Waterbury School District, CT

Original Research by School Decision on Waterbury School District

Waterbury School District serves a city with deep economic complexity. The district's enrollment is substantial, spanning from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve across a roster of neighborhood schools and several magnet programs. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with sizable Black and Asian populations; white and multiracial students make up smaller shares. The district has implemented universal free breakfast and lunch, removing a financial and administrative barrier for families.

The district's state assessment results reveal a significant academic challenge. In mathematics, proficiency rates are low across tested grades. In grade three, roughly one-quarter of students score at proficiency; that figure falls sharply by grade five to less than one-fifth, and continues declining through middle school, reaching roughly one-eighth by grade eight. English language arts proficiency is similarly low across the grade band, sitting in the low-to-mid twenties across elementary and middle grades. Science results, where tested in grades five and eight, show proficiency rates in the low-to-mid range. These results place the district's overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile among the region's districts.

Chronic absenteeism rates are also elevated, sitting well above the regional median and in the bottom quartile among county districts. High absenteeism can compound academic challenges and is a pattern a parent may want to understand more fully with individual schools, as attendance affects learning time and engagement.

On the positive side, the district has secured approval under Connecticut's Right to Read law to continue its existing, evidence-based early literacy approach in grades K-3, signaling alignment with science-of-reading practices for foundational reading instruction. The district also launched the Waterbury Promise, a last-dollar college scholarship for local graduates attending accredited Connecticut colleges, with partner universities offering additional scholarship matches. This represents a tangible pathway-building resource for students pursuing higher education.

The Waterbury housing market reflects affordability relative to state benchmarks. Home values are below the state average, and rent costs are moderate, though rents have been rising year-over-year. For families weighing a move to the area, housing remains relatively accessible compared to many Connecticut communities.

The district operates two high schools, Crosby and Wilby, along with three middle schools and a portfolio of elementary buildings. It includes magnet programs focused on arts and career pathways, offering specialized tracks within the public system. A career academy serves students seeking work-based and technical preparation.

Waterbury is a district in transition, with structural supports being put in place to address learning and college access, but with current proficiency levels and attendance patterns that require close attention. Families should engage with individual school data and programs to understand what specific supports exist for their children.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

18,956

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 63%

Black 21%

White 10%

Asian 2%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

21%

33%

Gr 4

26%

38%

Gr 5

26%

37%

Gr 6

26%

38%

Gr 7

26%

40%

Gr 8

28%

34%

Math

Gr 3

24%

41%

Gr 4

25%

36%

Gr 5

16%

24%

Gr 6

14%

22%

Gr 7

13%

24%

Gr 8

11%

20%

Science

Gr 5

28%

37%

Gr 8

22%

30%

Schools in this District

29 schools are officially reported under this district.

Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School

Woodrow Wilson School

Margaret M. Generali Elementary School

F. J. Kingsbury School

Gilmartin School

H. S. Chase School

Hopeville School

John F. Kennedy High School

Michael F. Wallace Middle School

Wendell L. Cross School

West Side Middle School

Wilby High School

North End Middle School

Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School

Waterbury Arts Magnet School

Duggan School

Reed School

Waterbury Career Academy

Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

28%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

15%

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

28%

Grade 4

28%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

28%

Grade 7

29%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

30%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$279,931

Year-over-year change+2.7%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$262K to $350K

vs. state typical0.63x

vs. national typical0.76x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
06708	Waterbury	$300K	+2.8%	33.1%
06704	Waterbury	$262K	+1.8%	28.3%
06705	Waterbury	$265K	+3.3%	19.2%
06706	Waterbury	$281K	+4.3%	13.4%
06710	Waterbury	$301K	+0.6%	3.4%
06770	Naugatuck	$350K	+3.9%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,552/mo

Year-over-year change+6.1%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$1,263 to $1,779/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
06708	Waterbury	$1,616	+6.4%	33.1%
06704	Waterbury	$1,533	+9.1%	28.3%
06705	Waterbury	$1,677	+2.2%	19.2%
06706	Waterbury	$1,263	—	13.4%
06710	Waterbury	$1,490	+0.1%	3.4%
06770	Naugatuck	$1,779	+12.4%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,413/mo

Home price / national median income3.3x

Annual rent / national median income22.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$139/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$441,466 (+4.8% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.