Public schools in Cranston, RI
25 open public schools with an address in Cranston, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
25
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,732
24 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.5:1
Rhode Island median 13:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Cranston public schools
The federal directory lists 25 public schools in Cranston, RI: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 24 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,732 students, an average of 447 per school. The largest campus is Cranston High School West (1,653 students), and the largest elementary school is Garden City School (530).
Cranston operates the most schools here (23), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 13.5:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 57% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Cranston
Elementary schools in Cranston
15| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achievement First Iluminar Achievement First Rhode Island · Charter | KG–04 | 465 | 15:1 | |
| Arlington School Cranston | PK–05 | 209 | 13.1:1 | |
| Eden Park School Cranston | KG–05 | 243 | 13.5:1 | |
| Edgewood Highland Cranston | KG–05 | 276 | 13.8:1 | |
| Edward S. Rhodes School Cranston | KG–05 | 287 | 15.1:1 | |
| Garden City School Cranston | KG–05 | 530 | 13.9:1 | |
| George J. Peters School Cranston | KG–05 | 244 | 13.6:1 | |
| Gladstone Street School Cranston | KG–05 | 402 | 11.5:1 | |
| Glen Hills School Cranston | PK–05 | 270 | 14.2:1 | |
| Oak Lawn School Cranston | KG–05 | 247 | 16.5:1 | |
| Orchard Farms El. School Cranston | KG–05 | 444 | 14.3:1 | |
| Stadium School Cranston | KG–05 | 227 | 12.6:1 | |
| Stone Hill School Cranston | KG–05 | 234 | 11.7:1 | |
| W. R. Dutemple School Cranston | KG–05 | 254 | 13.4:1 | |
| Woodridge School Cranston | KG–05 | 260 | 13:1 |
Middle schools in Cranston
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AF Iluminar Mayoral Middle Sch Achievement First Rhode Island · Charter | 05–08 | 406 | 20.3:1 | |
| Hope Highlands Middle School Cranston | 06–08 | 366 | 13.1:1 | |
| Hugh B. Bain Middle School Cranston | 06–08 | 527 | 10.5:1 | |
| Park View Middle School Cranston | 06–08 | 711 | 12.3:1 | |
| Western Hills Middle School Cranston | 06–08 | 727 | 14:1 |
High schools in Cranston
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship Exploration Sch Cranston · Charter | 09–12 | 176 | 8:1 | |
| Cranston Career & Tech Center Cranston · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | — | — | |
| Cranston High School East Cranston | 09–12 | 1,525 | 13.1:1 | |
| Cranston High School West Cranston | 09–12 | 1,653 | 15.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Cranston
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranston Early Learning Center Cranston · Alternative School | PK–PK | 49 | 9.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White39.3%
- Hispanic40%
- Black5.9%
- Asian7.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial6%
Enrollment-weighted across 24 Cranston schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,732 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Cranston
How many public schools are in Cranston, RI?
The current NCES directory lists 25 open public schools with a location address in Cranston: 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,732 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Cranston?
Schools with an address in Cranston belong to 2 education agencies, led by Cranston (23 schools), Achievement First Rhode Island (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Cranston?
Cranston High School West reported the largest high-school enrollment in Cranston, with 1,653 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Cranston?
Yes. 3 of the 25 public schools in Cranston are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Achievement First Iluminar, AF Iluminar Mayoral Middle Sch, Apprenticeship Exploration Sch. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Cranston schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Cranston public schools is 13.5:1, similar to the Rhode Island school median of 13:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Cranston guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Rhode Island cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Rhode Island cities