Rhode Island approves $1.3 billion in school construction projects

The Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education has approved more than $1.3 billion in new school construction projects across the state.

The Rhode Island Department of Education says the approved projects include 14 new and like-new schools in Barrington, Cranston, East Greenwich, Johnston, Middletown, and Providence.

In total, the Council approved 59 projects across 11 local education agencies affecting more than 30,000 students.

Since 2018, the Council has approved $5.2 billion for hundreds of school construction projects; 40% or $2 billion in funding has gone to the four highest-need communities: Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. 

The latest approved projects:  

• Barrington: 4 schools, 2,526 students, $250,000,000: Like-new renovation and construction at high school and three elementary schools.  
• Chariho: 3 schools, 1,823 students, $7,592,515: Capital improvements at high school, middle school, and CharihoTECH.
• Cranston: 14 schools, 6,855 students, $48,303,002: Districtwide capital improvements and renovations, new Early Childhood Center complex, property purchase.
• East Greenwich: 6 schools, 2,521 students, $172,092,790: Two new/like-new elementary schools, additions and renovations at East Greenwich High School, capital improvements districtwide.
• Foster: 1 school, 226 students, $2,298,089: Capital improvements at Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School.
• Foster-Glocester: 2 schools, 1,331 students, $7,776,295: Capital improvements at Ponaganset Middle and High School.
• Johnston: 1 school, 761 students, $115,092,608: New high school  
• Middletown: 4 schools, 1,961 students, $207,141,672: New middle school and high school, districtwide renovations.
• Providence: 18 schools, 10,584 students, $466,396,998: New PK-8s, new PK-5, three addition/renovations to create PK-8s, renovations to 13 schools districtwide.
• Scituate: 4 schools, 1,175 students, $6,056,924: Districtwide capital improvements.
• Segue Institute for Learning: 2 schools, 358 students, $25,000,000: Building purchase and renovations at new middle and high school.