operational schools · 2023–24
School district or education agency · NCES 0904830
Waterbury School District
Waterbury, CT
Students18,956
Student membership reported by NCES for 2023–24.
students in linked records
federal comparable series
per student
District, state and country
How does this district compare?
State and national figures use the same measure and reporting period. They are weighted by students or staffing whenever the source provides a denominator.
MeasureDistrictCTUnited States
Academic standing2025
23rd percentile48th percentile45th percentileThis district is 25 percentile points lower than the state figure and 22 percentile points lower than the U.S. figure.
Students chronically absent2022–23
30.4%19.3%27.8%This district is 11.1 percentage points higher than the state figure and 2.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Revenue per studentFY 2023
$22,647$28,098$19,509This district is $5,451 per student lower than the state figure and $3,138 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Spending per studentFY 2023
$20,129$23,867$15,859This district is $3,738 per student lower than the state figure and $4,270 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Capital outlay per studentFY 2023
$1,118$1,665$1,964This district is $547 per student lower than the state figure and $846 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Equipment spending per studentFY 2023
$1,067$387$336This district is $680 per student higher than the state figure and $731 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Special-education spending per studentFY 2023
$3,741$4,845$1,793This district is $1,104 per student lower than the state figure and $1,948 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Salaries per studentFY 2023
$9,465$12,787$8,742This district is $3,322 per student lower than the state figure and $723 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Benefits per studentFY 2023
$6,433$6,942$3,769This district is $509 per student lower than the state figure and $2,664 per student higher than the U.S. figure.
Debt outstanding per studentFY 2023
$1,994$5,172$11,715This district is $3,178 per student lower than the state figure and $9,721 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Debt retired per studentFY 2023
$159$615$869This district is $456 per student lower than the state figure and $710 per student lower than the U.S. figure.
Students per teacher2023–24
13:112:115:1This district is 1.0 students per teacher higher than the state figure and 2.0 students per teacher lower than the U.S. figure.
Students per counselor2023–24
313:1320:1376:1This district is 7 students per counselor lower than the state figure and 63 students per counselor lower than the U.S. figure.
District staff per 1,000 students2023–24
160.3197.8138.9This district is 37.5 staff per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 21.4 staff per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
Instructional aides per 1,000 students2023–24
23.134.118.5This district is 11.0 aides per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 4.6 aides per 1,000 students higher than the U.S. figure.
School psychologists per 1,000 students2023–24
0.42.10.9This district is 1.7 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the state figure and 0.5 psychologists per 1,000 students lower than the U.S. figure.
Regular diplomas among completers2023–24
100.0%99.8%99.0%This district is 0.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–122023–24
0.7%1.3%2.6%This district is 0.6 percentage points lower than the state figure and 1.9 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Pre-K students as a share of enrollment2023–24
4.8%3.8%2.9%This district is 1.0 percentage points higher than the state figure and 1.9 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students learning English2021–22 · reporting schools
16.9%9.3%12.0%This district is 7.6 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.9 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · reporting schools
18.3%15.5%14.0%This district is 2.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 4.3 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · reporting schools
3.8%6.9%3.9%This district is 3.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 0.1 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
Teachers reported as certified2021–22 · reporting schools
98.8%98.9%95.8%This district is 0.1 percentage points lower than the state figure and 3.0 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Enrollment change2021–22 to 2023–24
+15.8%+3.1%+0.5%This district is 12.7 percentage points higher than the state figure and 15.3 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals2021–22 · valid district records
75.2%39.9%50.6%This district is 35.3 percentage points higher than the state figure and 24.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students without disabilities2021–22 · matched enrollment
9.6%3.4%4.5%This district is 6.2 percentage points higher than the state figure and 5.1 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students receiving IDEA services2021–22 · matched enrollment
16.8%8.4%9.0%This district is 8.4 percentage points higher than the state figure and 7.8 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Out-of-school suspension rate · students with Section 504 plans2021–22 · matched enrollment
1.3%4.1%6.7%This district is 2.8 percentage points lower than the state figure and 5.4 percentage points lower than the U.S. figure.
School-age children in poverty2024 Census estimate
33.0%12.5%14.4%This district is 20.5 percentage points higher than the state figure and 18.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. figure.
Enrollment · 2023–24
Who attends this district?
