	646	54.6	11.8	13.2
2011	979	74.5	13.1	12.3
2012	980	72.0	13.6	15
2013	976	60.4	16.1	14
2014	961	51.9	18.5	14.3
2015	948	50.0	18.9	14.1
2016	908	59.0	15.3	13.4
2017	912	61.6	14.8	14.9
2018	729	52.5	13.8	15.9
2019	718	53.8	13.3	15.5
2020	694	55.3	12.5	18.3
2021	650	54.5	11.9	15.4
2022	635	52.7	12.0	9.8
2023	618	55.2	11.1	17

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 Portsmouth Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$127 (0.9%)	$13,494 (99.1%)	$13,621
2019	$156 (1.1%)	$14,071 (98.9%)	$14,227
2020	$57 (0.4%)	$14,179 (99.6%)	$14,235
2021	$148 (0.9%)	$15,664 (99.1%)	$15,812

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Portsmouth Middle School

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 11^th of 61 Middle schools	Ranks 9^th of 64 Middle schools	4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth Middle School)	63.3	50	13.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth)	62.5	49.7	12.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	39.1	35.1	4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth Middle School)	26.7	48.4	21.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth)	26.5	48.1	21.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	30.1	30	0.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth Middle School)	56.4	49.7	6.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth)	56.1	49.7	6.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	39.1	31.9	7.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth Middle School)	41.3	54.9	13.6%
6th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth)	41	54.9	13.9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	28	28.7	0.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth Middle School)	38.3	42.1	3.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth)	38.3	41.6	3.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	31.5	29	2.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth Middle School)	46.2	46.3	0.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth)	46.2	45.7	0.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	27.6	25.7	1.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth Middle School)	62.6	49.7	12.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Portsmouth)	62.3	48.7	13.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	36.3	32.2	4.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth Middle School)	56.6	51.4	5.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Portsmouth)	56.3	50.3	6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	24.5	23	1.5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Portsmouth Middle School)	54.9	47.8	7.1%
All Grades English Language Arts (Portsmouth)	55.8	49.8	6%
All Grades Mathematics (Portsmouth Middle School)	43.1	50.1	7%
All Grades Mathematics (Portsmouth)	45.1	51.7	6.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	718	618	13.9%
African American	16	13	18.8%
American Indian	3	1	66.7%
Asian	17	19	11.8%
Hispanic	41	53	29.3%
Pacific Islander	1	1
White	615	506	17.7%
Two or More Races	25	25
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	15.5%	17%	1.5%

