Hopeville School

Hopeville School is a PK–5 elementary school in Waterbury, CT, serving 291 students within the Waterbury School District, a district ranked 144th out of 153 in Connecticut (6th percentile) and among the lowest-performing in the state. Hopeville itself earned a 0-star rating and ranked 466th out of 491 schools for 2025–2026, placing it in the 5th percentile and keeping it in the bottom 5–6% of elementary schools for most of the past decade.

Academic proficiency remains far below district and state averages across nearly every subject and grade level. For example, 3rd grade ELA proficiency was just 12% in 2025–2026, compared with 21.8% for the district and 47.3% statewide; 5th grade math was 16.3% versus 22.7% for the district and 45.8% for the state. Among ten nearby schools, Hopeville ranked above only Walsh School and Woodrow Wilson School. By contrast, Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School and Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School—serving similar student populations within the same district—earned state percentiles of 40 and 44, respectively, demonstrating that poverty does not determine outcomes.

There are meaningful strengths to note. Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, falling from 43.4% in 2021–2022 to 16.8% in 2025–2026, nearly matching the state average of 16.4%. The school also enjoys the lowest student-teacher ratio among nearby schools (10.3 to 1) and comparatively high per-pupil spending ($17,214). However, these advantages have not yet translated into stronger test scores. Nearby B.W. Tinker School spends roughly $3,200 less per student and has a higher student-teacher ratio, yet posts noticeably higher proficiency. The data suggests Hopeville has built a stronger foundation in attendance and resources, but still faces significant work in turning those assets into academic gains.