Pre-K917 students
4.8%Kindergarten–grade 58,588 students
45.3%Grades 6–83,947 students
20.8%Grades 9–125,504 students
29.0%See enrollment for every grade
Pre-Kindergarten917
Kindergarten1,433
Grade 11,474
Grade 21,483
Grade 31,326
Grade 41,413
Grade 51,459
Grade 61,429
Grade 71,271
Grade 81,247
Grade 91,586
Grade 101,404
Grade 111,310
Grade 121,204
Students by race and ethnicity
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership file, 2023–24. Suppressed or missing cells are not estimated.
Early learning · 2023–24
How much public pre-K is reported?
Pre-K students as a share of district enrollment
Final NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2023–24. Enrollment shows children attending district-run public pre-K. It does not show open seats, waitlists, private providers, program hours, eligibility or the cost to families.
Current staffing · 2023–24
How many staff members support students?
See detailed staffing
Pre-K teachers70.1 FTE
Kindergarten teachers75.8 FTE
Elementary teachers801.3 FTE
Secondary teachers488.3 FTE
Elementary school counselors38 FTE
Secondary school counselors22.6 FTE
Instructional coordinators97.3 FTE
District administrators61.3 FTE
District administrative support41 FTE
School administrative support86.6 FTE
Library and media support1 FTE
Other support staff621.2 FTE
Final NCES Common Core of Data staff file, 2023–24. These are full-time-equivalent positions, not employee headcounts, vacancies or caseloads.
High-school outcomes · 2023–24
How many students completed school or dropped out?
Regular diplomas among completers
Annual dropouts among students in grades 9–12
Final NCES Common Core of Data completer and dropout files, 2023–24. The dropout rate divides the reported annual grades 9–12 dropout count by complete grades 9–12 enrollment. It is not a cohort graduation rate. The diploma share describes credentials among completers and should not be read as a graduation rate.
Teachers and staff
Teacher workforce
Loading the district’s workforce comparison…
Graduation · 2022–23
How many students graduated within four years?
Loading the district's official graduation record…
Learning support · 2021–22 federal snapshot
How many students may need specialized support?
Counts and shares use only schools with a usable value for that measure. The reporting-school denominator prevents missing schools from being counted as zero.
16.9%Students learning English2,990 students · 29 of 29 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
18.3%Students receiving IDEA special-education services3,232 students · 29 of 29 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
3.8%Students with Section 504 plans676 students · 29 of 29 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
3.6%English learners also receiving IDEA services636 students · 29 of 29 schools reported both this measure and enrollment
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Public-use counts are privacy-protected. These figures describe the reporting year, not current enrollment, diagnoses, service quality or unmet need.
Teacher quality and early learning · 2021–22
What did the district report about teachers and preschool?
Teacher certification comparison
U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021–22. Certification status is district-reported and may not match current staffing. Preschool counts cover the federal reporting year and are not a measure of available seats.
Community context · 2024
How many school-age children live in poverty?
This Census estimate provides context about families in the district. It does not measure school quality or describe every student enrolled in the district.
U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. The estimate covers related children ages 5 to 17 in families in poverty and uses 2024–25 district boundaries.
District geography · 2024–25
What area does this district cover?
NCES publishes a geographic boundary for traditional school districts. Charter agencies and some special-purpose agencies may not have one.
Loading the official district boundary…
Source: NCES EDGE School District Boundaries, school year 2024–25.
Comparable districts
Districts serving a similar student population
These peers are matched using enrollment and available student population measures. Districts in CT receive geographic preference, but a closer national match may appear when it is more comparable. Open any profile for a full comparison.
New Haven School DistrictNew Haven, CT18,966 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Bridgeport School DistrictBridgeport, CT19,591 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →Hartford School DistrictHartford, CT16,839 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →State Charter School InstituteFt Collins, CO19,593 studentsSimilar enrollment, English-learner enrollment, special-education enrollment · View profile →St. Louis CitySt. Louis, MO18,284 studentsSimilar enrollment, community poverty, English-learner enrollment · View profile →
Student outcomes
How are students doing?
Four views answer different questions. State test percentages show grade-level expectations; the national research trend shows change over time; graduation and dropout measures describe high-school outcomes.
Are results improving over time?
23rdlatest estimated national standing
20192022202320242025
7 percentile points lower than 2019.
