The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Robert L. Bailey Iv
Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School sits on Gordon Avenue in the 02905 zip code of Providence, part of the Providence Public School District. It is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, with an enrollment that places it among the larger elementary schools in its district. The school's student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and small representations of Asian, white, multiracial, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic realities of the surrounding neighborhood. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available in the provided materials, so a parent looking for that information would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, Bailey IV's results tell a mixed story. In math, roughly three-tenths of tested students reached proficiency on the most recent RICAS administration, with participation near universal. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was slightly lower, again with near-full participation. Science results, measured only at fifth grade through the NGSA assessment, were lower still, with a relatively small slice of students meeting the proficiency bar and full participation. Average scale scores in math and ELA hovered near the mid-range, while the fifth-grade science average was low. Only one year of assessment data was available, so no trend analysis is possible; a parent wanting to know whether these numbers reflect improvement or decline over time should check with the school or district for prior-year results.
The housing market around Bailey IV tells its own story about affordability and access. Home values in the 02905 zip code sit below the Rhode Island state benchmark but above the national benchmark, making this area more affordable than much of the state while still carrying costs above what many national markets command. Rents have risen notably year over year, though renting remains less expensive on a monthly basis than carrying a mortgage at current interest rates. The estimated monthly mortgage on a typical home here exceeds the typical rent by a meaningful margin, which means families weighing homeownership versus renting in this neighborhood face a real trade-off. The rent-to-income ratio sits around the threshold that housing analysts often flag as cost-burdened territory. Providence County's broader economic context includes a steady unemployment picture and a national median household income that has been gradually rising.
Providence as a district is a large, urban system, and Bailey IV operates within that framework. The district brief search returned little in the way of recent policy shifts, curriculum changes, referenda, or tax measures that clear a lasting-impact threshold, so there is no major district-level reform to report here. The locale brief search also came back thin, with no detailed community or redevelopment specifics to draw on. What is clear is that this is a neighborhood elementary school in a working-class section of Providence, serving a community where economic need is high and where the school is a central institution for families in the area.
The school's academic results, while modest, come with near-universal participation, which means nearly all enrolled students are being assessed and counted. That matters because some schools with similar demographics see lower participation that can mask or inflate results. Here, the participation picture is clean. Still, the proficiency levels in all three subjects leave substantial room for growth, and science in particular stands out as an area where a parent may want to look into what instruction and support look like in the upper grades. Bailey IV does not appear to have specialized magnet or charter status, so families considering it are choosing their neighborhood public school, with whatever that brings in terms of district resources and community ties.
For a parent weighing this school, the picture is one of a large, economically disadvantaged elementary school in Providence with a predominantly Hispanic and Black student body, solid assessment participation, and proficiency results that suggest the school is working with a population facing real academic challenges. The surrounding neighborhood offers relatively more affordable housing by Rhode Island standards, though rental costs have been climbing. Without multi-year trend data, program offerings, staffing details, or civil-rights information in the provided materials, much of what would round out a full portrait is absent, and a family would benefit from visiting the school and asking directly about supports, enrichment, and classroom culture.
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