Top Rankings
Waterbury School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Connecticut for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 5,569 students in Waterbury School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Connecticut.
Public High Schools in Waterbury School District have an average math proficiency score of 14% (versus the Connecticut public high school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Public High School in Waterbury School District have a Graduation Rate of 82%, which is less than the Connecticut average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Waterbury Arts Magnet School, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Connecticut or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Connecticut public high school average of 56% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CT)
# Schools
29 Schools
219 Schools
# Students
17,123 Students
165,817 Students
# Teachers
1,311 Teachers
13,492 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Waterbury School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 195 school districts in Connecticut (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has increased from 77% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#190 out of 198 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
14%
41%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
47%
Graduation Rate
78%
89%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)30.4%
19.3%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.69
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
2%
5%
% Hispanic
63%
32%
% Black
21%
15%
% White
10%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,835 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,315. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,563 is less than the state median of $25,377. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$391 MM
$12,920 MM
Spending
$386 MM
$12,459 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,835
$26,315
Spending / Student
$22,563
$25,377
Best Waterbury School District Public High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Waterbury Arts Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
16 South Elm St.
Waterbury, CT 06706
(203) 573-6300
Waterbury, CT 06706
(203) 573-6300
Gr: 6-12 | 820 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #22.
Waterbury Career Academy
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
175 Birch Street
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 574-8000
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 574-8000
Gr: 9-12 | 709 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #33.
John F. Kennedy High School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
422 Highland Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 574-8153
Waterbury, CT 06708
(203) 574-8153
Gr: 9-12 | 1,391 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #44.
Crosby High School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
300 Pierpont Rd.
Waterbury, CT 06705
(203) 574-8061
Waterbury, CT 06705
(203) 574-8061
Gr: 9-12 | 1,453 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #55.
Wilby High School
(Math: 3% | Reading: 10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
568 Bucks Hill Rd.
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 574-8100
Waterbury, CT 06704
(203) 574-8100
Gr: 9-12 | 1,196 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Recent Articles
Phone Bans Are Expanding: Will They Actually Help Your Child?
Phone bans are spreading in public schools nationwide. Learn how to evaluate whether a school's cellphone policy will improve your child's learning and well-being.
Should You Move for a Better Public School or Stay Put?
Considering a move to a higher-rated public school? Learn how to weigh school quality, housing costs, and family priorities before relocating.
How to Compare Public School Value Beyond Test Scores
Learn how to evaluate public school value using student support, school climate, opportunities, and outcomes, not just standardized test scores.
