Rhode Island Department of Education Releases 2026 State of Education Highlighting Progress Across Student Achievement, Attendance, and School Transformation

Published on Wednesday, August 19, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI - Today, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) released the agency's 2026 State of Education report, Progress by Design , highlighting statewide improvements in student achievement, attendance, college and career readiness, educator development, and school modernization. The report and an accompanying video detail how strategic investments and collaborative efforts across Rhode Island continue to produce measurable gains for students and families.

"This report provides clear evidence that Rhode Island's education system is moving in the right direction," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "Across attendance, academic achievement, graduation rates, literacy, mathematics, and school modernization, we are seeing measurable progress because of intentional investments and a shared commitment to student success. The findings in this report should give Rhode Islanders confidence that our strategies are working, while also reminding us that we must continue the work of ensuring every student has access to a world-class education."

Highlights from the 2026 State of Education Report include:

• Rhode Island ranked 9th in the nation for public school systems and 13th for overall educational attainment in WalletHub's 2026 rankings.
• Rhode Island has closed the achievement gap with Massachusetts by 50% since 2018.
• Statewide chronic absenteeism declined to 19.7% in School Year 2025-26, representing an additional 2.4 percentage point decrease from the previous year and a 14.4 percentage point reduction since its peak.
• As a result of improved attendance, students have regained an estimated 4.4 million instructional hours since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Rhode Island achieved its highest four-year graduation rate on record at 85.5%, a 1.4 percentage point increase from 2025 and a 2.1 percentage point increase since the adoption of Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements.
• According to preliminary data, Rhode Island has more than doubled the number of AP exams earning a score of 3 or higher, increasing from more than 4,600 qualifying scores in 2021 to more than 10,400 in 2026.
• On NAEP, also known as the Nation's Report Card, Rhode Island improved from 25th to 14th nationally in fourth-grade reading and from 34th to 25th in eighth-grade reading between 2019 and 2024.
• Rhode Island has approved more than $5.2 billion in school facility projects since 2018, with 50 schools built or under construction across the state.

"Rhode Island's progress reflects years of collaboration among educators, students, families, policymakers, and community partners who understand that improving outcomes requires both urgency and persistence," said Rhode Island Education Board Chair Michael Grey. "This report gives Rhode Islanders reason to be encouraged by the progress that has been made and confident in our continued work to provide every learner with access to a high-quality education."

"This report demonstrates that Rhode Island's commitment to educational excellence is delivering results for students," said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. "Across key measures including attendance, academic achievement, college and career readiness, and school modernization, we are seeing evidence that sustained investments, high standards, and strong partnerships can make a difference."

The report also documents continued progress in the Providence Public School District, where graduation rates, student achievement, attendance, access to Pre-K, and advanced coursework have improved significantly during the state's intervention. The report notes that Providence students are benefiting from a historic $1 billion school construction plan that will provide 100% of students access to new or like-new learning environments by 2030.

Throughout the report, RIDE highlights the state's commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality learning experiences, modern facilities, strong academic supports, and pathways to college and careers. The report also details ongoing investments in multilingual learners, differently-abled students, educator recruitment and retention, and emerging technologies that enhance teaching and learning.

The full report is available on RIDE's website.