Summary
John F. Kennedy High School is a public high school located in Waterbury, Connecticut, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,391 students. The school is part of the Waterbury School District, which is ranked 149 out of 156 districts in Connecticut and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.
John F. Kennedy High School consistently ranks in the bottom third of Connecticut high schools, with a ranking between 131-161 out of 200 schools in recent years. Its academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is significantly below the state average. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 24.3% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 58%. In SAT/Math, only 10% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 31.1%. The school's four-year graduation rate has been around 80-88% in recent years, which is lower than the state average. Additionally, the school has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 17.7% to 40.8% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average.
When comparing John F. Kennedy High School to other nearby high schools in the Waterbury School District, such as Wilby High School, Crosby High School, and Waterbury Career Academy, the academic performance and other key metrics are generally similar, with all schools ranking in the bottom third of Connecticut high schools and struggling with low test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and high percentages of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the Waterbury Arts Magnet School, which is also part of the Waterbury School District, has significantly higher academic performance, with 52.5% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT/English Language Arts, and a lower percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
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