Best Public Schools in Waterbury, CT

The city of Waterbury, Connecticut is home to 32 schools, including 22 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 6 high schools, all part of the Waterbury School District. The district is ranked 151 out of 158 districts in Connecticut and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating poor overall performance.

A few schools stand out in the district, including Waterbury Arts Magnet School, a public magnet high school that performs significantly better than the district and state averages across various metrics, ranking 91st out of 145 high schools in Connecticut with a 2-star rating. Another standout is ACES at Chase, a public magnet middle school that also outperforms the district and state, ranking 128th out of 250 middle schools in Connecticut with a 2-star rating. Additionally, Regan School, an elementary school, stands out with very high proficiency rates in Math, particularly in 3rd grade.

Overall, the schools in Waterbury serve a diverse student population, with the majority being Hispanic and African American students, and have high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The district's performance is consistently low compared to the state average across multiple metrics, suggesting a systemic issue that requires a comprehensive, district-wide approach to address the underlying challenges and improve educational outcomes for all students.