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Excellent

#14 of 201 private schools in CT

Top 7% of private schools

Waterside School

Elementary School

770 PACIFIC ST, Stamford, CT 06902

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 23 schools in Stamford. Learn more

Enrollment

119

Student-Teacher

3.7:1

Score

8.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Stamford

#1 of 11

public schools

Connecticut elementary schools

#3 of 88

About Waterside School

Waterside School is an elementary school located in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, Waterside has a student body of 119 students with a favorable teacher-to-student ratio of 3.7 to 1. The school houses 32 full-time equivalent teachers who work together to provide a nurturing educational environment.

While academic performance data is limited, the MySchoolScout rating for Waterside School stands at 4.2 out of 10, indicating there may be room for improvement in certain areas. However, this shouldn't overshadow the positive aspects like the dedicated staff and small class sizes that support individual student needs. Set within a mid-size city, Waterside School is situated amidst a diverse community on Pacific Street, offering students plenty of opportunities to engage with their surroundings beyond the classroom walls.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 119 students, Waterside School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 3.7:1, Waterside School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Waterside School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$84,245
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$95,186
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.13x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
37%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$68.1M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 119 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Waterside School compares to 14 public schools serving similar grades in Stamford, CT

Student-Teacher Ratio
3.7:1
This School
vs
12.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
119
This School
vs
588
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.1
This School
vs
5.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Asian 59.7% vs 0%
Black 27.7% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.4% vs 0%
Waterside School Stamford Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Waterside School (this school) 8.1
Stamford Charter School for Excellence 4.6
Hart School 6.6
K. T. Murphy School 5.1
Rogers International School 6.2
Westover School 6.6
Strawberry Hill an ext. of Rogers International 7.1
Julia A. Stark School 5.9
Stillmeadow School 7.2
Toquam Magnet School 5.2
Newfield School 5.6
Roxbury School 7.4
Springdale School 4.2
Davenport Ridge School 4.2
Northeast School 6.1

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CT.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 3.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,183
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 56%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 119
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CT

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Asian 59.7%
Black 27.7%
Hispanic 8.4%
Two or More 4.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

770 PACIFIC ST, Stamford, CT 06902

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Waterside School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. International School At Dundee (rated 9.6/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Riverside), which scores notably higher. Another option is Riverside School (rated 9.1/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Riverside), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Old Greenwich School (rated 8.9/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Old Greenwich), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Stamford, see our Stamford schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Stamford Charter School for Excellence Stamford 1.0 mi 4.6
FUSION ACADEMY - GREENWICH Stamford 1.0 mi
Hart School Stamford 1.2 mi 6.6
Cloonan School Stamford 1.4 mi 5.2
J. M. Wright Technical High School Stamford 1.5 mi 3.8
Stamford High School Stamford 1.5 mi 6.4
Westover School Stamford 1.5 mi 6.6
Strawberry Hill an ext. of Rogers International Stamford 1.8 mi 7.1
Rogers International School Stamford 1.5 mi 6.2
K. T. Murphy School Stamford 1.5 mi 5.1
Old Greenwich School Old Greenwich 1.7 mi 8.9
Julia A. Stark School Stamford 2.0 mi 5.9
Stillmeadow School Stamford 2.2 mi 7.2
International School At Dundee Riverside 2.1 mi 9.6
OUR LADY OF GRACE NURSERY SCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Stamford 2.5 mi
THE SPIRE SCHOOL Stamford 2.7 mi 6.6
THE PINNACLE SCHOOL Stamford 2.7 mi 6.7
Dolan School Stamford 2.7 mi 6.2
Riverside School Riverside 2.2 mi 9.1
Toquam Magnet School Stamford 2.8 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 06902 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$92,527

Median Home Value

$515,000

Median Rent

$2,139/mo

Population

72,915

College Educated

43.6%

Homeownership

40.9%

Avg Commute

27 min

Poverty Rate

10.2%

Median Age

37.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Waterside School has a median household income of $92,527. It is a well-educated community where 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $515,000, with a median rent of $2,139/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.2%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
HUDSON COUNTRY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Danbury, CT 8.1
ST THOMAS'S DAY SCHOOL New Haven, CT 8.6
HOUSATONIC VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL Newtown, CT 7.5
Sharon Center School Sharon, CT 7.2
Lee H. Kellogg School Falls Village, CT 9.1
MATER SALVATORIS COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Stamford, CT 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Waterside School

What grades does Waterside School serve?

Waterside School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Waterside School?

Waterside School has an enrollment of approximately 119 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterside School?

The student-teacher ratio at Waterside School is 3.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Waterside School rank in CT?

Waterside School is ranked #14 out of 201 private schools in CT.

What is Waterside School's MySchoolScout rating?

Waterside School has a composite rating of 8.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Waterside School a private school?

Yes, Waterside School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Waterside School a religious school?

No, Waterside School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
87 Very Walkable
Transit Score
71 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
88 Very Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (1,386/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Stamford). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
119
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
3.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
169 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
FAIRFIELD
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

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