Enrollment
848
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Waterbury, CT
West Side Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Side Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 090483000991
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Side Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of Connecticut schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Waterbury · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Connecticut
- 80.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Side Middle School has class sizes smaller than 78% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Side Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Waterbury, CT.
School address
District: Waterbury School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090483000991 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
83.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.2:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
-16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
80.8%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+122% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Side Middle School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Side Middle School
West Side Middle School is a high-poverty, large middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, enrolling 848 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 10.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Connecticut schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 80.8% of students qualify for free meals, 122% 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 90% of state schools at 848 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,003 scored Connecticut schools.
Against 40 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #17.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (68%) and African American (19%) (diversity index 50/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 212 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.1% 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: 630 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 848 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Waterbury's middle schools, it stands alongside North End Middle School (766 students): West Side Middle School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (10.2:1 vs 8.4:1).
Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students) and John F. Kennedy High School (1,391 students) alongside West Side Middle 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 West Side Middle School compares
West Side Middle 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 | 10.2:1 | ▼ 16% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.8% | ▲ 122% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 848 | top 10% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
848
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
80.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 122% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 22% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
50.1%
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 212 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
320
in-school suspensions + 310 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 37.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 74.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 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 67.9%
African American 19.0%
White 8.0%
Two or More 3.7%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.5, West Side Middle School is about as mixed as the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterbury School District, which includes West Side Middle 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 West Side Middle School 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Michael F. Wallace Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waterbury Arts Magnet School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Side Middle 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
- 820
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar middle schools in Waterbury
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle 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 (~848 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Side Middle School's federal record.
- Compare West Side Middle 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 West Side Middle School
How many students attend West Side Middle School?
West Side Middle School has 848 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Waterbury, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Side Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Side Middle School is 10.2:1, which is 16% lower than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 35% 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 West Side Middle School?
80.8% of students at West Side Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Side Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Side Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment, in Waterbury, CT.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Side Middle School?
West Side Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 West Side Middle School rank among middle schools in Waterbury?
By Resource Investment Index, West Side Middle School ranks #3 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Waterbury on the city page.
Is West Side Middle School a good school?
West Side Middle School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% 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 West Side Middle 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.