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Excellent

#22 of 302 schools in RI

Top 7% in state

Westerly High School

High School · Westerly

23 Ward Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891

Enrollment

692

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

8.5

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Westerly

#1 of 6

public schools

Rhode Island high schools

#6 of 58

In district

#1 of 6

Westerly

School environment

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Westerly High School

Westerly High School is a public high school in Westerly, RI, part of the Westerly. The school serves approximately 692 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 93rd percentile among RI schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 35% proficiency in math and 57% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $90,435, where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a fringe town setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, Westerly High School 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 · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.4Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.09 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.2Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency37%
Reading/ELA Proficiency57%
Overall Proficiency47%
Expected (poverty-adj.)42%
vs. Expected+4.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile72th
College Readiness9.0Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation41.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,635

Westerly High School — Students at Westerly High School score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

26.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores RI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 35.3%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 57.0%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from RI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2022
Math
37%
ELA
57%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.4/10.

How Westerly High School Compares

See how Westerly High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
93th percentile in RI
Academic
8.2/10
8.2/10
Growth
7.4/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
27%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
73 teachers

Location

23 Ward Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Westerly High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Stonington High School (rated 7.7/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Pawcatuck), with a comparable rating. Another option is Chariho High School (rated 6.8/10, 8.2 miles away, in nearby Wood River Junction), a more accessible option. Additionally, Wheeler High School (rated 6.1/10, 5.6 miles away, in nearby North Stonington), a more accessible option. For more schools in Westerly, see our Westerly schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 8.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Westerly Inclusion Preschool P Westerly 0.2 mi 7.3
State Street School Westerly 0.8 mi 5.9
ST MICHAEL SCHOOL Pawcatuck 1.0 mi 4.2
West Vine Street School Pawcatuck 1.4 mi 9.4
Springbrook Elementary School Westerly 1.9 mi 7.1
Westerly Middle School Westerly 2.5 mi 6.6
Stonington High School Pawcatuck 2.2 mi 7.7
Dunn's Corners School Westerly 3.0 mi 6.6
Ashaway Elementary School Ashaway 3.4 mi 5.6
NORTH STONINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY North Stonington 3.8 mi 6.6
PINE POINT SCHOOL Stonington 4.0 mi 6.9
Wheeler High School North Stonington 5.6 mi 6.1
North Stonington Elementary School North Stonington 5.7 mi 5.0
Deans Mill School Stonington 5.6 mi 9.3
Stonington Middle School Mystic 6.6 mi 7.0
Chariho Regional Middle School Wood River Junction 8.0 mi 6.0
Chariho Alternative Learning A Wood River Junction 8.1 mi 6.4
Chariho High School Wood River Junction 8.2 mi 6.8
Gallup Hill School Ledyard 8.9 mi 7.3
Northeast Academy Magnet School Mystic 8.6 mi 6.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02891 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,435

Median Home Value

$422,600

Median Rent

$1,249/mo

Population

21,698

College Educated

41.4%

Homeownership

74.6%

Avg Commute

25.4 min

Poverty Rate

6%

Median Age

54.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Westerly High School has a median household income of $90,435. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $422,600, with a median rent of $1,249/month. The local poverty rate of 6.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Middletown High School Middletown, RI 8.6
Davies Career-Tech High School Lincoln, RI 8.7
East Greenwich High East Greenwich, RI 8.2
South Kingstown High Wakefield, RI 8.8
Mt. Hope High School Bristol, RI 8.1
Narragansett High School Narragansett, RI 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Westerly High School

What grades does Westerly High School serve?

Westerly High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Westerly High School?

Westerly High School has an enrollment of approximately 692 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Westerly High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Westerly High School is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Westerly High School rank in RI?

Westerly High School is ranked #22 out of 302 schools in RI.

What is Westerly High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Westerly High School has a composite rating of 8.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Westerly High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Westerly High School has 35.3% math proficiency and 57.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Westerly High School a charter school?

No, Westerly High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Westerly High School a Title I school?

No, Westerly High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Westerly High School?

26.9% of students at Westerly High School 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 →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
66 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
12 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
42 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (977/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Westerly). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
692
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
73
Free/Reduced Lunch
26.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Washington County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Westerly
District Enrollment
2,215
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$26,503
District Rank
#1 of 6

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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