cumberland public schools

What cumberland public schools does

Cumberland Public Schools (legal name: Cumberland School Department) is a public school district serving students from preschool through grade 12 within the Town of Cumberland, Rhode Island. The district operates eight schools: a preschool center, five elementary schools (Ashton, B.F. Norton, Community, Garvin Memorial, and John J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill), two middle schools (Joseph L. McCourt and North Cumberland), and Cumberland High School, enrolling approximately 5,116 students (as of October 2018). Educational programming includes integrated preschool, full-day kindergarten, standards-based middle school grading, CTE Pathways at the high school, special education services for ages 3-22, athletics, before/after care via AlphaBest, and community access to the Bruce Calvert Aquatic Center.

The district's technology stack is a conventional public-sector ed-tech layer rather than a proprietary platform: Aspen Student Information Management (Follett/X2 Development) for grading, scheduling, attendance, and discipline; Google Apps and 1:1 Chromebooks for classroom integration; ParentSquare for unified family communications with automatic translation; MySchoolBucks for meal payments; BusZone for bus tracking; Verra Mobility for stop-arm safety enforcement; Follet Destiny for library management; and Clever for single sign-on. Three schools have earned U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon designations (Community in 2017, Garvin Memorial in 2025, plus a prior awardee). Governance is provided by an elected seven-member School Committee under the oversight of the Rhode Island Department of Education, with Superintendent Dr. Phil Thornton leading administration since his 2021 return.

The district's revenue model is government-funded public education, financed primarily through local property taxes and state education aid, supplemented by transactional revenue streams: meal payments through Chartwells K12 Dining (breakfast $1.15, elementary lunch $2.85, middle school lunch $3.00, high school lunch $4.00), tuition from typically developing preschoolers admitted via lottery, facility rental fees, and textbook loan charges. Geographic distribution is a single town in northern Rhode Island (population ~35,000), and the district is actively expanding capacity through the construction of a new 576-seat, 64,500 GSF B.F. Norton Elementary School to address rapid enrollment growth.

Name

cumberland public schools

Legal name

Cumberland School Department

Website

https://cumberlandschools.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cumberland Public Schools (Cumberland School Department) is a government-funded PK-12 public school district in Cumberland, Rhode Island, operating eight schools that serve approximately 5,116 resident students with integrated preschool, special education, CTE pathways, athletics, and meal/transportation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Preschool programs
• Special education services
• School transportation
• Student food services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cumberland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Government-funded public school district primarily financed through local property taxes and state education funding. Revenue supports operational costs, teacher salaries, facilities maintenance, and educational programs.
2. School Meal Program: Breakfast and lunch meals provided to students with pricing differentiated by school level. Additional revenue from paid meals beyond free/reduced eligibility.
3. Preschool Tuition: Typically developing children selected through lottery pay tuition fees for preschool enrollment
4. Facility Rental Fees: Revenue generated from allowing community use of school facilities through application process
5. Textbook Loan Program: Textbook loans to non-public school students with potential charges for lost or damaged books

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cumberland Public Schools (legally the Cumberland School Department) is a public PK-12 school district in Cumberland, Rhode Island, operating eight schools — one preschool center, five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school — serving approximately 5,116 students. The district delivers core academic instruction, special education, athletics, food services, and student transportation, supported by digital platforms including Aspen, ParentSquare, MySchoolBucks, BusZone, and Google Chromebook resources.

