- Enrollment
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Waterbury, CT
Waterbury Career Academy
Federal NCES profile for Waterbury Career Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 090483001638
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waterbury Career Academy earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Connecticut schools.
- #1 of 5
- high schools in Waterbury · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 76.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Waterbury Career Academy has class sizes larger than 84% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waterbury Career Academy ranks #1 of 5 high schools in Waterbury, CT.
School address
District: Waterbury School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090483001638 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Waterbury Career Academy held near 755 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 51.2 → 57.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 090483001638 · Waterbury, CT High · MID · TRAD
709 enr · 13.9:1 · 76.0% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Crosby High School (1,453 students)
Waterbury Career Academy held near 755 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 51.2 → 57.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Waterbury Career Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Crosby High Sc
Crosby High School
1,453 students
- John F. Kenned
John F. Kennedy High School
1,391 students
- Wilby High Sch
Wilby High School
1,196 students
- Michael F. Wal
Michael F. Wallace Middle School
1,059 students
- West Side Midd
West Side Middle School
848 students
- This school
Waterbury Career Academy
709 students
What this shows Waterbury Career Academy reports 709 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waterbury Career Academy compares
Waterbury Career Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▲ 15% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 76.0% | ▲ 109% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 709 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
709
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
76.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 109% 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
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 84% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
29.6%
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
$20,129
per pupil, district-wide
- below Connecticut avg of $24,680
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 177 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
32
in-school suspensions + 33 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 54.6%
African American 26.0%
White 13.0%
Two or More 3.0%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 54.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.6, Waterbury Career Academy is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
District finance for Waterbury School District reports $20,129 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waterbury Career Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wilby High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael F. Wallace Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Side Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waterbury Career Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,391
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- 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
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
John F. Kennedy High School
Standard public school
1,391 students 15.5:1 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
Nationwide high 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 (~709 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waterbury Career Academy
How many students attend Waterbury Career Academy?
Waterbury Career Academy has 709 students enrolled. It is a high school in Waterbury, CT. CCD year-over-year: 766 (2022-23) → 755 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterbury Career Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Waterbury Career Academy is 13.9:1, which is 15% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waterbury Career Academy?
76.0% of students at Waterbury Career Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waterbury Career Academy?
The largest demographic group at Waterbury Career Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 54.6% of enrollment, in Waterbury, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waterbury Career Academy?
Waterbury Career Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Waterbury Career Academy rank among high schools in Waterbury?
By Resource Investment Index, Waterbury Career Academy ranks #1 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.
What other schools are in Waterbury School District?
Besides Waterbury Career Academy, Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students), John F. Kennedy High School (1,391 students), and Wilby High School (1,196 students). See the Waterbury School District district page for the complete list.