News Summary
Portsmouth High School has been recognized as one of the top high schools in Rhode Island, achieving 4th place statewide and ranking 848th nationally. The school excels in key performance indicators such as college readiness, AP exam participation, and graduation rates, showing a commitment to academic excellence. Other Newport area schools also received commendable rankings, showcasing strong educational standards in the region. Portsmouth High School’s achievement highlights its role in preparing students for future success.
Portsmouth, Rhode Island – Portsmouth High School has been recognized as one of the best high schools in the state, earning a notable ranking in the latest U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026. The school is the highest-ranked public institution in Newport County, coming in at 4th place statewide out of 58 schools evaluated in Rhode Island and among approximately 18,000 schools across the nation.
In the statewide rankings, Classical High School in Providence took the top spot, followed by Barrington High School, East Greenwich High School, Portsmouth High School, and Blackstone Valley Prep High School. Nationally, Portsmouth High School ranked 848th.
Statewide and National Rankings
Other Newport area schools also performed well in the rankings: Middletown High School ranked 14th in Rhode Island, followed by Tiverton High School at 17th and Rogers High School at 24th. Nationally, these schools were ranked as follows: Middletown 3,273rd, Tiverton 3,976th, and Rogers 6,069th.
Performance Indicators
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a comprehensive methodology, developed with RTI International, which incorporates six key performance indicators. These include:
- Student achievement on state-required assessments
- Strong graduation rates
- College readiness measures through participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses
Portsmouth High School scored 92.82 out of 100 on its U.S. News scorecard. The school excelled with:
- 4th in the state for college readiness
- 4th for the percentage of students taking and passing at least one AP exam
- 6th in math and reading proficiency
- 7th in graduation rate, achieving a remarkable 96%
Comparative Performance of Other Schools
Tiverton High School received a score of 78.15, placing it 15th in Rhode Island and 3,901st nationally. Middletown High School scored 67.71, ranking 23rd in the state and 5,766th nationally, while Rogers High School ranked 26th in the state and 6,411th nationally with a score of 64.1.
Demographics and Economic Factors
Portsmouth High School benefits from a modest percentage of economically disadvantaged students, reported at 10%. The school also has a minority enrollment of 7%. In contrast, Tiverton High School has a graduation rate of 93%, ranking 21st in the state, while Middletown has the lowest graduation rate in the county at 79% and the highest percentage of economically disadvantaged students at 25%. Furthermore, Rogers High School has the highest percentage of minority enrollment and economically disadvantaged students in Newport County, with both exceeding 50%.
Conclusion
Portsmouth High School’s ranking as one of Rhode Island’s best schools highlights its commitment to academic excellence and student readiness for college. As it leads in Newport County, the school sets a positive standard for educational achievement in the region.
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Additional Resources
- What’s Up Newp: Portsmouth Rated Fourth Best High School in RI
- Patch: Top 25 High Schools in Rhode Island 2025-26
- Newport RI: Portsmouth Tops U.S. News World Report Scorecard
- GoLocalProv: RI’s Top High Schools Ranked by U.S. News World Report
- Providence Journal: The Nation’s Best High Schools Unveiled
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PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
