Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public magnet school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island. It was originally an all-male school but has since become co-ed.
Serving 1,119 students in grades 9-12, Classical High School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Rhode Island for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 55% (which is higher than the Rhode Island state average of 27%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 83% (which is higher than the Rhode Island state average of 33%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Rhode Island state level of 13:1.
Minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Rhode Island state average of 49% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,119 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- Minority Enrollment: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 96% (Top 5% in RI)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 10%
- Math Proficiency: 55% (Top 20%)
- Reading Proficiency: 83% (Top 1%)
- Science Proficiency: 40% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), RI Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Classical High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Rhode Island for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Graduation Rate
Diversity
School Overview
Classical High School's student population of 1,119 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 63 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
1,119 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
63 teachers
Year Founded
1843
Colors
White, Purple
School Rankings
Classical High School ranks within the top 10% of all 289 schools in Rhode Island (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Classical High School is 0.69, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.65. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#17 out of 289 schools
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
55%
27%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
83%
33%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
31%
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
13:1
American Indian
1%
1%
Asian
9%
4%
Hispanic
49%
30%
Black
16%
9%
White
19%
51%
Hawaiian
1%
n/a
Two or more races
5%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
96%
83%
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
44%
38%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
11%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), RI Dept. of Education
School Notes
- School Mascot: Lady Purple/athena
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Classical High School's ranking?
Classical High School is ranked #17 out of 289 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Rhode Island.
What schools are Classical High School often compared to?
Classical High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Central High School, Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
55% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 27% RI state average), while 83% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 33% RI state average).
What is the graduation rate of Classical High School?
The graduation rate of Classical High School is 96%, which is higher than the Rhode Island state average of 83%.
How many students attend Classical High School?
1,119 students attend Classical High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
49% of Classical High School students are Hispanic, 19% of students are White, 16% of students are Black, 9% of students are Asian, 5% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Classical High School?
Classical High School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the Rhode Island state average of 13:1.
What grades does Classical High School offer ?
Classical High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Classical High School part of?
Classical High School is part of Providence School District.
In what neighborhood is Classical High School located?
Classical High School is located in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, RI. There are 6 other public schools located in Federal Hill.
School Reviews
5 10/14/2017
Once probably the second-best public academic high school in New England (after Boston Latin), but the self-selective character of its student body has been undermined, and so it no longer attracts the best students from throughout the state and even from nearby Massachusetts, as it did well into the 1970s.
5 11/15/2011
this school is by far the #1 high school in RI and in the top 10 in the country
Review Classical High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
