Best Schools in Waterbury, Connecticut
38 schools · 26 Elementary · 4 Middle · 7 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Waterbury?
Use this page to compare every school in Waterbury by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Carrington School
Elementary · Waterbury School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School
Elementary · Waterbury School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Washington School
Elementary · Waterbury School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waterbury for 2026 are Carrington School (7.5/10), Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School (7.3/10), and Washington School (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
38
32 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$188,780
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
38
32 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$188,780
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.5/10 despite 70% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Waterbury schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Waterbury schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Waterbury
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 32 rated schools; 38 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrington School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Washington School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Hopeville School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Waterbury Arts Magnet School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | H. S. Chase School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Wendell L. Cross School | 6.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Waterbury Career Academy | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Gilmartin School | 6.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $45,911
- Median home value
- $188,780
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 37%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waterbury compares
Connecticut rank
#109 of 128
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below Connecticut avg (6.4)
Median household income
$46k
42% of Connecticut median
Schools in this city
36
Waterbury School District runs 91% of Waterbury's public schools
Waterbury touches 4 districts, but Waterbury School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Waterbury School District accounts for 29 of 32 public schools (91%). The other 3 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 32 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 7.5 — the spread is inside Waterbury, not a citywide average.
- Waterbury School District29 public · 91%
- Area Cooperative Educational Services1 public · 3%
- Brass City Charter School District1 public · 3%
- Connecticut Technical Education and Career System1 public · 3%
About Schools in Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury's public school system spans 32 ranked schools, giving families a range of options across the city's elementary, middle, and high school levels. The district's average score of 4.5 out of 10 places it in the lower tier of Connecticut public school systems, and only 2 of those 32 schools — just 6% — clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold. For parents who prioritize academic performance, school selection within Waterbury matters considerably more than the district as a whole.
Regan School stands out as the city's top performer, earning a 7.8 and ranking as one of the strongest elementary programs in the area. Bucks Hill School follows at 7.0, making it the second school to clear that performance bar. These two elementaries are the best starting points for families focused on academic outcomes at the K–5 level. Michael F. Wallace Middle School leads the middle school category at 6.9, sitting just below the top tier but meaningfully above the city average. Parents moving children from Regan or Bucks Hill have a credible next step in Wallace.
At the high school level, Waterbury Arts Magnet School scores 5.9, making it the city's highest-rated secondary option. As a magnet program, it draws students with a focus on arts integration alongside core academics — a differentiated choice for students whose strengths align with that model. Hopeville School also earns a 5.9 at the elementary level, rounding out the top five.
The practical reality for Waterbury parents is this: the best schools in the city are concentrated at the elementary level, and the performance gap between the top two schools and the rest of the district is significant. Families should confirm attendance boundaries early, since the highest-rated schools are not evenly distributed across neighborhoods. Parents willing to explore magnet or school-choice programs will find the most performance upside. At the middle and high school levels, options narrow, so planning the full K–12 path from the elementary years gives families the most flexibility.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 453 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 216 students · Pre-K–3rd | 7.3 |
| 3 | 295 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 284 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 585 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 595 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 612 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 482 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.2 |
| 9 | 614 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 410 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.2 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Waterbury
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 799 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 734 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
| 3 | 1,048 students · 4th–8th | 5.5 |
| 4 | 567 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 821 students · 6th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 755 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 785 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 1,452 students · 9th–12th | 3.2 | ||
| 5 | 1,391 students · 9th–12th | 3.1 | ||
| 6 | 1,178 students · 9th–12th | 2.7 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Holy Cross High SchoolPrivate 495 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated |
Schools in Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut · 38 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$45,911
Median Home Value
$188,780
Median Rent
$1,122/mo
Population
114,453
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
37%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
27.6%
Community Profile
Waterbury has a median household income of $45,911. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $188,780, with a median rent of $1,122/month. The area has a poverty rate of 27.6%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Connecticut
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 7
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in Connecticut
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Waterbury, Connecticut
How many schools are in Waterbury, Connecticut?
Waterbury has 38 schools, including 32 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waterbury is 5.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The top-ranked school in Waterbury on MySchoolScout is Carrington School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waterbury on MySchoolScout is Carrington School with a composite score of 7.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The top-ranked middle school in Waterbury on MySchoolScout is West Side Middle School with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The top-ranked high school in Waterbury on MySchoolScout is Waterbury Arts Magnet School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Waterbury, Connecticut?
Waterbury is served by 4 school districts: Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, Area Cooperative Educational Services, Brass City Charter School District, Waterbury School District.
What is the education level in Waterbury, Connecticut?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Waterbury have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The median household income in Waterbury is approximately $45,911 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waterbury, Connecticut?
Yes, Waterbury has 6 private schools alongside 32 public schools. The top-rated private school is Children's Community School with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waterbury, Connecticut?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waterbury is 13.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waterbury, Connecticut?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Connecticut Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.