Enrollment
1,408
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Hamilton, NJ
Hamilton West-Watson
Federal NCES profile for Hamilton West-Watson, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 66/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 340654003092
👥 S:T ratio 43
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 60
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hamilton West-Watson earns 66/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of New Jersey schools. It is also one of the largest schools in New Jersey.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Hamilton · Resource Index
- 66
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.2:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 36.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hamilton West-Watson has class sizes larger than 87% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hamilton West-Watson ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Hamilton, NJ.
School address
District: Hamilton Township Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 340654003092 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
99.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
36.0%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
+22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hamilton West-Watson compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hamilton West-Watson
Hamilton West-Watson is a large high school in Hamilton, New Jersey, enrolling 1,408 students.
Class loads run heavy: 14.2:1 is larger than about 87% of New Jersey schools and 20% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 36.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in New Jersey, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,408 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,501 scored New Jersey schools.
Against 103 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #21.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (54%) and White (22%) (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 25 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 201 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
17.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Hamilton's high schools, it stands alongside Mercer High School (200 students): Hamilton West-Watson is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.2:1 vs 5.9:1).
Hamilton Township Public School District also operates Hamilton East - Steinert (1,437 students) and Hamilton North - Nottingham (1,147 students) alongside Hamilton West-Watson.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Hamilton West-Watson compares
Hamilton West-Watson on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▲ 20% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.0% | ▲ 22% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,408 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,408
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
36.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 87% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$21,261
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $24,984
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 201 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 54.4%
White 22.2%
African American 18.6%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 54.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.9, Hamilton West-Watson is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 25
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hamilton Township Public School District, which includes Hamilton West-Watson.
$21,261
Per student
-15%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.9%
State 47.5%
Federal 6.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Hamilton West-Watson Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton East - Steinert | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hamilton North - Nottingham | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Albert E Grice Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Emily C. Reynolds Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Richard C Crockett Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hamilton West-Watson's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,437
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,147
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 991
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 966
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 834
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar high schools in Hamilton
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,408 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hamilton West-Watson's federal record.
- Compare Hamilton West-Watson against another school. Compare schools
- Hamilton Township Public School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton West-Watson
How many students attend Hamilton West-Watson?
Hamilton West-Watson has 1,408 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hamilton, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hamilton West-Watson?
The student-teacher ratio at Hamilton West-Watson is 14.2:1, which is 20% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hamilton West-Watson?
36.0% of students at Hamilton West-Watson are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hamilton West-Watson?
The largest demographic group at Hamilton West-Watson is Hispanic or Latino at 54.4% of enrollment, in Hamilton, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hamilton West-Watson?
Hamilton West-Watson has a Resource Investment Index of 66/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hamilton West-Watson rank among high schools in Hamilton?
By Resource Investment Index, Hamilton West-Watson ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Hamilton, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Hamilton on the city page.
Is Hamilton West-Watson a good school?
Hamilton West-Watson earns 66/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of New Jersey schools. It is also one of the largest schools in New Jersey. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Hamilton Township Public School District?
Besides Hamilton West-Watson, Hamilton Township Public School District also operates Hamilton East - Steinert (1,437 students), Hamilton North - Nottingham (1,147 students), and Albert E Grice Middle School (991 students). See the Hamilton Township Public School District district page for the complete list.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.