Ponaganset High School

Summary:

Ponaganset High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in North Scituate, Rhode Island. Part of the Foster-Glocester school district, Ponaganset High School has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in Rhode Island, receiving a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ponaganset High School stands out for its strong academic performance, consistently outperforming the state and its district in standardized test scores. In the 2023-2024 school year, 66.7% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 47.8%. The school also excels in the performance of specific student subgroups, particularly Hispanic and multi-racial students, ranking 4th and 7th out of Rhode Island high schools, respectively. With a relatively high per-student spending of $15,940 and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8, Ponaganset High School's academic success is likely supported by its resources.

Compared to nearby schools, Ponaganset High School stands out. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, its 11th-grade SAT English Language Arts proficiency rate of 66.7% was significantly higher than the 12.9% rate at Mount Pleasant High. Additionally, Ponaganset High School serves a more affluent student population, with only 13.68% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to higher rates in nearby schools like Mount Pleasant High (80.07%) and North Providence High (33.85%).


Detail:

Public 9-12

 137 Anan Wade Road
       North Scituate, RI  02857


(401) 710-7500

District: Foster-Glocester

SchoolDigger Rank:
14th of 61 Rhode Island High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,940 Help


Feeder schools for Ponaganset High School:

Elementary:    Capt. Isaac Paine Elementary School
    Fogarty Memorial
    West Glocester Elementary
Middle:    Ponaganset Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.8 Help
Number of students:  900

Racial breakdown:

White:
89.1%
Hispanic:
6.0%
Two or more races:
3.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  14.2% Help


 See top rated Rhode Island high schools

 Compare Ponaganset High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ponaganset High School ranks better than 77% of high schools in Rhode Island. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.29. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89.1%), Hispanic (6%), two or more races (3.1%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 14.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ponaganset High School is 12.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ponaganset High School employs 70 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ponaganset High School is $15,940.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ponaganset High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ponaganset High School 14th of 61 Rhode Island public high schools. (See Ponaganset High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Foster-Glocester:

SchoolDigger ranks Foster-Glocester 21st of 60 Rhode Island school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Ponaganset High School?

Rank History for Ponaganset High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 69.31 16th 49 67.3%
2010 75.50 13th 50 74.0%
2011 68.09 18th 45 60.0%
2012 54.93 24th 45 46.7%
2013 73.31 15th 45 66.7%
2014 62.36 21st 47 55.3%
2015 64.47 12th 56 78.6%
2016 54.89 20th 57 64.9%
2017 57.41 24th 56 57.1%
2018 70.00 18th 57 68.4%
2019 67.59 18th 59 69.5%
2021 72.26 15th 59 74.6%
2022 67.27 17th 59 71.2%
2023 80.30 10th 60 83.3%
2024 71.29 14th 61 77.0%
See the entire list of Rhode Island High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 80.10 4th 21 81.0%
2024 67.96 7th 25 72.0%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 72.05 6th 29 79.3%
2023 17.22 29th 30 3.3%
2024 39.09 15th 30 50.0%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 57.83 22nd 54 59.3%
2023 75.53 12th 58 79.3%
2024 55.99 23rd 58 60.3%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 66.99 18th 58 69.0%
2023 81.41 10th 59 83.1%
2024 69.76 15th 56 73.2%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 67.15 17th 54 68.5%
2023 75.96 12th 56 78.6%
2024 67.07 14th 57 75.4%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 60.91 16th 49 67.3%
2023 80.33 6th 53 88.7%
2024 91.59 4th 54 92.6%
See the entire list of Best Rhode Island High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ponaganset High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools RI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 52.06 22nd 42 47.6%
2023 65.25 14th 43 67.4%
2024 54.41 16th 43 62.8%
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.

