Private School Review - Established 2003
The Pennfield School Top 3 · Highest % Faculty w/ Adv. Degrees (RI)
Portsmouth Abbey School Top 3 · Highest Avg. SAT Score (RI)

Portsmouth Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 private schools serving 1,069 students in Portsmouth, RI, 34% of all K-12 students in Portsmouth, RI are educated in private schools versus public schools (compared to the RI state average of 15%).
The average acceptance rate is 61%, which is lower than the Rhode Island private school average acceptance rate of 76%.
40% of private schools in Portsmouth, RI are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 5
  • # Students Served: 1,069
  • Average Tuition: $38,126
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 33%
  • Average Class Size: 17 students
  • % Students of Color: 11%
  • View Portsmouth, RI School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 5
  • # Students Served: 1,069
  • Average Tuition: $38,126
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 33%
  • Average Class Size: 17 students
  • % Students of Color: 11%
  • View Portsmouth, RI School Trends

Top Ranked Portsmouth Private Schools (2026-27)

The Pennfield School Photo
The Pennfield School
Gr: NS-8 | 197 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 6 | Extracurriculars: 5
110 Sandy Point Ave Litle Slocum Farm
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 849-4646
(1)
View Profile
Portsmouth Abbey School Photo
Portsmouth Abbey School
Gr: 9-12 | 337 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 18 | Extracurriculars: 22
Catholic
285 Corys Ln
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 643-1248
View Profile
Map of St Philomena School of the Sacred Heart
St Philomena School of the Sacred Heart
Gr: NS-8 | 452 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 9
Catholic
324 Cory's Lane
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-0268
(3)
View Profile
Map of Beginnings-the Children's School
Beginnings-the Children's School
Gr: K | 5 students
Montessori School
1985 East Main Road
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 683-5850
View Profile
Map of The Bradley School
The Bradley School
Gr: 1-12 | 78 students
Special Education School
2820 E Main Rd
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 606-8300
View Profile
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Portsmouth, Rhode Island Private Schools (Closed)

Map of Sea Rose Montessori Co-op
Sea Rose Montessori Co-op
Gr: PK-3 | 35 students
Montessori School
324 E Main Road- St.marys Church
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(617) 697-6563
View Profile

Portsmouth, RI Private School Trends (10-Year)

5
Private Schools
+25.0% (+1 school) 10-yr
1,069
Students
-0.3% (-3 students) 10-yr
$38,126
Avg. Tuition
+109.1% (+$19,895) 10-yr
17
Avg. Class Size
+13.3% (+2 students) 10-yr
11%
Students of Color
-45.0% (-9.0 pp) 10-yr
9:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-10.0% (-1.0) 10-yr
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Portsmouth)
This State (RI)
# Schools
5 Schools
165 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearPortsmouth, RI Total Schools
20255
20246
20235
20225
20215
20205
20195
20186
20175
20165
20154
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# Students
1,069 Students
22,887 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
2025214140179
2024188137172
2023214136174
2022213138185
2021213134180
2020211130171
2019211132175
2018186134172
2017215139180
2016215139178
2015268142167
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% Students of Color
11%
28%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202511%29%34%
202411%27%34%
202311%26%33%
202212%27%33%
202112%27%32%
202012%26%32%
20199%26%31%
201810%25%31%
201717%26%32%
201617%26%32%
201520%25%32%
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0.38
0.61

