- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 9.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Manchester, CT
Waddell School
Federal NCES profile for Waddell School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 090231000430
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waddell School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Connecticut median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Connecticut schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Manchester · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.8:1
- students per teacher
- 46.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Waddell School has class sizes near the Connecticut median. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waddell School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Manchester, CT.
School address
District: Manchester School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090231000430 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+48 students YoY
Waddell School grew from 461 students in 2022-23 to 509 in 2023-24 (+10.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 44.2 → 39.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+48 students YoY 090231000430 · Manchester, CT Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
476 enr · 10.8:1 · 46.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Manchester High School (1,703 students)
Waddell School grew from 461 students in 2022-23 to 509 in 2023-24 (+10.4%). Teacher FTE lost 44.2 → 39.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Waddell School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Manchester Hig
Manchester High School
1,703 students
- Elisabeth M. B
Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy
864 students
- Illing Middle
Illing Middle School
763 students
- This school 476
Waddell School
476 students
- Verplanck Scho 466
Verplanck School
466 students
- Bowers School 376
Bowers School
376 students
What this shows Waddell School reports 476 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waddell School compares
Waddell School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.8:1 | ▼ 11% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.6% | ▲ 28% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 33% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.6%
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
$27,280
per pupil, district-wide
- above Connecticut avg of $24,680
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 34.7%
African American 23.9%
Asian 19.3%
White 15.3%
Two or More 5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 34.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.9, Waddell School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
District finance for Manchester School District reports $27,280 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waddell School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Illing Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Verplanck School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bowers School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waddell School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 864
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 763
- Students per teacher
- 8.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 10.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 376
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Manchester
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy
Standard public school
864 students 9.5:1 students per teacher
Verplanck School
Standard public school
466 students 10.4:1 students per teacher
Bowers School
Standard public school
376 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Highland Park School
Standard public school
300 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Buckley School
Standard public school
284 students 8.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~476 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waddell School
How many students attend Waddell School?
Waddell School has 476 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Manchester, CT. CCD year-over-year: 461 (2022-23) → 509 (2023-24), up 48.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waddell School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waddell School is 10.8:1, which is 11% lower than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 31% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waddell School?
46.6% of students at Waddell School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waddell School?
The largest demographic group at Waddell School is Hispanic or Latino at 34.7% of enrollment, in Manchester, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waddell School?
Waddell School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Waddell School rank among elementary schools in Manchester?
By Resource Investment Index, Waddell School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Manchester, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Manchester on the city page.
What other schools are in Manchester School District?
Besides Waddell School, Manchester School District also operates Manchester High School (1,703 students), Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy (864 students), and Illing Middle School (763 students). See the Manchester School District district page for the complete list.