Providence Public Schools Surpass Pre-Pandemic Academic Levels, Celebrate Historic Turnaround Milestones in 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. January 6, 2026 – With the start of the new year, the Providence Public School District (PPSD) is reporting a year of progress, marked by academic proficiency rates that have officially rebounded past pre-pandemic levels, a significant reduction in chronic absenteeism, and major advancements in the district’s $1 billion facilities modernization plan.
In continued partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the district has achieved critical benchmarks that signal a shift from recovery to progressing.
“2025 was a year of remarkable progress for Providence Public Schools as we advanced our mission to build a world-class education system that we can all be proud of,” said RIDE Commissioner Infante-Green. “Guided by the Providence Turnaround Action Plan, we implemented meaningful changes and achieved milestones that will benefit students for years to come. I am deeply grateful to our students, families, educators, and partners for their dedication, and I look forward to continuing this collaborative work to keep our district on an upward trajectory.”
“This past year has not just been about hitting benchmarks; it has been about fulfilling our promise to the youth of Providence,” said Dr. Javier Montanez, Superintendent of Providence Schools. “Because of the hard work of our educators and students, our district is demonstrating what is possible when potential is met with opportunity. We are building a world-class education system that prepares every student for college, career, and life.”
Academic Excellence and Historic Gains: PPSD students have demonstrated significant academic growth over the last year. Key highlights include:
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Rebounding Results: The latest RICAS results show a 2.4% increase in English Language Arts (ELA) and a 1.7% increase in Math, officially surpassing pre-pandemic performance levels in both areas.
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National and State Recognition: Robert L. Bailey, IV Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School, becoming only the third in the district’s history to receive the honor. Additionally, Classical High School earned a prestigious five-star rating, one of only two high schools in Rhode Island to do so.
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Bilingual Expansion: Since 2020, participation in Dual Language programs has doubled, now serving over 2,100 students and expanding to 9th graders at Hope High School.
Modernizing School Infrastructure: Under the district’s $1 billion facilities plan, PPSD has completed four new schools with construction underway at 6 more and is on track to ensure every student has access to a “new or like-new” school by 2030. 2025 saw several major school construction milestones:
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Classical High School: The district cut the ribbon on a $40 million renovation, featuring a new media center, an ADA-compliant special education suite, and a state-of-the-art turf field.
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New Construction: Ground was officially broken on three major projects: Mount Pleasant High School, Asa Messer West Broadway, and the Spaziano Middle School project.
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Early Childhood Capacity: Pre-K capacity has nearly doubled, growing from 506 seats in 2020 to 940 seats for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
Stability, Equity, and Student Success: The district also announced significant strides in removing barriers to education and student engagement:
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Attendance Leaders: PPSD has reduced chronic absenteeism by nearly 28 percentage points over five years. The 2024–25 rate of 29.3% is the lowest since prior to the pandemic.
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Special Education Compliance: The district successfully resolved the federal class-action lawsuit regarding early childhood special education, with independent monitors confirming substantial compliance.
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Athletic Championships: The Classical High School Football team secured the Division II Championship, while the Central High School Football team won the Division 1 Bowl Tournament.
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Teacher of the Year: The district celebrated Maria Torres, a 22-year veteran educator, as the 2025 Teacher of the Year.