Diversity Score Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
20250.380.620.65
20240.420.610.65
20230.380.590.65
20220.370.560.64
20210.370.570.64
20200.350.570.64
20190.310.550.63
20180.320.560.63
20170.310.550.61
20160.310.550.61
20150.310.550.61
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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
1 Student
41 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
64 Students
631 Students
% Asian Students
6%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
20256%4%5%
20246%3%5%
20236%3%5%
20226%4%4%
20216%4%4%
20206%3%4%
20197%3%4%
20186%3%4%
20177%3%4%
20167%3%4%
20157%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
31 Students
1,762 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
8%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
20253%8%9%
20243%8%9%
20233%7%9%
20223%7%8%
20213%8%9%
20203%8%9%
20192%8%8%
20182%7%8%
20172%7%8%
20162%7%8%
20152%7%8%
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# Black Students
23 Students
1,340 Students
% Black Students
2%
6%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
20252%6%7%
20242%6%7%
20232%6%8%
20222%5%7%
20212%5%7%
20202%6%8%
20192%6%7%
20183%6%7%
20172%6%7%
20162%6%7%
20152%6%8%
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# White Students
842 Students
12,205 Students
% White Students
78%
55%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202578%55%52%
202475%56%52%
202378%59%52%
202279%62%54%
202179%62%54%
202080%62%54%
201982%63%56%
201882%63%56%
201783%64%58%
201683%64%58%
201583%63%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
19 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
123 Students
6,062 Students
% of Others Students
11%
28%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202511%27%26%
202414%27%26%
202311%25%25%
202210%22%25%
202110%21%25%
20209%21%24%
20197%20%24%
20187%20%23%
20176%19%22%
20166%19%22%
20156%21%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
117 Teachers
2,245 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
20259:110:111:1
20249:110:111:1
20239:110:111:1
202210:110:111:1
202110:110:111:1
202010:110:112:1
20199:110:112:1
20189:111:112:1
20179:111:112:1
20169:111:112:1
201510:111:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
73%
56%

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

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202573%56%55%
202473%55%54%
202373%56%54%
202265%54%54%
202165%56%54%
202065%55%54%
201965%56%53%
201860%55%53%
201760%55%53%
201660%52%52%
201550%49%52%
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Average Class Size
17 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
2025171515
2024171515
2023171515
2022181515
2021181515
2020181515
2019181615
2018151415
2017151515
2016151515
2015151615
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Average Number of AP Courses
16 courses
15 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
2025161413
2024161412
2023161411
2022161411
2021161411
2020161411
2019161411
2018191311
2017191310
2015191110
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Average SAT score
1400
(Out of 1600)
1310
Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$38,126
$22,295

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
2025$38,126$22,395$15,012
2024$69,570$19,758$13,254
2023$69,570$16,254$12,626
2022$39,525$16,253$12,187
2021$39,525$15,756$11,800
2020$41,470$15,918$11,512
2019$41,470$14,983$11,293
2018$28,247$14,608$11,017
2017$27,060$13,666$10,708
2016$21,911$13,142$10,356
2015$18,231$12,831$9,939
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Average Summer Program Cost
$350
$435
Average % on Financial Aid
33%
43%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202533%42%34%
202431%42%34%
202327%39%34%
202230%39%33%
202130%40%33%
202030%39%32%
201930%38%31%
201828%37%30%
201727%37%30%
201627%37%29%
201527%36%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$14,750
$9,460

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
2025$14,750$9,460$7,073
2024$14,417$9,400$6,930
2023$14,417$9,243$6,469
2022$14,750$9,845$6,289
2021$14,750$9,845$6,055
2020$14,833$9,224$5,921
2019$14,833$8,803$5,795
2018$14,833$9,623$5,456
2017$14,833$8,787$5,319
2016$15,000$9,915$5,105
2015$1,000$8,290$5,030
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Average Endowment Size
$45 million
$48.61 million
Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
61%
76%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearPortsmouth, RI AvgRhode Island (RI)National
202561%76%81%
202463%78%85%
202363%78%85%
202263%74%85%
202163%74%85%
202063%75%85%
201963%75%85%
201863%75%85%
201763%78%85%
201663%77%85%
201595%79%85%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
12 extracurriculars
13 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
10 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Portsmouth, RI?
The top ranked private schools in Portsmouth, RI include The Pennfield School, St Philomena School of the Sacred Heart, and Portsmouth Abbey School.
How many private schools are located in Portsmouth?
5 private schools are located in Portsmouth.
How diverse are private schools in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth private schools are approximately 11% minority students, which is lower than the Rhode Island private school average of 28%.
What percentage of students in Portsmouth go to private school?
34% of all K-12 students in Portsmouth are educated in private schools (compared to the RI state average of 15%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Portsmouth?
40% of private schools in Portsmouth are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).
Which private schools in Portsmouth are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Portsmouth include: St Philomena School of the Sacred Heart vs. The Pennfield School

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