The #MiddletownRI schools earn high marks during several recent rounds of testing, including compliments from the state for working hard with Multilingual Learners. In response, local school officials celebrate, but say there's more work to be done.
MIDDLETOWN SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVEMENT
MIDDLETOWN, RI (OCTOBER 10, 2025) – Testing scores in the Middletown schools are on the rise.
Recent results from several standardized tests showed local students made significant advances in a number of areas, particularly at the Gaudet Learning Academy and Aquidneck Elementary School.
This included English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics in the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) as well as with the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and Rhode Island Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA).
In her comments about the testing, Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green commended the Middletown school district for its strides and gains. In addition to the hard work by students and teachers, Infante-Green applauded the district’s work towards getting every educator certified with Multilingual Learners (MLL).
“We’ve been talking for a while now about how we’re making strides and this proves it,” Superintendent Billy Niemeyer said. “By no means are we where we want to be. I don’t think anyone would say that. But to see the gains we’ve made in so many areas, I’m not going to lie. It’s rewarding and it feels good for our district, our teachers and most importantly, our students.”
“When the results came out, we were ecstatic ,” Assistant Superintendent Michelle Fonseca said. “Everyone should take credit for this because we know a lot of hard work went into making this happen. And like Billy’s said, we’re not stopping here. We’re going to keep working to make our schools the best they can possibly be.”
School Committee Chairperson Greg Huet said the latest results were another reason for Middletown to be proud of its accomplishments.
“For the Commissioner of Education to mention Middletown’s schools by name, that means a lot to all of us,” Huet said. “It shows when we put the right plan in place and everyone is one the same page and striving towards the same goals, what can be accomplished. I want to make sure it’s clear that we know none of this would happen without the work of our teachers and staff across the district, (kindergarten) through (grade) 12.”
According to published reports, Infante-Green said the figures across Rhode Island were on the rise, but more improvements were needed.
The Gaudet Learning Academy (GLA) was recognized as one of five schools across Rhode Island to join the RIDE “5-5-5 Club.” That distinction is earned by cutting chronic absenteeism by at least 5 percentage points and improving academic performance in both ELA and math by at least 5 percentage points.
“We want our school to be a place where every student feels welcomed and at home,” GLA Principal Kaitlin Gibbons said. “Everyone here knows this and goes above and beyond to make that a reality each day here at the Gaudet Learning Academy. The ‘5-5-5 Club’ commendation is a tribute to that hard work and effort because without that, we’d never be where we are today.”
There were huge advances made at the elementary level in Middletown as well.
At the state assessment meeting Wednesday, the commission cited that Middletown's Grade 3 ELA scores across the district rose from 39.7 percent to 58.9 percent, a 19 percent jump. At Aquidneck School on Reservoir Road they also had a 25.5 percent increase in math proficiency scores.
“This has been a point of emphasis across the district and all our teachers worked really hard to help make this happen,” Aquidneck School Principal Erica Bulk said. “I want to thank all our students, parents and professionals for putting in the effort and helping us achieve these results. It’s a proud day here at Aquidneck School and throughout Middletown.”
“All our schools showed improvements and the Learning Academy and Aquidneck absolutely crushed it,” Niemeyer added. “The teachers, staff, parents and students all deserve this and should feel proud. This is exactly the type of accomplishment we should be celebrating as a community.”
To see the RIDE release and review the data, visit https://mdl.town/RIDE-RICAS25 online.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it here again,” Niemeyer said. “We’re building something here, something special. That doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re definitely moving in the right direction and these latest test scores reflect that. But school and education aren’t all about test scores either, let’s not lose sight of that. We’re here to help all our students succeed and thrive while they’re in the district and with whatever they decide to do once they leave school.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-RICAS-Scores
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
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401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.gov