Ponaganset High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

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100%

  

Reviews:
by a citizen
Saturday, December 16, 2017

Open Quote This school in incompetent and has abaolutly no idea how to deal with problems. It seems the administration points fingers at the first person they see when a problem arises. They don't think about anything but what can get then more money and a bigger platform. Don't enroll your child in this school and do not trust what the principles say they do not care about justice they care about what makes them and the school look good. Close Quote


by a citizen
Friday, June 9, 2017

Open Quote THIS SCHOOL HAS NO IDEA IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING. ESP THE GUIDEANCE COUNCLERS. THEY TELL THE STUNDENTS ONE THING AND THEN TURN AROUND AND TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE DOING THE WRONG COURSE AND SHOULD BE DOING ANOTHER. THEN THEY EXPECT THE STUDENT TO MAKE UP THE NEW COURSE THAT THEY PUT THEM ON IN LESS THAN SIX MONTHS. SO IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT ANYONE IS SUPOSE TO DO. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE MONEY THEY RECEIVE BUT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SPENT ON GOOD TEACHING. AND TO BE ON THE HIGH SIDE AS ONE OF THE TOP 20 HIGH SCHOOLS IN 2015 TO 23 PLACE THAT IS ONE HECK OF A DROP. THEY SHOULD GET RID OF SOME OF THE DEAD WOOD TEACHERS AND REPLACE THEM WITH A BETTER CLASS OF TEACHERS AND GUIDENCE COUNCLERS. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ponaganset High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 704 3 0 0 1 n/a n/a 0 708
1989 671 3 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 675
1990 641 1 2 1 3 n/a n/a 0 648
1991 600 9 2 3 2 n/a n/a 0 616
1992 648 3 3 3 4 n/a n/a 0 661
1993 638 3 3 4 3 n/a n/a 0 651
1994 676 3 3 5 1 n/a n/a 0 688
1995 764 0 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 767
1996 764 0 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 767
1997 787 1 1 5 1 n/a n/a 0 795
1998 809 1 2 3 2 n/a n/a 0 817
1999 857 2 2 4 4 n/a n/a 0 869
2000 874 2 4 4 2 n/a n/a 0 886
2001 879 4 4 3 2 n/a n/a 0 892
2002 923 3 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 929
2003 923 3 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 929
2004 929 4 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 938
2005 962 11 0 6 1 n/a n/a 0 980
2006 962 12 5 9 2 n/a n/a 0 990
2007 920 13 5 9 2 n/a n/a 0 949
2008 899 13 3 8 2 n/a n/a 0 925
2009 843 10 6 9 1 n/a n/a 0 869
2010 809 10 6 5 1 n/a n/a 0 831
2011 792 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 793
2012 745 2 0 2 0 0 2 0 751
2013 716 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 722
2014 677 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 684
2015 633 5 5 2 0 0 6 0 651
2016 652 3 13 12 0 0 5 0 685
2017 633 3 10 10 3 0 6 0 665
2018 696 6 11 16 2 0 12 0 743
2019 752 4 12 16 2 0 15 0 801
2020 796 4 10 19 3 0 27 0 859
2021 861 3 10 29 2 0 30 0 935
2022 860 4 8 38 2 0 30 7 949
2023 826 4 9 48 1 0 29 4 921
2024 802 5 7 54 2 0 28 2 900

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 Ponaganset High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 708 n/a n/a 7.1
1989 675 n/a n/a 1.3
1990 648 n/a n/a 2.9
1991 616 52.1 11.8 2.4
1992 661 57.0 11.5 5.3
1993 651 50.9 12.8 5.4
1994 688 51.0 13.5 n/a
1995 767 60.0 12.8 5.1
1996 767 60.0 12.8 5.1
1997 795 57.0 13.9 5.9
1998 817 61.2 13.3 4.2
1999 869 68.0 12.8 6
2000 886 63.1 14.0 5.8
2001 892 58.7 15.2 4
2002 929 n/a n/a 7.1
2003 929 n/a n/a 7.1
2004 938 67.0 14.0 10
2005 980 69.8 14.0 7.2
2006 990 80.0 12.4 10
2007 949 53.9 17.6 5.1
2008 925 64.7 14.3 9
2009 869 63.7 11.5 11.6
2010 831 56.5 14.7 13.7
2011 793 58.3 13.6 12.6
2012 751 62.0 12.1 13.6
2013 722 65.0 11.1 18.3
2014 684 67.0 10.2 16.7
2015 651 47.0 13.8 17.2
2016 685 53.0 12.9 16.4
2017 665 58.5 11.3 14.7
2018 743 58.9 12.6 16.7
2019 801 64.3 12.4 14.9
2020 859 67.2 12.7 16.1
2021 935 70.3 13.3 7.6
2022 949 75.7 12.5 9.4
2023 921 71.5 12.8 13.7
2024 900 70.0 12.8 14.2

