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Portsmouth schools post districtwide gains in RIDE 2024 accountability ratings; three schools earn top marks
Summary
Rhode Island Department of Education ratings released Jan. 2024 show Melville earned a 5‑star rating, three other Portsmouth schools earned 4 stars; committee members sought clarity on how RIDE aggregates measures.
Dr. Viveiros presented the Rhode Island Department of Education accountability results for Portsmouth and explained the state’s rules for assigning star ratings.
"RIDE uses 3 measures to evaluate a school's performance," Dr. Viveiros said, listing academic performance (achievement, growth, English‑language proficiency and science), student success (attendance and suspensions) and college and career readiness (graduation rates and postsecondary indicators). She said a school’s overall rating is set by its lowest measure under RIDE’s rules.
The presentation showed Melville Elementary earned a 5‑star rating across counted measures; Hathaway Elementary, Portsmouth Middle School and Portsmouth High School each received 4‑star overall ratings. Dr. Viveiros said English‑language proficiency was not measured for Portsmouth schools because the English‑learner population remains below RIDE’s reporting threshold.
The ratings reflect point totals across the measures: Melville earned full points in school quality and student success and in achievement and growth; Hathaway missed one point in achievement and growth and therefore received an overall 4‑star rating; Portsmouth Middle School and Portsmouth High School each combined 5‑ and 4‑star measure results into a 4‑star overall rating under the lowest‑measure rule.
School Committee member Fred Ferber questioned the method. "I don't understand why the lowest score rules as in the case of the high school where they become a 4‑star school versus a 5‑star school when you've got 3 categories that seem more important than the one that drags us down," he said. Dr. Viveiros acknowledged the concern and said RIDE’s methodology has been consistent, adding that committee and district staff have raised questions about the aggregation rule with RIDE in previous conversations.
Superintendent Dr. Kenworthy and committee members applauded the schools and indicated the committee will formally recognize Melville at a future meeting. Dr. Kenworthy said the district will continue to review the RIDE measures and note areas for improvement.
District leaders said they will post the slides and the full RIDE report in the meeting backup and encouraged principals to brief their school communities on local implications.
