- Enrollment
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waterbury, CT
Wendell L. Cross School
Federal NCES profile for Wendell L. Cross School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 090483000990
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wendell L. Cross School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Connecticut schools.
- #5 of 21
- schools in Waterbury · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.4:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 65.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Wendell L. Cross School has class sizes larger than 96% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wendell L. Cross School ranks #5 of 21 schools in Waterbury, CT.
School address
District: Waterbury School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090483000990 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+61 students YoY
Wendell L. Cross School grew from 551 students in 2022-23 to 612 in 2023-24 (+11.1%).
Teacher FTE added 37.8 → 39.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+61 students YoY 090483000990 · Waterbury, CT Other · MID · TRAD
606 enr · 16.4:1 · 65.7% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Crosby High School (1,453 students)
Wendell L. Cross School grew from 551 students in 2022-23 to 612 in 2023-24 (+11.1%). Teacher FTE added 37.8 → 39.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Wendell L. Cross School 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
Wendell L. Cross School
606 students
What this shows Wendell L. Cross School reports 606 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wendell L. Cross School compares
Wendell L. Cross 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 | 16.4:1 | ▲ 36% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.7% | ▲ 80% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 606 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
606
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% 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
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 36% above state mean
Top 96% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 606 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 53.3%
African American 22.6%
White 15.2%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Wendell L. Cross School is more mixed than the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
District finance for Waterbury School District reports $20,129 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wendell L. Cross School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilby High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael F. Wallace Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Side Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wendell L. Cross School'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 other schools in Waterbury
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Waterbury Arts Magnet School
Standard public school
820 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School
Standard public school
614 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School
Standard public school
590 students 14:1 students per teacher
B. W. Tinker School
Standard public school
578 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
H. S. Chase School
Standard public school
543 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
Gilmartin School
Standard public school
462 students 14:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~606 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wendell L. Cross School
How many students attend Wendell L. Cross School?
Wendell L. Cross School has 606 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waterbury, CT. CCD year-over-year: 551 (2022-23) → 612 (2023-24), up 61.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wendell L. Cross School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wendell L. Cross School is 16.4:1, which is 36% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wendell L. Cross School?
65.7% of students at Wendell L. Cross School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wendell L. Cross School?
The largest demographic group at Wendell L. Cross School is Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment, in Waterbury, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wendell L. Cross School?
Wendell L. Cross School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Wendell L. Cross School rank among schools in Waterbury?
By Resource Investment Index, Wendell L. Cross School ranks #5 of 21 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 schools in Waterbury on the city page.
What other schools are in Waterbury School District?
Besides Wendell L. Cross School, 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.