Governor McKee, Commissioner Infante-Green Commend Rhode Island High Schools as U.S. News Ranks State 8th in Nation

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green today commended Rhode Island's students, educators, school leaders, and families following the release of the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings, which ranked Rhode Island 8th in the nation. 

The rankings are based on the share of the state's high schools performing among the top 25 percent nationally and evaluate public high schools on measures including college readiness, academic performance, graduation rates, and success in serving all students.

"Rhode Island's students and educators continue to demonstrate what's possible when high expectations are paired with strong support and opportunity," said Governor Dan McKee. "This national recognition reflects the hard work happening in classrooms across our state and the commitment of school communities to helping every student reach their full potential. With our continued investment in our schools and our students, Rhode Island is well on its way to becoming #1 in education nationally."

"Being ranked eighth in the nation for high schools is the latest recognition of the meaningful progress Rhode Island has made on behalf of students," said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "From record graduation rates and nation-leading growth in Advanced Placement success to innovative attendance strategies that have helped students recover millions of instructional hours, Rhode Island is demonstrating what is possible when we remain focused on doing what is best for students. While we are proud of this momentum, our focus remains on continuing to raise expectations, expand opportunity, and ensure every student is prepared for success beyond high school."

The recognition comes amid sustained progress across Rhode Island's education system. Rhode Island recently achieved its highest four-year graduation rate on record at 85.5%, while also ranking No. 1 nationally in 10-year growth in Advanced Placement (AP) qualifying scores. Over the past five years, according to preliminary data, the number of AP exams earning a score of 3 or higher has more than doubled, surpassing 10,400 qualifying scores in 2026, with more than 70% of AP exams now earning a qualifying score. 

At the same time, the state has dramatically expanded access to career-connected learning, increasing the number of approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs by more than 79%, from 203 programs in School Year 2018-19 to 364 programs in School Year 2026-27, while nearly doubling student participation. Rhode Island has also become a national leader in improving student attendance, reducing chronic absenteeism by 14.4 percentage points from pandemic-era highs and helping students regain approximately 4.4 million instructional hours. 

The state's progress has also been supported by the adoption of Readiness-Based Graduation Requirements, which took effect with the Class of 2028 and ensure students demonstrate proficiency in core areas including English Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and civic readiness, while also completing experiences that prepare them for success in college, career, and life.