Carl G. Lauro Elementary School

Carl G. Lauro Elementary School is a public elementary school in Providence, Rhode Island, serving 475 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Providence School District, which is ranked 54 out of 59 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Despite having a relatively high per-student spending of $19,060, Carl G. Lauro Elementary School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Rhode Island, with proficiency rates well below the state and district averages in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. In the 2022-2023 school year, only 10.5% of students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the Providence district average of 15.1% and the Rhode Island state average of 36.8% for 3rd grade. In Mathematics, only 8.2% of students were proficient or better, compared to the Providence district average of 13% and the Rhode Island state average of 34.5% for 3rd grade. The school's student population is predominantly Hispanic, making up 74.74% of the student body, and 83.37% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

The challenges facing Carl G. Lauro Elementary School are not unique, as nearby schools such as Asa Messer Elementary School, William D'Abate Elementary School, and Harry Kizirian Elementary also have low academic performance and high percentages of economically disadvantaged students. However, the SouthSide Charter School and Paul Cuffee Charter School have generally outperformed the traditional public schools in the area, suggesting that alternative educational models and approaches may be more effective in addressing the needs of the student population.