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Joseph A. Whelan School

Public Grades K-5

156^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 166 Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Rhode Island elementary schools

Summary

Joseph A. Whelan School is an elementary school located in North Providence, Rhode Island, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade with a total enrollment of 245 students. The school is part of the North Providence School District, which is ranked 34 out of 60 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Joseph A. Whelan School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Rhode Island elementary schools, with a ranking between 92 and 156 out of 166-169 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on RICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) tests is significantly below the state and district averages, with only 16.8% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 13.1% in mathematics, compared to 31.3% and 21.4% in the district, respectively. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female, male, Hispanic, white, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

While Joseph A. Whelan School has seen a significant increase in per-student spending, from $12,329 in 2019-2020 to $20,040 in 2022-2023, the school's academic performance has not shown a corresponding improvement. Nearby schools, such as Centredale School and Greystone School, generally perform better than Joseph A. Whelan School on academic measures, with higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as higher rankings within the state. These nearby schools also have lower percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting that factors such as socioeconomic status and resource allocation may play a role in the disparities in academic achievement.

252

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,098

Per pupil spending ?

58.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1440 Mineral Spring Avenue
North Providence, RI 02904

(401) 233-1180

District: North Providence

Students who attend Joseph A. Whelan School usually attend:

Middle:	Birchwood Middle School
High:	North Providence High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.4%

Hispanic:

26.2%

African American:

15.5%

See top rated Rhode Island elementary schools

Compare Joseph A. Whelan School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 34th percentile in 2015 → 6th in 2025

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 28 percentile points since 2015

!Near the bottom of North Providence's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg26%

156^th of 166

Rhode Island public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 28 pts since 2015

From bottom 34% (2015) to bottom 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Rhode Island Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the North Providence

34^th of 60North Providence among Rhode Island districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	12.6	156 of 166	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.7	126 of 166	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.5	101 of 167	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.6	118 of 166	28.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	25.5	120 of 166	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.1	92 of 169	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.9	97 of 169	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.4	103 of 168	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.2	102 of 170	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.3	111 of 169	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	68.8	53 of 159	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	66.1	70 of 165	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	77.4	43 of 165	73.9%	★★★★☆
2011	49.1	99 of 165	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2010	50.4	98 of 169	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	65.1	71 of 169	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	133 of 164	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	15.8	108 of 111	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	15.4	150 of 158	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	161 of 166	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2025	11.3	120 of 129	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2025)19th percentile+13 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)5th percentile~ school

Male (2025)3rd percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)3rd percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Rhode Island (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts17%

