About this data

The state administers the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) for grades 3-8 and the SAT for 11th graders annually in the spring. RICAS gives teachers, students, and families information about student progress, school performance, and how to improve teaching and learning. The performance standards for RICAS signal students’ readiness for the next grade level. Students with a proficient or above score are able to demonstrate grade level expectations.

In the 2020-21 administration of the RICAS the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA dropped 5 percentage points, while the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in Mathematics dropped 10 percentage points. These drops were seen in Rhode Island and nationwide in all student groups regardless of grade level, demographic, race, ethnicity, or multilingualism. The participation rate also declined from approximately 99% of students in grades 3-5 in 2019 to 89% in 2021. Participation rates for the SAT were 95% in 2019, compared to 86% in 2021.

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic testing was not administered in the 2019-20 school year, which is why data are not presented for 2020.