Watertown City School District
School District · Watertown, New York
Avg Rating
4.4
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,993
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Avg Rating
4.4
out of 10
Schools
8
5 elem, 2 mid, 1 high
Enrollment
3,993
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
Evaluating Watertown City School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Watertown City School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Watertown Senior High School
Watertown · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
North Elementary School
Watertown · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Sherman School
Watertown · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
New York rank
#587 of 615
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.8
below New York avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,619
$8,161 vs New York median
District size
3,993 students
Much larger than New York median
The short answer
Watertown City School District ranks #587 of 615 New York districts by overall school rating. Watertown City School District's schools with real test data average 4.4/10 across 8 schools. Its top-rated schools are Watertown Senior High School (6.6/10), North Elementary School (5.2/10), and Sherman School (4.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.6/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.3 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 City School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Watertown City School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watertown Senior High School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 2 | North Elementary School | 5.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Sherman School | 4.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Harold T Wiley School | 4.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Case Middle School | 4.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Knickerbocker School | 4.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Ohio Street School | 3.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Starbuck Elementary School | 2.5 / 10 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Watertown City School District
Watertown City School District is a Watertown, New York school district serving 8 schools.The district educates 3,993 students with a student-teacher ratio of 13.6:1. District-level spending was $19,619 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 4.4/10, Watertown City School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Watertown Senior High School, which has a composite score of 6.6/10.
In standardized testing, Watertown City School District students show an average math proficiency of 42.2% and ELA proficiency of 44.5%.
The district includes 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Watertown City School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Watertown City School District with test data.
Schools in Watertown City School District
8 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- New York
- City
- Watertown
- Total Enrollment
- 3,993
- Teachers (FTE)
- 294
- District spending per student
- $19,619NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 23.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Watertown City School District?
Watertown City School District has 8 schools in total — 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Watertown City School District?
The average composite rating for Watertown City School District is 4.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Watertown City School District?
Watertown City School District's district-level spending was $19,619 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Watertown City School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Watertown City School District is 13.6:1.
What is the top-rated school in Watertown City School District?
Watertown Senior High School is the highest-rated school in Watertown City School District with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What are the test scores in Watertown City School District?
Across schools in Watertown City School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 42.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 44.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Watertown City School District compare to other districts in New York?
Watertown City School District has an average school rating of 4.4/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in New York by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 42.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 44.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in NY
Compare Watertown City School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- New York City Geographic District # 2 (119)
- New York City Geographic District #10 (83)
- New York City Geographic District #31 (74)
- New York City Geographic District # 9 (69)
- New York City Geographic District #27 (63)
- New York City Geographic District #11 (62)
- Buffalo City School District (61)
- Nyc Special Schools - District 75 (59)
- New York City Geographic District #24 (57)
- New York City Geographic District #19 (52)
- New York City Geographic District #30 (52)
- New York City Geographic District # 8 (52)
- New York City Geographic District #28 (50)
- New York City Geographic District #15 (49)
- New York City Geographic District #17 (49)
- New York City Geographic District #12 (47)
- New York City Geographic District #25 (46)
- New York City Geographic District #29 (46)
- Rochester City School District (46)
- New York City Geographic District #20 (45)
- New York City Geographic District # 6 (45)
- New York City Geographic District # 3 (43)
- New York City Geographic District #13 (41)
- New York City Geographic District # 7 (41)
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.
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