Mathematics13%

Science10%

★

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Schools Near Joseph A. Whelan School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NGSA Science (2025)	RICAS English Language Arts (2025)				RICAS Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSA Science All Grades	RICAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts All Grades	RICAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	RICAS Mathematics 4th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 5th Grade	RICAS Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Joseph A. Whelan School	Public	K-5	1440 Mineral Spring Avenue	North Providence	02904	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1180	252	19	13.2	58.7%	112 (44.4%)	39 (15.5%)	66 (26.2%)	8 (3.2%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	23 (9.1%)	12.6	156^th of 166 public elementary schools	6.0%		23.7	126^th of 166 public elementary schools	24.1%	30	10.2	18.8	14.6	17.0	16.8	18.8	12.5	8.2	13.1	$19,098	$2,814	$16,284
Stephen Olney School	Public	K-5	1378 Douglas Avenue	North Providence	02904	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1160	388	28	13.8	47.4%	205 (52.8%)	41 (10.6%)	100 (25.8%)	23 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (4.6%)	29.5	117^th of 166 public elementary schools	29.5%		31.4	107^th of 166 public elementary schools	35.5%	10	25.9	34.4	30.3	20.7	28.7	23.0	21.1	19.0	21.0	$13,372	$745	$12,627
Veazie Street School	Public	PK, KG-5	211 Veazie Street	Providence	02904	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 453-8601	440	29	15.1	84.8%	39 (8.9%)	100 (22.7%)	267 (60.7%)	3 (0.7%)	4 (0.9%)	2 (0.5%)	24 (5.5%)	27.5	121^st of 166 public elementary schools	27.1%		23	131^st of 166 public elementary schools	21.1%	10	21.4	30.6	19.3	17.4	22.7	33.8	24.1	21.7	26.9	$22,349	$3,737	$18,611
James L. McGuire School	Public	K-5	55 Central Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1135	384	25	15.3	48.7%	174 (45.3%)	59 (15.4%)	119 (31.0%)	11 (2.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.9%)	33	105^th of 166 public elementary schools	36.7%		26.9	121^st of 166 public elementary schools	27.1%	16	24.2	38.2	17.7	22.6	26.6	41.2	19.0	22.6	28.0	$13,151	$530	$12,621
Nathanael Greene School	Public	PK, KG-5	285 Smithfield Ave Pawtucket	Pawtucket	02861	Providence County	Pawtucket	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 729-6260	397	30	13.2	74.3%	58 (14.6%)	116 (29.2%)	159 (40.1%)	4 (1.0%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (4.8%)	17.9	139^th of 166 public elementary schools	16.3%		24.9	124^th of 166 public elementary schools	25.3%	15	11.4	25.4	21.8	6.1	17.4	29.2	19.3	14.3	20.8	$16,562	$2,363	$14,199
Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School	Public	K-5	195 Nelson Street	Providence	02908	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9403	451	23	19.6	69.4%	68 (15.1%)	77 (17.1%)	259 (57.4%)	11 (2.4%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	30 (6.7%)	44.6	87^th of 166 public elementary schools	47.6%		41.7	87^th of 166 public elementary schools	47.6%		14.5	38.5	37.7	17.4	31.0	46.7	51.4	22.4	39.9	$17,930	$4,168	$13,763
Centredale School	Public	PK, KG-5	41 Angell Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1145	221	18	12.2	60.6%	100 (45.2%)	43 (19.5%)	56 (25.3%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	16 (7.2%)	45.6	85^th of 166 public elementary schools	48.8%		32.5	103^rd of 166 public elementary schools	38.0%	18	33.3	33.3	38.7	21.2	31.1	36.6	35.5	33.3	35.2	$17,586	$2,105	$15,481
Greystone School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Morgan Avenue	North Providence	02911	Providence County	North Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 233-1130	303	23	13.1	42.2%	128 (42.2%)	41 (13.5%)	93 (30.7%)	19 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (7.3%)	45.6	86^th of 166 public elementary schools	48.2%		47.8	80^th of 166 public elementary schools	51.8%	6	31.8	26.8	32.3	48.9	36.8	23.8	28.1	34.1	28.8	$15,362	$2,285	$13,077
Harry Kizirian Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	60 Camden Avenue	Providence	02908	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9369	434	26	16.6	89.4%	38 (8.8%)	87 (20.0%)	248 (57.1%)	21 (4.8%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (7.8%)	10.2	159^th of 166 public elementary schools	4.2%		8.5	162^nd of 166 public elementary schools	2.4%	3	10.3	14.6	18.5	6.2	13.6	15.4	8.4		9.1	$18,408	$2,874	$15,535
Times2 Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-5	50 Fillmore Street	Providence	02908	Providence County	Providence	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 272-5094	322	29	11.1	85.4%	27 (8.4%)	78 (24.2%)	196 (60.9%)	9 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.4%)	32.4	107^th of 166 public elementary schools	35.5%		28.5	116^th of 166 public elementary schools	30.1%	9	27.5	35.8	22.6	15.7	24.8	34.0	25.9	25.5	28.5	$16,561	$1,100	$15,461

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph A. Whelan School

How many students attend Joseph A. Whelan School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 252 students attended Joseph A. Whelan School.

What schools do graduates of Joseph A. Whelan School attend?

Students who attend Joseph A. Whelan School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Birchwood Middle School
High : North Providence High

Is Joseph A. Whelan School a good school?

Joseph A. Whelan School ranks in the bottom 6.0% of Rhode Island elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Joseph A. Whelan School?

Students at Joseph A. Whelan School are 44% White, 26% Hispanic, 15% African American, 9% Two or more races, 3% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is Joseph A. Whelan School in?

North Providence

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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.