Enrollment
1,196
Connecticut · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Waterbury, CT
Wilby High School
Federal NCES profile for Wilby High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 090483000992
👥 S:T ratio 40
📚 AP courses 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wilby High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut.
- #4 of 5
- high schools in Waterbury · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.1:1
- large classes for Connecticut
- 84.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Wilby High School has class sizes larger than 92% of Connecticut schools. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wilby High School ranks #4 of 5 high schools in Waterbury, CT.
School address
District: Waterbury School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090483000992 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
79.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 12.1:1 Connecticut avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.1%
vs 36.4% Connecticut avg
+131% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Wilby High School compares with Connecticut and U.S. medians
What stands out at Wilby High School
Wilby High School is a high-poverty, large high school in Waterbury, Connecticut, enrolling 1,196 students.
Class loads run heavy: 15.1:1 is larger than about 92% of Connecticut schools and 25% above the 12.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 84.1% of students qualify for free meals, 131% 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 96% of state schools at 1,196 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 1,003 Connecticut schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 17 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Connecticut schools statewide, it ranks #13, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (64%) and African American (26%) (diversity index 52/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 6 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 239 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 62.0% 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: 473 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,196 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Waterbury's high schools, it stands alongside Crosby High School (1,453 students): Wilby High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.1:1 vs 16.5:1).
Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students) and John F. Kennedy High School (1,391 students) alongside Wilby High 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 Wilby High School compares
Wilby High 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 | 15.1:1 | ▲ 25% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.1% | ▲ 131% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,196 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,196
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 131% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 92% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
62.0%
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
222
in-school suspensions + 251 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 39.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 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 63.9%
African American 25.7%
White 5.0%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 63.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.1, Wilby High School is about as mixed as the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterbury School District, which includes Wilby High 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 Wilby High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Michael F. Wallace Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Side Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Waterbury Arts Magnet School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wilby High 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
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 820
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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
W. F. Kaynor Technical High School
Vocational / career-technical school
831 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Waterbury Career Academy
Standard public school
709 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~1,196 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Wilby High School's federal record.
- Compare Wilby High 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 Wilby High School
How many students attend Wilby High School?
Wilby High School has 1,196 students enrolled. It is a high school in Waterbury, CT.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wilby High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wilby High School is 15.1:1, which is 25% higher than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wilby High School?
84.1% of students at Wilby High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wilby High School?
The largest demographic group at Wilby High School is Hispanic or Latino at 63.9% of enrollment, in Waterbury, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wilby High School?
Wilby High School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Wilby High School rank among high schools in Waterbury?
By Resource Investment Index, Wilby High School ranks #4 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.
Is Wilby High School a good school?
Wilby High School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Connecticut schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Connecticut. 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 Wilby High School, Waterbury School District also operates Crosby High School (1,453 students), John F. Kennedy High School (1,391 students), and Michael F. Wallace Middle School (1,059 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.