Skip to main content

Average

#498 of 842 schools in PR

Dr. Rafael Pujals

Middle School · PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PO BOX 330726, Ponce, PR 00731

Enrollment

156

Student-Teacher

9.2:1

Score

5.8

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Puerto Rico schools

#498 of 842

In Ponce

#26 of 38

public schools

In district

#498 of 842

PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Academic growth

8.7 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Dr. Rafael Pujals?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Dr. Rafael Pujals

5.8/10

Middle School in Ponce · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Ponce High School

4.9/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Hemeterio Colon

5.9/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Dr. Rafael Pujals

Dr. Rafael Pujals is a public middle school in Ponce, PR, part of PUERTO RICO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Dr.

Rafael Pujals serves approximately 156 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 9.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Dr. Rafael Pujals has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #498 of 842 schools in PR.

Structured state assessment records for Dr. Rafael Pujals show 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2018) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2018).

How it compares1.1 pts above district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 4.7
  • PR avg 4.7

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 156 students, Dr. Rafael Pujals is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

While current test scores at Dr. Rafael Pujals are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.2:1, Dr. Rafael Pujals offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.7Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data9
Annual Change+2.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2018
TrendImproving
Academics3.9Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency5% (2018 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37% (2018 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency21% (2018 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2018 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-20.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile20th
Resources & Environment3.7Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.2:1
Chronic Absenteeism68.6%

Dr. Rafael Pujals — Students at Dr. Rafael Pujals score 21% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

91%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores PR EDFACTS (2017-18)

Math Proficiency 21.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2018)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 48.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2018)
School
State
N/A

Based on 18 test records from PR state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
2.5%
ELA
26%
2011
Math
10%
ELA
28%
2012
Math
8%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
7%
ELA
42%
2014
Math
55%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
40%
ELA
65%
2016
Math
43%
ELA
79%
2017
Math
23%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
5%
ELA
37%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.

How Dr. Rafael Pujals Compares

See how Dr. Rafael Pujals performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
41th percentile in PR
Academic
3.9/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
8.7/10
Excellent
Environment
3.7/10
Needs Improvement

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
91%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
17 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
68.6%

Location

PO BOX 330726, Ponce, PR 00731

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Dr. Rafael Pujals may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. HEMETERIO COLON (rated 5.9/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is MANUEL GONZALEZ PATO (rated 5.9/10, 1.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ANTONIO PAOLI PONCE (rated 3.5/10, 1.2 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ponce, see our Ponce schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
PONCE HIGH SCHOOL Ponce 0.2 mi 4.9
HEMETERIO COLON Ponce 0.6 mi 5.9
ABRAHAM LINCOLN PONCE Ponce 0.7 mi 8.6
RODULFO DEL VALLE Ponce 0.7 mi 8.4
ISMAEL MALDONADO LUGARO Ponce 0.7 mi 6.0
RAMON MARIN Ponce 0.7 mi 7.0
DR. JOSE CELSO BARBOSA PONCE Ponce 0.7 mi 7.1
ANDRES GRILLASCA SALAS Ponce 0.7 mi 4.4
ERNESTO RAMOS ANTONINI PONCE Ponce 1.0 mi 5.0
SANTA TERESITA Ponce 1.2 mi 8.2
ANTONIO PAOLI PONCE Ponce 1.2 mi 3.5
JUAN CUEVAS ABOY Ponce 1.3 mi 8.7
JAIME L. DREW Ponce 1.3 mi 7.9
DR. PILA Ponce 1.3 mi 6.7
MANUEL GONZALEZ PATO Ponce 1.4 mi 5.9
BERNARDINO CORDERO BERNARD Ponce 1.6 mi 6.7
EDUARDO NEUMANN GANDIA Ponce 1.6 mi 6.4
JOSEFINA BOYA LEON Ponce 1.6 mi 7.0
LIBRADO NET Ponce 1.9 mi 9.1
HERMINIA GARCIA Ponce 2.2 mi 8.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 00731 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$16,917

Median Home Value

$86,800

Median Rent

$426/mo

Population

10,221

College Educated

22.1%

Homeownership

79.4%

Avg Commute

26.6 min

Poverty Rate

56.4%

Median Age

47.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ELVIRA VICENTE Yauco, PR 5.8
JOSE HORACIO CORA Arroyo, PR 5.7
MANUEL GONZALEZ PATO Ponce, PR 5.9
ANDRES VALCARCEL Trujillo Alto, PR 5.5
JOSE SANTOS QUINONES Canovanas, PR 6.1
INTERMEDIA TALLABOA ALTA Penuelas, PR 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Dr. Rafael Pujals

What grades does Dr. Rafael Pujals serve?

Dr. Rafael Pujals serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Dr. Rafael Pujals?

Dr. Rafael Pujals has an enrollment of approximately 156 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Dr. Rafael Pujals?

The student-teacher ratio at Dr. Rafael Pujals is 9.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Dr. Rafael Pujals rank in PR?

Dr. Rafael Pujals ranks #498 of 842 schools in PR.

What is Dr. Rafael Pujals's MySchoolScout rating?

Dr. Rafael Pujals has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Dr. Rafael Pujals?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Dr. Rafael Pujals has 22% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2018) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2018).

Is Dr. Rafael Pujals a charter school?

No, Dr. Rafael Pujals is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Dr. Rafael Pujals a Title I school?

No, Dr. Rafael Pujals is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dr. Rafael Pujals?

91.0% of students at Dr. Rafael Pujals qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
156
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Free/Reduced Lunch
91.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Ponce Municipio
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
68.6%

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academics, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but is not factored into the score. Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.