The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 28% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Blackstone Valley Prep Element
Blackstone Valley Prep Element sits on Mendon Road in Cumberland, the largest town in Rhode Island by population. The school is part of the Blackstone Valley Prep network, a Rhode Island Mayoral Academy, and operates as a charter school serving kindergarten through fourth grade. Cumberland itself is a predominantly residential suburban community in the Blackstone Valley with historical industrial roots, including ties to the Valley Falls Company, an antecedent of Berkshire Hathaway, and the Ann & Hope discount retail chain. Today the town functions mainly as a residential suburb with scattered commercial corridors along major roads. Its civic life is distributed rather than centered on a single downtown. The Cumberland Public Library, housed in a converted former Trappist monastery, and Diamond Hill Park, which hosts Cumberlandfest and other community gatherings, serve as key civic anchors. The town sits within the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
The school's enrollment is modest for its grade band, with roughly equal class sizes across each of the five grades it serves. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and a smaller White cohort, along with small numbers of Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Information on individualized education programs and English learner status was not available in the provided data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education services and language support.
On the most recent Rhode Island state assessment, the RICAS, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts sit below what state averages typically run, with roughly three out of ten students reaching proficiency in math and slightly fewer in ELA. Every enrolled student participated in testing. Only one year of results is available, so there is no trend to assess whether performance is improving, holding steady, or declining. A parent considering this school may want to look into how the school supports students who are not yet proficient and what academic interventions are in place, especially given that the school serves a population with a high share of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Because the school serves only kindergarten through fourth grade, certain data points do not apply. There is no graduation rate, no high school course access information, and no science assessment results, since those tests are administered at later grade levels. Civil rights data, staffing figures, discipline records, attendance rates, and program offerings were not provided. The school's Title I status was also not reported. These gaps mean the picture here is limited to enrollment, demographics, and the most recent state test results.
The broader Blackstone Valley Prep network has seen recent growth. The district opened its Advancement Academy in fall 2022, adding to the network's school offerings. Enrollment demand across the network is publicly reported as extremely high and competitive, with far more applications than available seats in recent admissions cycles. Families moving into the area should understand that admission runs through a lottery and that the odds of securing a spot can be long.
Housing in the school's zip code sits above the Rhode Island state benchmark and well above the national benchmark, reflecting Cumberland's character as a residential suburb with relatively costly real estate. Rents are also elevated compared with national norms. The current mortgage rate environment adds to the cost of ownership for families considering a move into the area.
Blackstone Valley Prep Element offers a charter school option within a network that draws strong demand, serving a diverse student body with high economic need in a suburban setting. The academic results available are modest, and several key data points are missing. A parent weighing this school would benefit from speaking directly with school leadership about academic support, special populations, and how the network's lottery works.
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