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W. F. Kaynor Technical High School

Q: Is W. F. Kaynor Technical High School a good school?

W. F. Kaynor Technical High School ranks 82 nd of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

82^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 135 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 39% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

W. F. Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury, CT, serves 831 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, a statewide network of career-focused public schools. On SchoolDigger's 2025–2026 rankings, Kaynor landed at 82nd out of 133 Connecticut high schools (38th percentile, 2 stars) — a modest improvement over the prior year. But the overall ranking doesn't tell the whole story, as Kaynor's graduation rate, attendance, and science scores paint a more impressive picture than its mid-tier status might suggest.

The school's biggest strength is student persistence. In 2024–2025, 99.0% of Kaynor seniors graduated, well above the state average of 91.2% and far ahead of nearby Waterbury high schools like Wilby High School (82.7%), John F. Kennedy High School (84.8%), and Crosby High School (88.4%). Chronic absenteeism has also dropped dramatically, from 26.4% in 2021–2022 to 10.5% today — below the state average of 16.4% and a fraction of the rates seen at Wilby (49.8%) and John F. Kennedy (35.7%). Science is another bright spot: 45.8% of 11th graders scored proficient on the NGSS science exam, edging out nearby Naugatuck High School (42.0%) and more than tripling Wilby's rate (13.0%). A favorable 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio likely contributes to these outcomes.

Math remains the school's clearest challenge, with only 14.6% of 11th graders proficient on the SAT math exam (vs. 31.3% statewide) — though that still beats several local peers, including Wilby (8.1%), Naugatuck (12.1%), and John F. Kennedy (12.8%). One trend families should watch: the relative performance of economically disadvantaged students has slipped in recent years; since more than half of Kaynor's students qualify for free/reduced lunch, this deserves attention. Overall, however, Kaynor offers families in the Waterbury School District a substantially more successful educational environment than the traditional zoned high schools, combining strong graduation outcomes with a hands-on technical curriculum.

831

Students ?

11.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,587

Per pupil spending ?

51.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

43 Tompkins St.
Waterbury, CT 06708

(203) 596-4302

District: Connecticut Technical Education and Career System

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

48.3%

White:

27.8%

African American:

16.0%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare W. F. Kaynor Technical High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 35th percentile in 2016 → 39th in 2026

Strengths

✓99% graduate in 4 years — above the Connecticut average (91%)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (34% vs 46% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Math scores 17 pts below the Connecticut average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg27%

Connecticut avg46%

82^nd of 135

Connecticut public high schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to bottom 39% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 16High Schools in the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System

138^th of 153Connecticut Technical Education and Career System among Connecticut districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	31.3	82 of 135	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.7	93 of 141	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.4	87 of 145	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.0	71 of 142	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.4	73 of 139	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	116 of 200	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.7	94 of 121	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	95 of 121	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	44.2	72 of 140	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2016	31.0	86 of 132	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2015	66.0	69 of 196	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	76.3	44 of 193	77.2%	★★★★☆
2012	79.7	20 of 188	89.4%	★★★★☆
2011	77.1	35 of 189	81.5%	★★★★☆
2010	71.6	63 of 186	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	64.5	81 of 176	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	69.4	68 of 176	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2007	66.6	81 of 176	54.0%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2024	26.7	21 of 24	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.9	9 of 11	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	24.3	80 of 111	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	34.0	118 of 189	37.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	33.3	43 of 63	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.9	33 of 59	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	63.1	31 of 104	70.2%	★★★★☆
2018	58.4	5 of 18	72.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	15.8	61 of 70	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.5	30 of 63	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.4	69 of 155	55.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	35.4	70 of 115	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	12.0	98 of 111	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	43.3	104 of 182	42.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	50.2	85 of 175	51.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	6.0	111 of 116	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.6	111 of 117	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.9	125 of 155	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Special Education (2021)51st percentile+9 vs school

Male (2026)39th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)32nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)28th percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)13th percentile-21 vs school

African American (2024)12th percentile-28 vs school

White (2025)4th percentile-30 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

