Founders Academy

Summary:

Founders Academy is a public charter middle school located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 153 students. The school is part of the Beacon Charter School District, which is ranked 38 out of 59 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Founders Academy faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools. The school has a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of minority students, but its academic performance, as measured by RICAS test scores, is significantly lower than the state and surrounding school averages. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (13.8%) and Mathematics (5.7%) were well below the state averages of 31.9% and 25.7%, respectively. Additionally, Founders Academy has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with 47.06% of students qualifying in the 2022-2023 school year, which is significantly higher than the surrounding schools. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Rhode Island middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger in the 2022-2023 school year, placing it 52nd out of 64 middle schools in the state.

The nearby schools, such as Blackstone Valley Prep Upper E, Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High, and Vincent J. Gallagher Middle, have significantly higher academic performance and rankings compared to Founders Academy. These schools serve student populations with varying levels of economic disadvantage, suggesting that factors beyond just socioeconomic status may be contributing to Founders Academy's underperformance. The school's persistent underperformance, coupled with its high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, suggests a need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes and close the achievement gap with the surrounding schools.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-8

1 Social Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895

(401) 671-6261

District: Beacon Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
52^nd of 64 Rhode Island Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,049

Student/teacher ratio: 14.5

Number of students: 153

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.5%

Hispanic:

34.0%

African American:

12.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 47.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Founders Academy ranks worse than 81.3% of middle schools in Rhode Island. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.46. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Founders Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (42.5%), Hispanic (34%), African American (12.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 47.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Founders Academy is 14.5. (See more...)

Compare Founders Academy employs 10.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Founders Academy is $10,049.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Founders Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Founders Academy 52^nd of 64 Rhode Island public middle schools. (See Founders Academy in the ranking list.)

Beacon Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Beacon Charter School 38^th of 59 Rhode Island school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Founders Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	RI State Percentile
2018	19.95	41^st	53	22.6%
2019	16.65	47^th	61	23.0%
2021	19.89	43^rd	62	30.6%
2022	23.42	41^st	60	31.7%
2023	14.46	52^nd	64	18.8%

See the entire list of Rhode Island Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Rhode Island Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Founders Academy

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2016	28	2	0	9	0	0	5	44
2017	57	6	2	15	1	0	9	90
2018	86	10	3	22	1	0	12	134
2019	81	12	2	29	0	1	14	139
2020	86	13	1	37	0	0	11	148
2021	91	15	2	43	0	0	9	160
2022	77	22	4	44	1	0	12	160
2023	65	19	3	52	1	0	13	153

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Founders Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	44	4.0	11.0	52.3
2017	90	10.0	9.0	48.9
2018	134	11.2	11.9	40.3
2019	139	11.0	12.6	48.2
2020	148	14.0	10.5	48
2021	160	11.7	13.6	52.5
2022	160	12.5	12.8	31.3
2023	153	10.5	14.5	47.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Founders Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	44	4.0	11.0	52.3
2017	90	10.0	9.0	48.9
2018	134	11.2	11.9	40.3
2019	139	11.0	12.6	48.2
2020	148	14.0	10.5	48
2021	160	11.7	13.6	52.5
2022	160	12.5	12.8	31.3
2023	153	10.5	14.5	47.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Founders Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018	$530 (5.4%)	$9,265 (94.6%)	$9,795
2019	$461 (4.3%)	$10,182 (95.7%)	$10,644
2020	$623 (6.1%)	$9,638 (93.9%)	$10,261
2021	$1,284 (12.8%)	$8,766 (87.2%)	$10,049

Data source: Rhode Island Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Founders Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 47^th of 61 Middle schools	Ranks 52^nd of 64 Middle schools	4.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Founders Academy)	17.4	17	0.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Beacon Charter School)	17.4	17	0.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	39.1	31.9	7.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Founders Academy)	17.4	15.1	2.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Beacon Charter School)	17.4	15.1	2.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	28	27.4	0.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Founders Academy)	14.9	5.7	9.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Beacon Charter School)	14.9	5.7	9.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	27.6	25.7	1.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Founders Academy)	23.9	9.4	14.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Beacon Charter School)	23.9	9.4	14.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Rhode Island)	36.3	32.2	4.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (Founders Academy)	6.5	9.4	2.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Beacon Charter School)	6.5	9.4	2.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Rhode Island)	24.5	20.8	3.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Founders Academy)	14.5	13.8	0.7%
All Grades English Language Arts (Beacon Charter School)	14.5	13.8	0.7%
All Grades Mathematics (Founders Academy)	12.9	8.8	4.1%
All Grades Mathematics (Beacon Charter School)	13	8.8	4.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	139	153	10.1%
African American	12	19	58.3%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	2	3	50%
Hispanic	29	52	79.3%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	81	65	19.8%
Two or More Races	14	13	7.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	48.2%	47.1%	1.1%

