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Needs Improvement

#921 of 990 schools in CT

John F. Kennedy High School

High School · Waterbury School District · Waterbury, CT

A Waterbury School District high school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.

422 Highland Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708

  • Math 3% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 22% proficient (2022)
  • 85.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.2Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.5 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics3.6Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2.5% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency12% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)17% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-4.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
College Readiness3.2Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate85%
AP Participation7.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.2Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
District spending per student$21,973
Chronic Absenteeism38.1%

Students at John F. Kennedy High School score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 17%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CT average.

Math Proficiency3%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency22%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 12% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
45%
ELA
66%
2010
Math
46%
ELA
59%
2011
Math
38%
ELA
66%
2012
Math
40%
ELA
53%
2013
Math
75%
ELA
25%
2014
Math
11%
ELA
36%
2015
Math
9%
ELA
33%
2016
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2017
Math
7%
ELA
28%
2018
Math
10%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
10%
ELA
25%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
3%
ELA
22%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from CT state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

82.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where John F. Kennedy High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 47Car-Dependent
  • Transit 36Some Transit
  • Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,245/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waterbury), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$63,705

Median home value

$196,700

Median rent

$1,275/mo

College educated

22%

Homeownership

54.9%

Poverty rate

16.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 06708; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
7.5% participation·State avg: 3 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics5sports offered
3 boys'·2 girls'·12 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Holy Cross High SchoolPrivate · tuition5.1private9–121.1 mi527Compare →
Waterbury Arts Magnet SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.46–121.2 mi821Compare →
Alpha & Omega Christian AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–111.3 mi15Compare →
Bais Yaakov of Waterbury High SchoolPrivate · tuition5.9private9–121.5 mi43Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Waterbury School District

Schools in district
29
Rank in district
#19 of 29
District spending per student
$21,973NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
33.0%Census SAIPE · 2024

John F. Kennedy High School is listed in Waterbury School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About John F. Kennedy High School

John F. Kennedy High School is a public high school in Waterbury, CT, part of Waterbury School District, serving approximately 1,391 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #921 of 990 schools in CT.

State assessment records show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about John F. Kennedy High School

What grades does John F. Kennedy High School serve?

John F. Kennedy High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend John F. Kennedy High School?

John F. Kennedy High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,391 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John F. Kennedy High School?

The student-teacher ratio at John F. Kennedy High School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John F. Kennedy High School rank in CT?

John F. Kennedy High School ranks #921 of 990 schools in CT.

What is John F. Kennedy High School's MySchoolScout rating?

John F. Kennedy High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at John F. Kennedy High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, John F. Kennedy High School has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is John F. Kennedy High School a charter school?

No, John F. Kennedy High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is John F. Kennedy High School a Title I school?

No, John F. Kennedy High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John F. Kennedy High School?

82.8% of students at John F. Kennedy High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,391
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
98
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Connecticut Planning Region 4
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
38.1%
4-Year Graduation
85.0%
Area population (ZIP 06708)
29,103
Area average commute
30.2 min
Area median age
37
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 06708; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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