Private School Review - Established 2003
Good Shepherd Catholic School Top 13 · Lowest Acceptance Rate (RI)
St. Luke's Top 15 · Lowest Acceptance Rate (RI)
Barrington Christian Academy Top 4 · Highest Avg. SAT Score (RI)

Best Rhode Island Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 165 private schools serving 22,887 students in Rhode Island, versus 312 public schools serving 133,322 students (15% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $20,792 for elementary schools and $34,213 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
32% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 165
  • # Students Served: 22,887
  • Average Tuition: $22,295
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 43%
  • Acceptance Rate: 76%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 28%
  • View Rhode Island School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 165
  • # Students Served: 22,887
  • Average Tuition: $22,295
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 43%
  • Acceptance Rate: 76%
  • Average Class Size: 15 students
  • % Students of Color: 28%
  • View Rhode Island School Trends

Top Ranked Rhode Island Private Schools (2026-27)

Bishop Hendricken High School Photo
Bishop Hendricken High School
Gr: 8-12 | 617 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 17 | Extracurriculars: 52
All-boys (Catholic)
2615 Warwick Avenue
Warwick, RI 02889
(401) 889-5425
(11)
View Profile
Bishop McVinney School Photo
Bishop McVinney School
Gr: NS-8 | 225 students
Sports: 2 | Extracurriculars: 2
Catholic
155 Gordon Ave
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 781-2370
(1)
View Profile
Good Shepherd Catholic School Photo
Good Shepherd Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 240 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 3
Catholic
1210 Mendon Road
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 762-1095
View Profile
The Grace School Photo
The Grace School
Gr: K-8 | 162 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 8
1000 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 533-9153
View Profile
Jewish Community Day School Of Rhode Island Photo
Jewish Community Day School Of Rhode Island
Gr: PK-5 | 96 students
Avg. class size: 11 students
Jewish
85 Taft Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 751-2470
(3)
View Profile
Lincoln School Photo
Lincoln School
Gr: PK-12 | 378 students
Avg. class size: 13 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 3
All-girls (Friends)
301 Butler Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 331-9696
View Profile
Mercymount Country Day School Photo
Mercymount Country Day School
Gr: NS-8 | 358 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 12
Catholic
35 Wrentham Rd
Cumberland, RI 02864
(401) 333-5919
(1)
View Profile
Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School Photo
Monsignor Matthew Clarke Catholic Regional School
Gr: PK-8 | 372 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 8
Catholic
5074 Tower Hill Rd
Wakefield, RI 02879
(401) 789-0860
(10)
View Profile
Moses Brown School Photo
Moses Brown School
Gr: NS-12 | 753 students
Avg. class size: 14 students
Sports: 16 | Extracurriculars: 33
Friends
250 Lloyd Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 831-7350
View Profile
Our Lady Of Mercy School Photo
Our Lady Of Mercy School
Gr: PK-8 | 271 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 7
Catholic
55 4th Ave
East Greenwich, RI 02818
(401) 884-1618
(7)
View Profile
Show 10 more private schools in Rhode Island (out of 165 total schools)
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Rhode Island Private School Trends (10-Year)

165
Private Schools
-17.1% (-34 schools) 10-yr
22,887
Students
-18.4% (-5,174 students) 10-yr
$22,295
Avg. Tuition
+73.8% (+$9,464) 10-yr
15
Avg. Class Size
-6.3% (-1 student) 10-yr
28%
Students of Color
+12.0% (+3.0 pp) 10-yr
10:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-9.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (RI)
US
# Schools
165 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(RI) Total Schools
2025167
2024173
2023171
2022164
2021172
2020184
2019190
2018193
2017189
2016193
2015199
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# Students
22,887 Students
5,690,765 Students

View Largest Rhode Island Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
2025140179
2024137172
2023136174
2022138185
2021134180
2020130171
2019132175
2018134172
2017139180
2016139178
2015142167
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% Average Students of Color
28%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202529%34%
202427%34%
202326%33%
202227%33%
202127%32%
202026%32%
201926%31%
201825%31%
201726%32%
201626%32%
201525%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeRhode Island
Nursey550
Pre-K4,026
Kind2,189
11,058
21,058
31,063
41,083
51,148
61,292
71,310
81,408
91,542
101,618
111,594
121,662
Not Listed286
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Academics
# Teachers
2,245 Teachers
508,570 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202510:111:1
202410:111:1
202310:111:1
202210:111:1
202110:111:1
202010:112:1
201910:112:1
201811:112:1
201711:112:1
201611:112:1
201511:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
56%
55%

