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Wendell L. Cross School

Public Grades PK, KG-8

411^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 493 Connecticut Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of Connecticut elementary schools

Summary

Wendell L. Cross School is an elementary school serving grades PK-8 in the Waterbury School District in Connecticut. The school has 612 students and is consistently ranked in the bottom half of Connecticut elementary schools, with a 1-star rating out of 5 from SchoolDigger.

Wendell L. Cross School faces significant challenges in student performance, with only 26.9% of 3rd graders proficient or better in ELA and math, compared to the state averages of 46.9% and 52.2%, respectively. The school also has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.3% to 31.2% in recent years, well above the state average. Additionally, 73.53% of Wendell L. Cross students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Interestingly, Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School, located just 1.76 miles away, had much higher proficiency rates in ELA and math, with 45.5% and 51.1% of 3rd graders proficient, respectively. Wendell L. Cross School's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, ranking 219 out of 234 Connecticut elementary schools for female students and 221 out of 232 for male students in 2021-2022. Despite spending a relatively high amount per student, $16,026 in 2018-2019, the school's academic outcomes have not improved.

606

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,695

Per pupil spending ?

71.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1255 Hamilton Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06706

(203) 574-8171

District: Waterbury School District

Students who attend Wendell L. Cross School usually attend:

Middle:	Michael F. Wallace Middle School
High:	Crosby High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.3%

African American:

22.6%

White:

15.2%

See top rated Connecticut elementary schools

Compare Wendell L. Cross School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 30th percentile in 2015 → 17th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Connecticut average (26% vs 50% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school26%

District avg26%

Connecticut avg50%

411^th of 493

Connecticut public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From bottom 30% (2015) to bottom 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 20Elementary Schools in the Waterbury School District

149^th of 156Waterbury School District 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	13.1	411 of 493	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	418 of 497	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.1	419 of 491	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	12.4	411 of 490	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.1	414 of 538	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.8	342 of 522	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.2	317 of 532	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	23.4	392 of 519	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	15.6	424 of 518	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	34.5	384 of 551	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	69.7	222 of 557	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	53.6	347 of 564	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	48.4	374 of 565	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	47.8	386 of 579	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	53.0	354 of 566	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.6	412 of 565	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	38.7	418 of 568	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.1	433 of 570	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2022	6.3	219 of 234	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.5	398 of 455	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	33.6	85 of 132	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.4	63 of 111	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	79 of 108	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.7	66 of 99	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.7	121 of 173	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.1	61 of 112	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.2	30 of 101	70.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	43.6	169 of 302	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	4.0	228 of 231	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	6.9	221 of 232	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	25.4	323 of 445	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	38.5	228 of 371	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2021)44th percentile+21 vs school

Special Education (2021)39th percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2025)36th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2022)6th percentile-10 vs school

Male (2023)1st percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts27%-23 vs state

