Very Good
#13 of 65 private schools in RI
Top 19% of private schools
The Pennfield School
Elementary School
110 SANDY POINT AVE, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Enrollment
119
Student-Teacher
7.2:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
119
Student-Teacher
7.2:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Rhode Island private schools
#13 of 65
In Portsmouth
#3 of 3
public schools
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The Pennfield School
Elementary School in Portsmouth · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Sea Rose Montessori Co-op
0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Portsmouth Middle School
1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About The Pennfield School
The Pennfield School is a private elementary school in Portsmouth, RI. The Pennfield School serves approximately 119 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 7.2:1 student-teacher ratio. The Pennfield School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #13 of 65 private schools in RI.
- This school 7.4 · Very Good
- RI avg 6.1
What Parents Should Know
At 119 students, The Pennfield School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 7.2:1 students to teachers, The Pennfield School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
The Pennfield School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow The Pennfield School compares to the 4 public schools in Portsmouth, RI
Student Demographics
All Schools in Portsmouth
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| The Pennfield School (this school) | 7.4 |
| Portsmouth Middle School | 7.0 |
| Melville School | 7.6 |
| Portsmouth High School | 9.4 |
| Howard Hathaway School | 7.4 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in RI.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in RI
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
110 SANDY POINT AVE, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering The Pennfield School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Fort Barton School (rated 8.2/10, 5.5 miles away, in nearby Tiverton), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Melville School (rated 7.6/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Wilbur and McMahon Schools (rated 7.5/10, 5.0 miles away, in nearby Little Compton), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Portsmouth, see our Portsmouth schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SEA ROSE MONTESSORI CO-OP Portsmouth | 0.7 mi | — |
| Portsmouth Middle School Portsmouth | 1.7 mi | 7.0 |
| Melville School Portsmouth | 2.3 mi | 7.6 |
| Gaudet Middle School Middletown | 2.7 mi | 6.0 |
| Gaudet Learning Academy Middletown | 2.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Forest Avenue School Middletown | 2.6 mi | 4.8 |
| ALL SAINTS ACADEMY Middletown | 2.8 mi | 7.0 |
| Middletown High School Middletown | 3.0 mi | 8.1 |
| PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL Portsmouth | 3.5 mi | 8.2 |
| ST PHILOMENA SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART Portsmouth | 3.4 mi | 7.4 |
| Portsmouth High School Portsmouth | 4.1 mi | 9.4 |
| Aquidneck School Middletown | 4.2 mi | 7.2 |
| Howard Hathaway School Portsmouth | 4.4 mi | 7.4 |
| Claiborne Pell Elementary Newport | 4.1 mi | 6.2 |
| ST MICHAELS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newport | 5.3 mi | 6.9 |
| Fort Barton School Tiverton | 5.5 mi | 8.2 |
| Frank E. Thompson Middle Newport | 5.2 mi | 4.9 |
| Wilbur and McMahon Schools Little Compton | 5.0 mi | 7.5 |
| LITTLE PEEPS MONTESSORI NATURSKOLA Little Compton | 5.1 mi | — |
| Rogers High School Newport | 6.8 mi | 6.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 02871 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$119,135
Median Home Value
$539,700
Median Rent
$1,577/mo
Population
17,635
College Educated
59.6%
Homeownership
80.5%
Avg Commute
23.9 min
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Median Age
47.7
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ALL SAINTS ACADEMY Middletown, RI | 7.0 |
| ST MICHAELS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Newport, RI | 6.9 |
| THE CROFT SCHOOL Providence, RI | 8.0 |
| BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL Providence, RI | 6.7 |
| SouthSide Elementary Charter Providence, RI | 6.7 |
| ISLAMIC SCHOOL OF RHODE ISLAND West Warwick, RI | 8.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Pennfield School
What grades does The Pennfield School serve?
The Pennfield School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend The Pennfield School?
The Pennfield School has an enrollment of approximately 119 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Pennfield School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Pennfield School is 7.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does The Pennfield School rank in RI?
The Pennfield School ranks #13 of 65 private schools in RI.
What is The Pennfield School's MySchoolScout rating?
The Pennfield School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
Is The Pennfield School a private school?
Yes, The Pennfield School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is The Pennfield School a religious school?
No, The Pennfield School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 119
- Gender Split
- 55% M / 45% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Nonsectarian
- School Day
- 7 hours
- Days Per Year
- 170 days
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Newport County
- Phone
- (401) 849-4646
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