View Rhode Island Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202556%55%
202455%54%
202356%54%
202254%54%
202156%54%
202055%54%
201956%53%
201855%53%
201755%53%
201652%52%
201549%52%
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Average Class Size
15 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20251515
20241515
20231515
20221515
20211515
20201515
20191615
20181415
20171515
20161515
20151615
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Average Number of AP Courses
15 courses
13 courses

View Rhode Island Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20251413
20241412
20231411
20221411
20211411
20201411
20191411
20181311
20171310
20151110
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$22,295
$14,943

View Rhode Island Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
2025$22,395$15,012
2024$19,758$13,254
2023$16,254$12,626
2022$16,253$12,187
2021$15,756$11,800
2020$15,918$11,512
2019$14,983$11,293
2018$14,608$11,017
2017$13,666$10,708
2016$13,142$10,356
2015$12,831$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
43%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202542%34%
202442%34%
202339%34%
202239%33%
202140%33%
202039%32%
201938%31%
201837%30%
201737%30%
201637%29%
201536%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$9,460
$7,261

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
2025$9,460$7,073
2024$9,400$6,930
2023$9,243$6,469
2022$9,845$6,289
2021$9,845$6,055
2020$9,224$5,921
2019$8,803$5,795
2018$9,623$5,456
2017$8,787$5,319
2016$9,915$5,105
2015$8,290$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
76%
82%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Rhode Island

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202576%81%
202478%85%
202378%85%
202274%85%
202174%85%
202075%85%
201975%85%
201875%85%
201778%85%
201677%85%
201579%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$36.5 million
$38.23 million
Students by Ethnicity
0.61
0.65

View Rhode Island Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20250.620.65
20240.610.65
20230.590.65
20220.560.64
20210.570.64
20200.570.64
20190.550.63
20180.560.63
20170.550.61
20160.550.61
20150.550.61
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# American Indian Students
41 Students
29,815 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%

Percentage of Private School Students of American Indian Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20181%2%
20171%1%
20161%1%
20151%1%
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# Asian Students
631 Students
264,585 Students
% Asian Students
3%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20254%5%
20243%5%
20233%5%
20224%4%
20214%4%
20203%4%
20193%4%
20183%4%
20173%4%
20163%4%
20152%4%
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# Hispanic Students
1,762 Students
506,702 Students
% Hispanic Students
8%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20258%9%
20248%9%
20237%9%
20227%8%
20218%9%
20208%9%
20198%8%
20187%8%
20177%8%
20167%8%
20157%8%
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# Black Students
1,340 Students
415,632 Students
% Black Students
6%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
20256%7%
20246%7%
20236%8%
20225%7%
20215%7%
20206%8%
20196%7%
20186%7%
20176%7%
20166%7%
20156%8%
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# White Students
12,205 Students
2,929,926 Students
% White Students
55%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202555%52%
202456%52%
202359%52%
202262%54%
202162%54%
202062%54%
201963%56%
201863%56%
201764%58%
201664%58%
201563%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
19 Students
20,065 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
6,062 Students
1,473,602 Students
% of Others Students
28%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearRhode Island (RI) AvgNational
202527%26%
202427%26%
202325%25%
202222%25%
202121%25%
202021%24%
201920%24%
201820%23%
201719%22%
201619%22%
201521%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Rhode Island?
The top-ranked private schools in Rhode Island include Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School, Portsmouth Abbey School, and St. George's School.
How many private schools are located in Rhode Island?
There are 165 private schools are located in Rhode Island.
How much do private schools cost in Rhode Island?
The average private school tuition in Rhode Island is $20,792 for elementary schools and $34,213 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Rhode Island?
Approximately 28% of students in Rhode Island private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Rhode Island go to private school?
15% of all K-12 students in Rhode Island attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Rhode Island?
32% of private schools in Rhode Island are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Jewish.
Which private schools in Rhode Island are often viewed compared to one another?

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