Mathematics26%-23 vs state

Science20%-33 vs state

★

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Schools Near Wendell L. Cross School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NGSS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)						SBAC Mathematics (2025)				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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NGSS Science 5th Grade	NGSS Science 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 3rd Grade	SBAC Mathematics 4th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 5th Grade	SBAC Mathematics 6th Grade	Total
Wendell L. Cross School	Public	PK, KG-8	1255 Hamilton Ave.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8171	606	44	13.6	71.8%	92 (15.2%)	137 (22.6%)	323 (53.3%)	11 (1.8%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (6.6%)	13.1	411^th of 493 public elementary schools	16.6%		12.6	418^th of 497 public elementary schools	15.9%	7	19.6		26.9	35.0	21.4		29.7	21.3	26.9	35.0	16.1		$16,695
Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School	Public	PK, KG-4	116 Beecher Avenue	Waterbury	06705	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 574-8000	275	16	17.5	74.2%	5 (1.8%)	22 (8.0%)	240 (87.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	38.2	288^th of 493 public elementary schools	41.6%					(n/a)			44.0	37.3					56.0	45.1			$15,133
Gilmartin School	Public	PK, KG-8	107 Wyoming Ave.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8175	462	32	14.6	80.1%	26 (5.6%)	80 (17.3%)	316 (68.4%)	18 (3.9%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.7%)	6.6	472^nd of 493 public elementary schools	4.3%		5.5	484^th of 497 public elementary schools	2.6%	12	16.3	23.6		15.4	18.4	18.4	29.1	23.2	20.8	15.4		16.3	$18,581
Hopeville School	Public	PK, KG-5	2 Cypress St.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8173	291	28	10.3	82.8%	23 (7.9%)	66 (22.7%)	199 (68.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	6.2	474^th of 493 public elementary schools	3.9%					(n/a)	17.8		19.7	13.0	13.3				18.2	21.7			$22,755
Washington School	Public	PK, KG-5	685 Baldwin St.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8177	284	23	12.1	80.3%	16 (5.6%)	42 (14.8%)	211 (74.3%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.5%)	9.4	438^th of 493 public elementary schools	11.2%		9.7	440^th of 497 public elementary schools	11.5%	2			15.2		25.0					20.4	23.1		$17,640
H. S. Chase School	Public	PK, KG-5	40 Woodtick Rd.	Waterbury	06705	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8188	543	47	11.5	76.4%	62 (11.4%)	118 (21.7%)	306 (56.4%)	26 (4.8%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.0%)	25	342^nd of 493 public elementary schools	30.6%		23.5	355^th of 497 public elementary schools	28.6%	13	30.3		34.0	44.3	25.3				52.0	49.4	11.1		$19,371
Woodrow Wilson School	Public	PK, KG-5	235 Birch St.	Waterbury	06704	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 573-6660	415	29	14.4	85.1%	9 (2.2%)	79 (19.0%)	309 (74.5%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.6%)	5.5	479^th of 493 public elementary schools	2.8%		4.6	489^th of 497 public elementary schools	1.6%	10	14.8				16.4				18.6	16.1			$17,672
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	233 South Elm St.	Waterbury	06706	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(203) 574-8162	590	42	14.1	62.5%	134 (22.7%)	100 (16.9%)	315 (53.4%)	12 (2.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.6%)	46.6	257^th of 493 public elementary schools	47.9%		44.1	270^th of 497 public elementary schools	45.7%	13	58.6		45.5	50.6	58.6				51.1	44.8	39.1		$19,787
Margaret M. Generali Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3196 East Main St.	Waterbury	06705	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8174	415	35	11.8	81.9%	36 (8.7%)	91 (21.9%)	249 (60.0%)	16 (3.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (5.3%)	11.3	423^rd of 493 public elementary schools	14.2%		9.8	439^th of 497 public elementary schools	11.7%	16	29.9		19.0	33.3	28.2				23.1	20.3	16.7		$21,908
Duggan School	Public	PK, KG-8	952 Bank Street	Waterbury	06708	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Waterbury School District	No	No	No	Yes	(203) 574-8875	429	36	12.0	88.6%	26 (6.1%)	89 (20.7%)	284 (66.2%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.8%)	12.4	415^th of 493 public elementary schools	15.8%		15.1	395^th of 497 public elementary schools	20.5%	20	24.4	32.0	23.9	30.6			27.3	21.6	30.4	27.8	19.5	13.6	$19,075

Frequently Asked Questions about Wendell L. Cross School

What district is Wendell L. Cross School in?

Waterbury School District

How many students attend Wendell L. Cross School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 606 students attended Wendell L. Cross School.

Is Wendell L. Cross School a good school?

Wendell L. Cross School ranks in the bottom 16.6% of Connecticut elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Wendell L. Cross School attend?

Students who attend Wendell L. Cross School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Michael F. Wallace Middle School
High : Crosby High School

What is the racial makeup of Wendell L. Cross School?

Students at Wendell L. Cross School are 53% Hispanic, 23% African American, 15% White, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

Rate Wendell L. Cross School!

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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.