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 Ponaganset High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 708 n/a n/a 7.1
1989 675 n/a n/a 1.3
1990 648 n/a n/a 2.9
1991 616 52.1 11.8 2.4
1992 661 57.0 11.5 5.3
1993 651 50.9 12.8 5.4
1994 688 51.0 13.5 n/a
1995 767 60.0 12.8 5.1
1996 767 60.0 12.8 5.1
1997 795 57.0 13.9 5.9
1998 817 61.2 13.3 4.2
1999 869 68.0 12.8 6
2000 886 63.1 14.0 5.8
2001 892 58.7 15.2 4
2002 929 n/a n/a 7.1
2003 929 n/a n/a 7.1
2004 938 67.0 14.0 10
2005 980 69.8 14.0 7.2
2006 990 80.0 12.4 10
2007 949 53.9 17.6 5.1
2008 925 64.7 14.3 9
2009 869 63.7 11.5 11.6
2010 831 56.5 14.7 13.7
2011 793 58.3 13.6 12.6
2012 751 62.0 12.1 13.6
2013 722 65.0 11.1 18.3
2014 684 67.0 10.2 16.7
2015 651 47.0 13.8 17.2
2016 685 53.0 12.9 16.4
2017 665 58.5 11.3 14.7
2018 743 58.9 12.6 16.7
2019 801 64.3 12.4 14.9
2020 859 67.2 12.7 16.1
2021 935 70.3 13.3 7.6
2022 949 75.7 12.5 9.4
2023 921 71.5 12.8 13.7
2024 900 70.0 12.8 14.2

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 Ponaganset High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $226 (1.4%) $15,520 (98.6%) $15,746
2019 $288 (1.8%) $16,122 (98.3%) $16,409
2020 $245 (1.6%) $15,424 (98.4%) $15,669
2021 $519 (3.3%) $15,421 (96.7%) $15,940

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ponaganset High 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 18th of 59 High schoolsRanks 10th of 60 High schools
 13.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Ponaganset High School)71.670.3
 1.3%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Foster-Glocester)71.670.3
 1.3%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)60.155.3
 4.8%
10th Grade Mathematics (Ponaganset High School)38.640.7
 2.1%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Foster-Glocester)38.640.7
 2.1%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)3127.2
 3.8%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Ponaganset High School)58.467.2
 8.8%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Foster-Glocester)58.467.4
 9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)50.549.1
 1.4%
11th Grade Mathematics (Ponaganset High School)39.137.6
 1.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Foster-Glocester)39.137.4
 1.7%
   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 Students801921
 15%
African American44
American Indian21
 50%
Asian129
 25%
Hispanic1648
 200%
Pacific Islander00
White752826
 9.8%
Two or More Races1529
 93.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients14.9%13.7%
 1.2%


Schools Near Ponaganset High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Ponaganset High School

Students at Ponaganset High School are 89% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Ponaganset High School ranks 14th of 61 Rhode Island high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 900 students attended Ponaganset High School.

Ponaganset High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Capt. Isaac Paine Elementary School
Elementary : Fogarty Memorial
Elementary : West Glocester Elementary
Middle : Ponaganset 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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