RICAS Scores Continue to Flounder - English Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
GoLocalProv News Team
RICAS Scores Continue to Flounder - English Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
As proficiency is defined as students “meeting or exceeding expectations,” two out of three students in Rhode Island are not meeting expectations.
The annual assessment tests Rhode Island students in grades 3-8. For 2025, ELA proficiency was 33.7%. In 2018-2019, ELA proficiency was 38.5%.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe percent decrease - by change - is 12%.
In math, RIDE reported proficiency was 31.4% in 2025, up from 29.8% in 2018-19.
“Rhode Island students have experienced consistent academic growth over the past three years due to the hard work of our educators, families, and partners,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “We are seeing real momentum in our classrooms, and we’re especially proud that results for most student groups, regardless of background, showed growth this year. RIDE has prioritized strengthening our supports for students and teachers alike and promoting excellence in teaching and learning. We know that there is more to do. Our state has momentum and our progress will continue.”
Chronic Absenteeism and Performance
According to RIDE, on average, chronically absent students score lower than their regularly attending peers by the following percentage points: RICAS ELA: 18.5 % and RICAS Math: 21%.
RIDE says through its efforts, that chronic absenteeism has decreased 12 percentage points statewide.
Five schools across the state earned recognition for the “5-5-5 Club” cutting chronic absenteeism by at least 5 percentage points and improving academic performance in both ELA and math by at least 5 percentage points.
This included elementary and middle school Excel Academy and Gaudet Learning Academy; and high schools Beacon Charter Schools, Blackstone Valley Prep High School, and South Kingstown High School.