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Waterbury School District

Connecticut · Public School District
29
Schools
17,131
Students
$23,280
Per-Pupil Spend
+62% nat'l
77.4%
Free Lunch Rate
+25pp vs nat'l
86.1%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Waterbury School District is a public school district in Connecticut serving 17,131 students across 29 schools. It includes 21 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 86.1% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $23,280 is above average for a US public school district. 77% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 41/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (29)
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Michael F. Wallace Middle School04–081,062
North End Middle School06–08692
West Side Middle School06–08817
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Crosby High School09–121,400
John F. Kennedy High School09–121,297
Waterbury Arts Magnet School06–12821
Waterbury Career Academy09–12766
Wilby High School09–121,157
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,280+62% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
64%
24%
State
63.9%
Local (property tax)
23.5%
Federal
12.6%

State funding accounts for 64% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
29
Schools
17,131
Students
77%
Free Lunch
$23K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate86.1%
Opportunity Score41/100
StateConnecticut →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $23,280 per pupil — 62% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 29 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
77% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Waterbury School District?
Waterbury School District has 29 public schools, serving a total of 17,131 students.
What is the graduation rate for Waterbury School District?
The graduation rate is 86.1%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Waterbury School District spend per student?
Waterbury School District spends $23,280 per pupil — 62% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Waterbury School District?
77% of students in Waterbury School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Waterbury School District?
No, Waterbury School District does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Waterbury School District serve?
Waterbury School District serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Waterbury School District?
The median opportunity score across schools in Waterbury School District is 41/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.