Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 29 schools in district

Michael F. Wallace Middle School

3465 East Main St., Waterbury, CT 06705Waterbury School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 04–08Non-Charter
1,062
Students
Total enrolled
$23,280
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 62% vs nat'l
11.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 25% vs nat'l
44/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 12% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 1,062 students in grades 04–08 in Waterbury, Connecticut.
62% above average funding
District spends $23,280 per pupil, 62% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 44th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Michael F. Wallace Middle School is a very large middle in Waterbury, Connecticut, serving grades 04–08 with 1,062 students. The district invests $23,280 per student — 62% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 86% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Michael F. Wallace Middle School

1,062
Total Students
11.5 : 1
Student:Teacher
86%
Free Lunch
92
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (04–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution586 male · 476 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility86%
National avg 52% · 914 students
Student Composition
10%
60%
25%
Asian2%
White10%
Hispanic / Latino60%
Black25%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 090483000983

Academic Outcomes at Michael F. Wallace Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
44
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 44th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 51th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 06705

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$23,280Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$23,280
State avg
$28,931
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$10,243
Student Support$4,423
Administration$2,794
Operations$3,492
Other$2,328
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $23,280 spent per student, an estimated $10,313 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
64%
24%
State government
63.9%
Local (property tax)
23.5%
Federal programs
12.6%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $23,280/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 86% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
H. S. Chase SchoolRotella Interdistrict Magnet SchoolMaloney Interdistrict Magnet SchoolB. W. Tinker School
+17 more
↓
Middle
West Side Middle SchoolNorth End Middle School
↓
High School
Crosby High SchoolJohn F. Kennedy High SchoolWilby High SchoolWaterbury Arts Magnet School
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades04 – 08
Location—
CountyNaugatuck Valley Planning Region
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWaterbury School District →
Phone: (203)574-8140
NCES ID: 090483000983
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Waterbury seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Waterbury School District
High
Crosby High School
1,400 students · 09–12
● 44 opp84% FRL
High
John F. Kennedy High School
1,297 students · 09–12
● 53 opp79% FRL
High
Wilby High School
1,157 students · 09–12
● 34 opp85% FRL
High
Waterbury Arts Magnet School
821 students · 06–12
● 41 opp69% FRL
Mid
West Side Middle School
817 students · 06–08
● 53 opp81% FRL
High
Waterbury Career Academy
766 students · 09–12
● 34 opp80% FRL
Mid
North End Middle School
692 students · 06–08
● 34 opp88% FRL
Elem
H. S. Chase School
629 students · PK–05
● 44 opp73% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
3465 East Main St., Waterbury, CT 06705
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

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.