Schools Near Founders Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2023)				Ranking (2022)				NGSA Science (2023)	RICAS English Language Arts (2023)					RICAS Mathematics (2023)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2021)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	SchoolDigger Rating (2023)	Average Standard Score (2022)	Statewide Rank (2022)	State Percentile (2022)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSA Science All Grades	RICAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 7th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 8th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts All Grades	RICAS Mathematics 5th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 6th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 7th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 8th Grade	RICAS Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Founders Academy	Public, Charter	6-8	1 Social Street	Woonsocket	02895	Providence County	Beacon Charter School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 671-6261	153	11	14.5	47.1%	65 (42.5%)	19 (12.4%)	52 (34.0%)	3 (2.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (8.5%)	14.5	52^nd of 64 public middle schools	18.8%		23.4	41^st of 60 public middle schools	31.7%	11	18.0		17.0	14.8	9.4	13.8			5.7			$10,049	$1,284	$8,766
Woonsocket Middle @ Villa Nova	Public	6-8	240 Florence Dr.	Woonsocket	02895	Providence County	Woonsocket	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 235-6125	630	59	10.6	79.4%	247 (39.2%)	69 (11.0%)	227 (36.0%)	37 (5.9%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	46 (7.3%)	9	62^nd of 64 public middle schools	3.1%		10.6	54^th of 60 public middle schools	10.0%	8	11.2		10.2		8.2	7.5		7.5		6.2	5.7
Woonsocket Middle at Hamlet	Public	6-8	60 Florence Dr.	Woonsocket	02895	Providence County	Woonsocket	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 235-6110	564	50	11.2	82.8%	236 (41.8%)	78 (13.8%)	183 (32.4%)	22 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.8%)	10.4	58^th of 64 public middle schools	9.4%		12.3	52^nd of 60 public middle schools	13.3%	6	13.6		8.5	10.4	11.8	10.3		7.4	7.3		6.3
North Smithfield Middle School	Public	5-8	1850 Providence Pike	North Smithfield	02896	Providence County	North Smithfield	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 597-6100	506	43	11.8	22.3%	420 (83.0%)	11 (2.2%)	49 (9.7%)	11 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.0%)	88.7	6^th of 64 public middle schools	90.6%		89.5	6^th of 60 public middle schools	90.0%		44.4	49.6	60.7	56.1	62.2	57.3	48.0	59.0	51.8	55.6	53.6	$13,145	$260	$12,885
North Cumberland Middle	Public	6-8	400 Nate Whipple Highway	Cumberland	02864	Providence County	Cumberland	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 333-6306	635	43	14.9	12.6%	497 (78.3%)	12 (1.9%)	59 (9.3%)	47 (7.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (2.8%)	96.5	2^nd of 64 public middle schools	96.9%		95.2	2^nd of 60 public middle schools	96.7%		64.4		66.2	64.4	62.7	64.4		70.5	56.6	67.7	64.9	$11,165	$91	$11,075
Burrillville Middle School	Public	6-8	2220 Broncos Highway	Harrisville	02830	Providence County	Burrillville	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 568-1320	486	41	11.9	37.4%	433 (89.1%)	10 (2.1%)	28 (5.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.3%)	35.2	36^th of 64 public middle schools	43.8%		28.4	35^th of 60 public middle schools	41.7%	1	35.6		25.5	26.9	35.0	29.2		15.7	19.4	14.2	16.4	$16,091	$165	$15,926
Lincoln Middle School	Public	6-8	152 Jenckes Hill Road	Lincoln	02865	Providence County	Lincoln	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 721-3400	778	51	15.3	28.7%	583 (74.9%)	40 (5.1%)	94 (12.1%)	22 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.6%)	34 (4.4%)	74.1	15^th of 64 public middle schools	76.6%		79.8	11^th of 60 public middle schools	81.7%	4	43.9		39.8	40.8	50.8	43.8		52.6	42.0	35.7	43.4	$14,012	$268	$13,744
Vincent J. Gallagher Middle	Public	6-8	10 Indian Run Trail	Smithfield	02917	Providence County	Smithfield	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 949-2056	537	44	12.2	14.7%	449 (83.6%)	9 (1.7%)	54 (10.1%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.2%)	73.9	16^th of 64 public middle schools	75.0%		70.5	17^th of 60 public middle schools	71.7%	1	32.9		58.5	51.4	44.2	51.6		46.9	33.5	43.6	41.3	$14,405	$258	$14,147
Joseph L. McCourt Middle School	Public	6-8	45 Highland Avenue	Cumberland	02864	Providence County	Cumberland	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 725-2092	436	40	10.8	36.9%	276 (63.3%)	29 (6.7%)	104 (23.9%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.8%)	60.3	24^th of 64 public middle schools	62.5%		55.2	25^th of 60 public middle schools	58.3%	1	35.1		38.0	38.2	42.9	39.6		40.9	35.3	25.9	34.4	$14,962	$709	$14,253
Blackstone Valley Prep Upper E	Public, Charter	5-6	3 Fairlawn Way	Lincoln	02865	Providence County	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 649-0481	387	27	14.3	70.5%	100 (25.8%)	68 (17.6%)	193 (49.9%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.1%)								(n/a)	30.3	30.7	26.6			28.7	22.6	30.3			26.3	$10,117	$747	$9,370

Frequently Asked Questions about Founders Academy

How many students attend Founders Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 153 students attended Founders Academy.

Is Founders Academy a good school?

Founders Academy ranks in the bottom 18.8% of Rhode Island middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Founders Academy?

Students at Founders Academy are 42% White, 34% Hispanic, 12% African American, 8% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Founders Academy in?

Beacon Charter School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Rhode Island Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.