Best Schools in Watertown, New York
12 schools · 6 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Watertown?
Use this page to compare every school in Watertown 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.
Sherman School
Elementary · Watertown City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Starbuck Elementary School
Elementary · Watertown City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Knickerbocker School
Elementary · Watertown City School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Watertown for 2026 are Sherman School (6.9/10), Starbuck Elementary School (6.6/10), and Knickerbocker School (6.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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
12
9 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$170,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
12
9 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.3
out of 10
Median Home
$170,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 68% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Watertown schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +15.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Watertown schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Watertown
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 12 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherman School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Starbuck Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Knickerbocker School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Watertown Senior High School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Harold T Wiley School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Case Middle School | 4.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Ohio Street School | 2.9 / 10 |
| 8 | North Elementary School | 2.8 / 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
- 5.3/10
- Median household income
- $57,503
- Median home value
- $170,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 50%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Watertown compares
New York rank
#438 of 473
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below New York avg (6.4)
Median household income
$58k
62% of New York median
Schools in this city
12
Watertown City School District runs 89% of Watertown's public schools
Watertown touches 2 districts, but Watertown City School District is the one most addresses actually attend.
Watertown City School District accounts for 8 of 9 public schools (89%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 6.9 — the spread is inside Watertown, not a citywide average.
- Watertown City School District8 public · 89%
- Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida Boces1 public · 11%
About Schools in Watertown, New York
Watertown, New York is home to 12 schools, including 9 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.3 out of 10, schools in Watertown show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Watertown is Sherman School with a composite score of 6.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Watertown is served by 2 school districts: WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, JEFFERSON-LEWIS-HAMILTON-HERKIMER-ONEIDA BOCES. These districts collectively serve 3,993 students.
Watertown's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $57,503. The poverty rate in the area is 17.7%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 311 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 185 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 360 students · Kindergarten–4th | 6.3 | ||
| 4 | 311 students · Kindergarten–4th | 2.9 | ||
| 5 | 440 students · Kindergarten–4th | 2.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 171 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 621 students · 5th–6th | 4.7 |
| 2 | 591 students · 7th–8th | 4.6 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,139 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 178 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 299 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 134 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Watertown
Watertown, New York · 12 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$57,503
Median Home Value
$170,100
Median Rent
$974/mo
Population
37,409
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
50%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
17.7%
Community Profile
Watertown has a median household income of $57,503. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $170,100, with a median rent of $974/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.7%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New York
- Elementary
- 6
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 2
Resources
Other Major Cities in New York
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 Watertown, New York
How many schools are in Watertown, New York?
Watertown has 12 schools, including 9 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Watertown, New York?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Watertown is 5.3 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 Watertown, New York?
The top-ranked school in Watertown on MySchoolScout is Sherman School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Watertown, New York?
The top-ranked elementary school in Watertown on MySchoolScout is Sherman School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Watertown, New York?
The top-ranked middle school in Watertown on MySchoolScout is Harold T Wiley School with a composite score of 4.7/10.
What is the best high school in Watertown, New York?
The top-ranked high school in Watertown on MySchoolScout is Watertown Senior High School with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Watertown, New York?
Watertown is served by 2 school districts: Watertown City School District, Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida Boces.
What is the education level in Watertown, New York?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Watertown have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Watertown, New York?
The median household income in Watertown is approximately $57,503 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Watertown, New York?
Yes, Watertown has 3 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Immaculate Heart Central Jr/sr High School with a score of 6.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Watertown, New York?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Watertown is 12.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Watertown, New York?
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.
Related reading
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- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New York State Education Dept., and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.