What is a charter school?
Paul Cuffee School is an independently operated charter public school for school-aged students in kindergarten through grade twelve who live in the City of Providence. All charter public schools in our state are required to submit annual reports to The Rhode Island Department of Education to ensure continuously improving academic achievement, highly qualified teachers, fiscal sustainability and leadership accountability. Paul Cuffee School’s Board of Trustees, faculty and staff are committed to meeting and exceeding those requirements every year.
Why choose Paul Cuffee School?
Parents and students choose to attend Paul Cuffee School, instead of one of the local district schools, because of its reputation for academic excellence, caring about students and families, innovative programs, excellent teachers, smaller class sizes, respectful school culture, and other features that meet their needs.
Who can attend Paul Cuffee School?
All school-age children residing in the City of Providence are eligible to apply.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no cost associated with applying to Paul Cuffee School. Mailing costs for application materials may be avoided if applications are completed online.
How old must my child be to be admitted into kindergarten or first grade?
Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1 to be admitted into kindergarten and 6 years old on or before September 1 to be admitted into first grade.
How are students admitted to the school?
All parents or guardians must submit an application for their son or daughter’s admission before the annual application deadline to be included in the state-monitored, random admissions lottery. Rhode Island law governing charter school admissions mandates such a lottery when more students apply than the school can accommodate. Students selected from our school’s annual lottery are awarded admission based on their randomized rank order and the number of vacancies available in each grade level.
Is there an application deadline?
Yes. The application deadline is usually in March. All required materials must be received by the deadline in order to be included in the lottery.
When will the lottery take place?
The lottery for the 2027–2028 school year is expected to take place in April.
Do siblings of current students receive special consideration?
Yes. Enrollment preference is given to applicants whose siblings are already enrolled at the school. When a lottery takes place, siblings will be admitted first if space is available.
May I schedule a class visit? (Not permitted during COVID)
Because we receive more than 1,000 applications each year, we cannot accommodate visit requests for students who have not been admitted, but encourage all prospective students and their families to attend a Paul Cuffee School Open House.
How many openings does the school anticipate each year?
On average, there are 60 openings in kindergarten, 3 openings in sixth grade, 25 openings in ninth grade, and limited openings in all other grades.
What is the average class size?
Usually there are 21 students per class in our lower, middle, and high school programs. Teaching partners are employed at each building and grade level to provide classroom support and lower the student-teacher ratios.
Does the school provide transportation?
Yes, student eligibility for school bus transportation is determined by the distance from the household to the school. For kindergarten through fifth grade, students must live 1 mile away or more. Students in sixth through eighth grades must live 1.5 miles away to be eligible. High School students in grades 9-12 must live 2.5 miles away to qualify for a free RIPTA bus pass.
Are Advanced Placement Courses Offered at Paul Cuffee High School?
To fulfill their grade-level requirements, high school students in good standing may take Advanced Placement courses and exams to earn college credit. Current AP classes include:
- AP English Language + Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Human Geography
- AP Spanish Language + Culture
- AP Statistics
- AP Studio Art: 2D Design
- AP US Government + Politics
.
What about College Placement and Career Readiness?
To encourage students to work hard in school and make choices that will positively impact their future, college visits and career fairs are coordinated at the Paul Cuffee Middle School every year. To maintain the health-safety of everyone involved, these events and field trips have been cancelled during COVID.
By the time students reach high school, college and career guidance and instruction is offered during their Skills, Enrichment and Academic Support (SEAS) periods. In these sessions, students do everything from exploring different careers and college majors to selecting and completing applications for colleges, universities and post-secondary training programs that would be a good match for their career aspirations. In addition to SEAS, the Academic Dean and Post-Secondary School Teaching Partner are available to provide one-on-one assistance.
What about after-school programs and sports?
Paul Cuffee School offers enrichment opportunities that allow students to explore their interests, build new skills, and connect with their peers beyond the regular school day. Opportunities vary by grade level.
- Lower School (Grades K–5): PCS does not currently offer a school-run after-school program. Families looking for after-school care can explore community-based programs and recreation opportunities in the Providence area.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8): Through a partnership with UCAP, students have access to Beyond U, a free after-school program offered Monday through Friday. Activities include sports and recreation, arts and life skills, and academic and enrichment opportunities.
- Upper School (Grades 9–12): Students can participate in after-school clubs, sports, extracurricular activities, and tutoring on designated days, typically from 3:30–4:30 p.m. Enrichment offerings vary throughout the year.
For more information about enrichment opportunities, visit Enrichment Programs.
Upper School Athletics: Paul Cuffee Upper School partners with the Providence Public School Department (PPSD) for athletic programming. For the 2026–2027 school year, Mount Pleasant High School is PCUS’s PPSD athletic partner. PCUS students in grades 9–12 may try out for sports offered through Mount Pleasant and, if selected, participate in those programs. Sports offerings vary by season.
For information about athletics, tryouts, eligibility, schedules, and participation requirements, visit Athletics.