Enrollment
1,391
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Waterbury, CT
John F. Kennedy High School
Federal NCES profile for John F. Kennedy High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 090483000979
👥 S:T ratio 38
📚 AP courses 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John F. Kennedy High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut.
- #3 of 5
- high schools in Waterbury · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 77.6%
- free-lunch eligible
John F. Kennedy High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John F. Kennedy High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Waterbury, CT.
School address
District: Waterbury School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090483000979 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
90.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
77.6%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+113% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How John F. Kennedy High School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at John F. Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School is a high-poverty, large high school in Waterbury, Connecticut, enrolling 1,391 students.
Class loads run heavy: 15.5:1 is larger than about 94% of Connecticut schools and 28% above the 12.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 77.6% of students qualify for free meals, 113% above the Connecticut average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Connecticut, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,391 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 18 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #9.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (63%) and African American (23%) (diversity index 54/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 12 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 348 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Waterbury School District spends $18,981 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 498 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,391 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 10 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Waterbury's high schools, it stands alongside Crosby High School (1,453 students): John F. Kennedy High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.5:1 vs 16.5:1).
Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students) and Wilby High School (1,196 students) alongside John F. Kennedy High School.
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 John F. Kennedy High School compares
John F. Kennedy High School on the metrics families compare, against Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.6% | ▲ 113% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,391 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,391
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
77.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 113% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 94% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$18,981
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $23,870
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 348 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
311
in-school suspensions + 187 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
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 63.0%
African American 22.6%
White 9.8%
Two or More 2.7%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.1, John F. Kennedy High School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterbury School District, which includes John F. Kennedy High School.
$18,981
Per student
-20%
vs Connecticut
Avg $23,870
+14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.5%
State 63.9%
Federal 12.6%
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 John F. Kennedy High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilby High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael F. Wallace Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Side Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Waterbury Arts Magnet School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John F. Kennedy High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,196
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 820
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Waterbury
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Crosby High School
Standard public school
1,453 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Wilby High School
Standard public school
1,196 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
W. F. Kaynor Technical High School
Vocational / career-technical school
831 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Waterbury Career Academy
Standard public school
709 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Connecticut, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,391 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on John F. Kennedy High School's federal record.
- Compare John F. Kennedy High School against another school. Compare schools
- Waterbury 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 John F. Kennedy High School
How many students attend John F. Kennedy High School?
John F. Kennedy High School has 1,391 students enrolled. It is a high school in Waterbury, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John F. Kennedy High School?
The student-teacher ratio at John F. Kennedy High School is 15.5:1, which is 28% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John F. Kennedy High School?
77.6% of students at John F. Kennedy High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John F. Kennedy High School?
The largest demographic group at John F. Kennedy High School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.0% of enrollment, in Waterbury, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John F. Kennedy High School?
John F. Kennedy High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 John F. Kennedy High School rank among high schools in Waterbury?
By Resource Investment Index, John F. Kennedy High School ranks #3 of 5 high schools in Waterbury, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Waterbury on the city page.
Is John F. Kennedy High School a good school?
John F. Kennedy High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut. 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 Waterbury School District?
Besides John F. Kennedy High School, Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students), Wilby High School (1,196 students), and Michael F. Wallace Middle School (1,059 students). See the Waterbury School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.