How many high-school students left during the year?
0.7%of students enrolled in grades 9–12
District0.7%
CT1.3%
U.S.2.6%
Lower is better. This annual rate is not the opposite of the graduation rate because the measures use different students and time periods.
State proficiency standards differ and should not be used for cross-state rankings. Graduation ranges and privacy protections are preserved exactly. The academic trend uses Stanford Education Data Archive estimates and is not a state proficiency percentage.
Academic results · 2025
How do results differ among student groups?
White students1,568 assessments
41 out of 100Students not economically disadvantaged3,159 assessments
31 out of 100Fem8,032 assessments
24 out of 100Mal8,385 assessments
23 out of 100Black students3,310 assessments
22 out of 100Economically disadvantaged students13,258 assessments
21 out of 100Hispanic students10,556 assessments
21 out of 100A score of 50 marks the national 2019 midpoint. Higher numbers indicate stronger results on the comparable Stanford research scale. This is not a state proficiency rate.
District makeup
What kinds of schools are in the district?
School levels, settings and types use the NCES 2021–22 directory matched to the federal civil-rights collection.
District finances
How is the district funded, and how does it spend?
Sources of funds
Where the money comes from
Share of district revenue supplied by each level of government.
Uses of funds
Where the money goes
Annual spending for each enrolled student.
Revenue by source: percentages and dollars
How operating money was used
People costs
Equipment, buildings and debt
Selected federal program revenue
What changed since FY 2022
FY 2022$18,981
→FY 2023$20,129
FY 2022$604
→FY 2023$1,118
FY 2022$2,163
→FY 2023$1,994
Revenue shares and spending categories answer different questions and should not be added together. Source: NCES F-33 district finance, FY 2023.
Attendance
How has chronic absence changed?
7,814 of 16,534 students
6,283 of 15,781 students
5,026 of 16,555 students
Specialized support and security · 2021–22
What specialized roles were reported?
Staffing is reported as full-time equivalents in the 2021–22 CRDC collection.
Learning opportunities
What do district schools offer?
Algebra I5 reporting schools
100%
Calculus5 reporting schools
80%
Biology5 reporting schools
100%
Chemistry5 reporting schools
100%
Physics5 reporting schools
100%
Computer science5 reporting schools
0%
Advanced Placement5 reporting schools
100%
Dual enrollment5 reporting schools
80%
Gifted programs29 reporting schools
3%
International Baccalaureate5 reporting schools
0%
Athletics5 reporting schools
80%
Shares use only schools for which the program was applicable and reported. A districtwide percentage does not guarantee availability at every grade or campus. Source: 2021–22 CRDC.
Safety and discipline
What was reported across district schools?
1,864Out-of-school suspensions29 reporting schoolsSee schools →1,748In-school suspensions29 reporting schoolsSee schools →329Law-enforcement referrals29 reporting schoolsSee schools →209School-related arrests29 reporting schoolsSee schools →
Counts are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Open a measure to see the schools behind the district total.
Technology and safety · 2021–22
What access and incident data is available?
Technology and incident figures are from the 2021–22 CRDC collection. Device counts describe the reporting year, not current inventory.
Six questions parents ask
What the available data says
Each answer shows its reporting year and opens a deeper comparison. Missing and suppressed results are never shown as zero.
Are students making academic progress?5 years of resultsLatest research estimate: 2025Explore and compare →Are students missing too much school?30.4% chronically absent2022–23 · 16,555 students measuredExplore and compare →Is the district improving?Declined overallCompare the earliest and latest available yearsExplore and compare →Where are student-group gaps largest?7 student groups2025 research estimatesExplore and compare →How much does the district spend?$20,129current spending per studentExplore and compare →Does the district have enough support staff?313:1 counselor ratioStudents per counselor in the 2023–24 federal staffing fileExplore and compare →
8 of 8 national data layers are matched to this NCES district ID. Identity and school counts use NCES records. Academic estimates use SEDA, attendance uses EDFacts, finance uses NCES F-33, staffing and enrollment use 2023–24 NCES CCD where available, teacher certification, preschool and policy fields use the 2021–22 CRDC, and community poverty context uses Census SAIPE. Four-year graduation rates use 2022–23 EDFacts. Every detailed view preserves its reporting year.
See all sources →