RICAS English Scores Down 20% in 5 Years, 2 out of 3 RI Students Aren’t Proficient in Math & Reading

RICAS English Scores Down 20% in 5 Years, 2 out of 3 RI Students Aren’t Proficient in Math & Reading

The numbers are in, and they clearly show that Rhode Island students are performing worse on one of the two key testing measures than they were five years ago.

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) released the final results of the 2024 state assessments, including the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS), on Friday. 

According to state RICAS data, proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), meaning students meeting or exceeding expectations, dropped from 38.5 percent in 2019 to 30.8 percent in 2024.

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The difference is a decrease of nearly 20% in student ELA proficiency. 

RICAS math scores remained relatively stagnant, with 29.8 percent of students proficient in math in 2019, and 30.1 percent in 2024. 

SEE 2024 RICAS REPORT HERE

First conducted in 2018, RICAS is administered to students from grades 3 through 8 in March through May.

The data shows that only 1 in three Rhode Island students is proficient in reading and mathematics. 

 

Year Over Year Decline

In 2023, RICAS ELA proficiency was 33.1 percent. 

In 2024, that number was 30.8 percent. 

RIDE said, "Performance of ELA decreased 2% overall from 2023."

The actual percent difference in performance between the two years is a drop of 7%.

On Friday, RIDE defended their use of overall percentage points versus actual percent change in performance. 

"The figures referenced represent the percentage of students who are proficient, i.e. 33.1% of students proficient in RICAS ELA in 2023; 30.8% of students proficient in RICAS ELA in 2024," said RIDE spokesperson Victor Morente when asked for comment. "When comparing percentages, it is correct to use 'percentage points' to describe the difference between them."

RIDE cited chronic absenteeism as a factor in RICAS scores. 

"The data from this year’s RICAS results tell a clear story: if students aren’t in school and if they need support with their mental health, they can’t learn well. Chronically absent students show a significant learning gap compared to their peers who attend regularly and we are working proactively to address it,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. 

Infante-Green has served as commissioner during this period of decline.