Schools Near Portsmouth Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				NGSA Science (2024)	RICAS English Language Arts (2024)					RICAS Mathematics (2024)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSA Science All Grades	RICAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts All Grades	RICAS Mathematics 5th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 6th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 7th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 8th Grade	RICAS Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Portsmouth Middle School	Public	5-8	125 Jepson Lane	Portsmouth	02871	Newport County	Portsmouth	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 849-3700	618	55	11.1	17.0%	506 (81.9%)	13 (2.1%)	53 (8.6%)	19 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.0%)	85.5	9^th of 64 public middle schools	85.9%		85.7	9^th of 64 public middle schools	85.9%		56.1	39.3	49.0	47.0	47.9	45.9	39.3	51.6	50.7	42.1	45.9	$15,812	$148	$15,664
Gaudet Middle School	Public	6-8	1113 Aquidneck Avenue	Middletown	02842	Newport County	Middletown	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 846-6395	465	39	11.9	36.3%	316 (68.0%)	30 (6.5%)	65 (14.0%)	16 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	36 (7.7%)	64.9	21^st of 64 public middle schools	67.2%		54.5	27^th of 64 public middle schools	57.8%	6	41.4		41.2	33.8	37.2	37.2		42.8	26.3	41.8	36.6	$16,301	$1,016	$15,285
Frank E. Thompson Middle	Public	5-8	55 Broadway	Newport	02840	Newport County	Newport	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 847-1493	546	60	9.0	76.7%	172 (31.5%)	63 (11.5%)	204 (37.4%)	12 (2.2%)	13 (2.4%)	2 (0.4%)	80 (14.7%)	15.4	51^st of 64 public middle schools	20.3%		12.9	54^th of 64 public middle schools	15.6%	3	15.8	14.9	13.3	13.6	11.6	13.3	7.3	14.5	10.4	5.6	9.6	$17,122	$791	$16,331
Jamestown School-Lawn	Public	5-8	55 Lawn Avenue	Jamestown	02835	Newport County	Jamestown	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 423-7010	186	21	8.7	7.0%	176 (94.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (3.2%)	93.8	4^th of 64 public middle schools	93.8%		94.4	3^rd of 64 public middle schools	95.3%	1	67.0	59.2	51.0	54.2	58.1	55.6	56.0	50.0	60.4	74.4	59.7	$20,114	$654	$19,460
Tiverton Middle School	Public	5-8	10 Quintal Drive	Tiverton	02878	Newport County	Tiverton	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 624-6668	509	48	10.6	21.8%	447 (87.8%)	10 (2.0%)	24 (4.7%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	21 (4.1%)	64.7	22^nd of 64 public middle schools	65.6%		68.1	21^st of 64 public middle schools	67.2%	1	40.9	45.5	41.6	40.1	35.2	40.7	47.3	32.8	36.8	30.5	36.8	$17,021	$239	$16,782
Wickford Middle School	Public	6-8	250 Tower Hill Road	North Kingstown	02852	Washington County	North Kingstown	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 268-6470	359	31	11.7	16.7%	301 (83.8%)	3 (0.8%)	31 (8.6%)	7 (1.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	90.6	5^th of 64 public middle schools	92.2%		90.7	5^th of 64 public middle schools	92.2%		58.9		46.5	52.0	67.2	56.0		41.6	57.9	61.1	54.3	$17,067	$425	$16,642
Davisville Middle School	Public	6-8	200 School Street	North Kingstown	02852	Washington County	North Kingstown	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 541-6300	450	39	11.6	28.0%	335 (74.4%)	17 (3.8%)	55 (12.2%)	10 (2.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.4%)	82	10^th of 64 public middle schools	84.4%		83.8	10^th of 64 public middle schools	84.4%		55.7		44.4	37.8	60.6	47.2		42.7	40.5	58.5	46.8	$16,936	$866	$16,070
Archie R. Cole Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Cedar Avenue	East Greenwich	02818	Kent County	East Greenwich	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 398-1333	626	51	12.3	7.7%	493 (78.8%)	12 (1.9%)	42 (6.7%)	42 (6.7%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.4%)	94.9	3^rd of 64 public middle schools	95.3%		93.7	4^th of 64 public middle schools	93.8%	1	71.8		52.5	54.2	64.3	56.9		63.8	55.7	66.0	61.8	$13,935	$209	$13,726
Kickemuit Middle School	Public	6-8	525 Child Street	Warren	02885	Bristol County	Bristol Warren	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 245-2010	650	55	11.8	32.9%	544 (83.7%)	10 (1.5%)	45 (6.9%)	12 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (4.8%)	73.7	15^th of 64 public middle schools	76.6%		77	13^th of 64 public middle schools	79.7%	2	53.8		46.0	36.8	48.1	43.8		34.9	35.1	40.3	36.8	$16,342	$725	$15,617
Warwick Veterans Middle School	Public	6-8	2401 West Shore Road	Warwick	02889	Kent County	Warwick	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 734-3200	1,102	96	11.5	39.9%	769 (69.8%)	39 (3.5%)	174 (15.8%)	47 (4.3%)	10 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (5.7%)	33.4	39^th of 64 public middle schools	39.1%		31.5	40^th of 64 public middle schools	37.5%	1	27.6		25.8	21.8	21.0	22.8		29.7	19.5	12.1	20.2

Frequently Asked Questions about Portsmouth Middle School

What district is Portsmouth Middle School in?

Portsmouth

Is Portsmouth Middle School a good school?

Portsmouth Middle School ranks 9^th of 64 Rhode Island middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Portsmouth Middle School?

Students at Portsmouth Middle School are 82% White, 9% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 2% African American.

What high school do graduates of Portsmouth Middle School attend?

Students who attend Portsmouth Middle School usually go on to attend Portsmouth High School

How many students attend Portsmouth Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 618 students attended Portsmouth 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.