Science46%-5 vs state

English Language Arts42%-13 vs state

Math15%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near W. F. Kaynor Technical High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSS Science (2026)		SAT English Language Arts (2026)	SAT Math (2026)	SBAC English Language Arts (2026)			SBAC Mathematics (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 8th Grade	NGSS Science 11th Grade	SAT English Language Arts 11th Grade	SAT Math 11th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 7th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 8th Grade	Total
W. F. Kaynor Technical High School	Public	9-12	43 Tompkins St.	Waterbury	06708	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 596-4302	831	71	11.6	51.7%	231 (27.8%)	133 (16.0%)	401 (48.3%)	10 (1.2%)	4 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	42 (5.1%)	31.3	82^nd of 135 public high schools	39.3%		27.7	93^rd of 141 public high schools	34.0%	11		45.8	42.0	14.6							$28,587
REGIONS staff secure Waterbury	Public	6-12	80 Prospect Street	Waterbury	06702	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Judicial Centers	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(203) 757-9939	0	0		—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Waterbury Arts Magnet School	Public, Magnet	6-12	16 South Elm St.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(203) 573-6300	820	68	12.0	68.0%	234 (28.5%)	151 (18.4%)	378 (46.1%)	12 (1.5%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (5.2%)	24.2	94^th of 135 public high schools	30.4%		22.7	103^rd of 141 public high schools	27.0%	9	53.2	1094.0	42.9	13.4	57.4	57.3	73.0	38.0	27.3	40.5	$22,835
John F. Kennedy High School	Public	9-12	422 Highland Ave.	Waterbury	06708	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8153	1,391	98	14.2	81.8%	137 (9.8%)	314 (22.6%)	876 (63.0%)	22 (1.6%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (2.7%)	10.8	125^th of 135 public high schools	7.4%		8.9	132^nd of 141 public high schools	6.4%	7		11.7	22.0	12.8							$18,813
Watertown High School	Public	9-12	324 French St.	Watertown	06795	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Watertown School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 945-4810	693	66	10.5	40.4%	539 (77.8%)	27 (3.9%)	93 (13.4%)	10 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	21 (3.0%)	50.9	66^th of 135 public high schools	51.1%					(n/a)		47.7	57.6	29.1							$26,352
Waterbury Career Academy	Public	9-12	175 Birch Street	Waterbury	06704	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8000	709	59	11.9	78.0%	92 (13.0%)	184 (26.0%)	387 (54.6%)	19 (2.7%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.0%)	44.5	69^th of 135 public high schools	48.9%		28	91^st of 141 public high schools	35.5%	22		47.8	58.0	19.3							$21,089
Wilby High School	Public	9-12	568 Bucks Hill Rd.	Waterbury	06704	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8100	1,196	83	14.4	84.9%	60 (5.0%)	307 (25.7%)	764 (63.9%)	7 (0.6%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (4.6%)	7.9	130^th of 135 public high schools	3.7%		6.6	137^th of 141 public high schools	2.8%	7		13.0	14.2	8.1							$19,547
Wolcott High School	Public	9-12	457 Bound Line Rd.	Wolcott	06716	Capitol Planning Region	Wolcott School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 879-8164	611	60	10.1	30.9%	445 (72.8%)	33 (5.4%)	96 (15.7%)	17 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (3.3%)	51.6	64^th of 135 public high schools	52.6%					(n/a)		36.1	64.6	33.3							$21,527
Crosby High School	Public	9-12	300 Pierpont Rd.	Waterbury	06705	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8061	1,453	85	17.0	83.0%	90 (6.2%)	344 (23.7%)	942 (64.8%)	16 (1.1%)	12 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (3.4%)	11.9	123^rd of 135 public high schools	8.9%		8.6	133^rd of 141 public high schools	5.7%	10		8.2	26.1	14.0							$16,885
Thomaston High School	Public	7-12	185 Branch Rd.	Thomaston	06787	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Thomaston School District	No	No	No	No	(860) 283-3030	307	29	10.7	35.8%	254 (82.7%)	5 (1.6%)	34 (11.1%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.3%)								(n/a)	799.0	1078.0		17.4		59.3	2566.0		56.9	61.1	$26,698

Frequently Asked Questions about W. F. Kaynor Technical High School

What district is W. F. Kaynor Technical High School in?

Connecticut Technical Education and Career System

How many students attend W. F. Kaynor Technical High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 831 students attended W. F. Kaynor Technical High School.

Is W. F. Kaynor Technical High School a good school?

W. F. Kaynor Technical High School ranks 82^nd of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of W. F. Kaynor Technical High School?

Students at W. F. Kaynor Technical High School are 48% Hispanic, 28% White, 16% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate W. F. Kaynor Technical High School!

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Latest Connecticut data All new data »

2024–25 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesAug 31, 2026

2025–26 NGSS, SAT & SBAC test scoresAug 31, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataApr 2, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataNov 6, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Connecticut Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.