Enrollment
606
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.4:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.7%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+80% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Wendell L. Cross School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Wendell L. Cross School
Wendell L. Cross School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Waterbury, Connecticut, enrolling 606 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.4:1 is larger than about 96% of Connecticut schools and 36% above the 12.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 65.7% of students qualify for free meals, 80% above the Connecticut average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 606 puts it in the larger third of Connecticut schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 118 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #73.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (53%) and African American (23%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 606 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
13.0% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Waterbury School District spends $18,981 per pupil, 20% below the Connecticut average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Waterbury's public schools, it stands alongside Waterbury Arts Magnet School (820 students): Wendell L. Cross School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.4:1 vs 16.7:1).
Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students) and John F. Kennedy High School (1,391 students) alongside Wendell L. Cross 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 Wendell L. Cross School compares
Wendell L. Cross 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 | 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 (what these measure)
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
$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
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.
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 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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterbury School District, which includes Wendell L. Cross 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 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
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- 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
Similar other 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 (~606 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Wendell L. Cross School's federal record.
- Compare Wendell L. Cross 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 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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Wendell L. Cross School a good school?
Wendell L. Cross School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Connecticut schools. 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 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.
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.