Product overview

Cumberland School Department is a public school district serving students in grades PK-12 across eight schools. The district operates one preschool center, five elementary schools (Ashton, B.F. Norton, Community, Garvin Memorial, and Cumberland Hill), two middle schools (Joseph L. McCourt and North Cumberland), and one high school (Cumberland High School). The district provides educational programs along with support services including Special Services for students with disabilities, Athletics, Food Services, and Transportation. Community School and Garvin Memorial School have earned National Blue Ribbon School distinctions. The district utilizes technology platforms including Aspen (student information), ParentSquare (family communication), and MySchoolBucks (meal payments).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cumberland Preschool Center Integrated preschool program for children ages 3-5, including special needs and typically developing peer models, with morning sessions for 3-year-olds and afternoon sessions for 4-year-olds following the RI Early Learning Standards.
• Ashton Elementary School K-5 elementary school serving approximately 350-390 students in preschool through grade 5, with full-day kindergarten and a focus on balanced common core learning.
• B.F. Norton Elementary School K-5 elementary school in southern Cumberland with Title I status and certified EL teachers at every grade level, featuring three full-time Reading Specialists supporting literacy development.
• Community Elementary School K-5 elementary school that earned the National Blue Ribbon School distinction from the U.S. Department of Education in 2017, implementing personalized blended learning with technology integration, Thinking Maps, and SRSD strategies.
• Garvin Memorial Elementary School K-5 elementary school recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2025 for closing achievement gaps through a three-step curriculum mapping process, with school-wide expectations of being Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn.
• John J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill Elementary School K-5 elementary school in northern Rhode Island focused on academic, creative, and personal development, with additional staffing for English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and social-emotional needs.
• Joseph L. McCourt Middle School Grades 6-8 middle school supporting, teaching, and inspiring students to be hard workers, problem solvers, and empathetic global citizens, offering core courses, arts programs, and concentration areas in performing arts, STEM, and Studio art.
• North Cumberland Middle School Suburban middle school serving grades 6-8 with rigorous academic standards and standards-based grading, empowering students to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes for creative problem solving and critical thinking.
• Cumberland High School NEASC-accredited comprehensive high school serving grades 9-12 with core values of being respectful, responsible, and ready to succeed, offering CTE Pathways, National Honor Society, and 21st-century learner programming.
• CTE Pathways Career and Technical Education program at Cumberland High School offering pathways preparing students for career readiness through structured CTE course sequences.
• Special Services Office supporting students ages 3-22 requiring specialized instruction, providing services including special education, psychology, social work, speech/language pathology, physical and occupational therapy, and Teachers of the Visually Impaired.
• Athletics Department Athletic programs for Cumberland High School and middle schools including fall, winter, and spring sports, with registration through RIIL and live game streaming via NFHS Network.
• Food Services District meal program providing breakfast and lunch services through Chartwells food preparation and MySchoolBucks online payments, with free and reduced lunch eligibility applications.
• Transportation Services School bus transportation provided through Durham School Services, including BusZone mobile tracking app with proximity alerts and Verra Mobility stop-arm camera safety enforcement.
• AlphaBEST Before/After School Program Before and after school care program delivered by AlphaBEST Education, offering homework support, STEM, arts, fitness, and language activities in a safe, enriching environment.
• Child Outreach Screening Free developmental screening program for Cumberland children ages 3-5, covering vision, hearing, language, social development, and general development such as motor skills and memory.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three Cumberland schools have earned National Blue Ribbon recognition for academic excellence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIDE is the regulatory and funding partner for the B.F. Norton Elementary School reconstruction project through the School Building Authority, providing oversight, funding approval, and compliance oversight for major capital projects.
• Durham School ServicescoreOthersProvides public school bus transportation for all eligible students within Town limits. Services include route planning, student transport, and coordination with district transportation clerk Tracy Walton.
• AlphaBest EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides before and after school child care programs at multiple elementary schools offering homework support, STEM, arts, fitness, and language activities. Area Manager Jessica Boulris and Regional Director Mary Rousseau oversee local operations.
• Chartwells K12 DiningcoreOthersProvides food services including breakfast and lunch programs across all district schools. Director Frank Esposito oversees district dining services. Also manages meal payment processing through MySchoolBucks.
• Verra MobilityminorOthersProvides school bus stop arm safety program with camera technology to detect and penalize illegal passing of stopped school buses. Data shows 98% of violators do not repeat behavior after receiving notice.
• Rhode Island Purchasing Group / BidNet DirectminorOthersPartnership with BidNet Direct's Rhode Island Purchasing Group enables publication of district solicitations alongside other state agencies and allows vendors to submit bids electronically.
• RISE Prep Mayoral AcademyminorOthersCombined district account with RISE Prep Mayoral Academy for meal payment processing through Heartland Solutions Software on MySchoolBucks website.
• Rhode Island Parents Information Network (RIPIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIPIN partners with district to host Back-to-School Celebration events including backpack giveaways. Provides parent education and support resources including hosting community events at school facilities.
• Cumberland Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on educational resources and student services; library catalog integrated into school websites through Follett Destiny system.
• Town of CumberlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership including shared services, facilities use, joint building committee participation, and coordination with Town Council on budget matters and community planning.
• Anglerfish AquaticsminorOthersManages public open swim times at Cumberland High School pool (Bruce Calvert Aquatic Center) with contact Jeff at 401.632.2744.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boston Public Schools: Larger New England urban public school district; comparable in PK-12 scope, NEASC accreditation, and CTE offerings, but materially larger in scale and more diverse in student demographics than Cumberland.

Direct peers

• Woonsocket Public Schools: Rhode Island urban public school district operating multiple elementary, middle, and high schools under RIDE oversight; comparable in governance, funding model, and PK-12 scope.
• Lincoln Public Schools (RI): Neighboring Rhode Island public K-12 district of comparable suburban size; operates under the same RIDE regulations, NEASC accreditation framework, and state-aid formula as Cumberland.
• North Providence School District: Adjacent Rhode Island public school district of comparable enrollment size operating under the same state regulatory and funding framework; useful comparable for per-pupil spending, staffing, and program benchmarking.
• Cranston Public Schools: Rhode Island public school district with PK-12 footprint, CTE pathways, and integrated preschool models that closely parallel Cumberland's service mix and operational scale.
• Warwick Public Schools: Mid-sized Rhode Island public school district operating preschool through grade 12 with similar suburban/community demographic profile and RIDE oversight as Cumberland.
• Providence Public School District: Largest public K-12 district in Rhode Island serving Providence; directly comparable as a RI public school district subject to RIDE oversight, state-aid funding, and similar assessment frameworks.

Emerging players

• RISE Prep Mayoral Academy: Rhode Island charter school already partnered with Cumberland on a combined meal-payment account; competes for in-district students and operates under RIDE oversight with similar academic accountability.
• Blackstone Valley Prep (Rhode Island Mayoral Academy): Rhode Island public charter school network competing for the same K-12 student pool as Cumberland; comparable in RIDE oversight and curriculum standards but operating under a charter governance model.

Others

• PowerSchool (Follett): Vendor of the Aspen Student Information System used by Cumberland; an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, but a meaningful comparable for the digital infrastructure underpinning district operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CumberlandSchls
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXdDdbzcRS8RLFRNQ6aH-Aw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CumberlandSchoolDept

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cumberland public schools