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Waterbury Arts Magnet School

Q: Is Waterbury Arts Magnet School a good school?

Waterbury Arts Magnet School ranks 94 th of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 6-12

94^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 135 Connecticut High Schools

Better than 30% of Connecticut high schools

Summary

Waterbury Arts Magnet School (WAMS) is a public magnet school in Waterbury, CT, serving 820 students in grades 6 through 12 within the Waterbury School District, a district ranked near the bottom of Connecticut's 153 districts. Despite the district's overall struggles, WAMS stands out as a clear academic bright spot, outperforming the district and often the state across several key measures.

The school's most impressive numbers are its graduation and attendance rates. WAMS consistently posts near-perfect graduation rates — 99.1% in 2024-2025 compared to 86.2% for the Waterbury School District and 91.2% for Connecticut. Chronic absenteeism at WAMS is just 12.6%, far below the district's 23.1% and the state's 16.4%. In comparison, Crosby High School has a 31% chronic absenteeism rate, John F. Kennedy High School sits at 35.7%, and Wilby High School reaches nearly 50%. WAMS students also score well above district averages in English Language Arts and 8th-grade science, with 73% proficiency in 8th grade ELA versus the district's 32.2%. The school has also shown notable success with Hispanic and low-income students, ranking in the 83rd and 70th percentiles statewide for those groups in 2022-2023.

The main area of concern is math. WAMS students lag the state by 4 to 17 percentage points across middle school math grades, and 11th-grade SAT math proficiency is just 13.4% versus 31.3% statewide. This weakness keeps the school's overall state ranking modest — around the middle of the pack — despite its strong graduation and attendance story. Compared to nearby suburban schools like Pomperaug Regional High School and Wolcott High School, WAMS faces an academic and socioeconomic gap, particularly in math. However, WAMS actually beats Watertown High School on graduation rate (99.1% vs. 92.4%) and chronic absenteeism (12.6% vs. 22.0%). Within Waterbury, only Waterbury Career Academy — another specialty school — rivals WAMS, with slightly higher test scores but a marginally lower graduation rate. For parents, the takeaway is clear: WAMS offers a specialized, engaging environment that keeps students in school and on track to graduate, even if math proficiency remains a work in progress.

820

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,835

Per pupil spending ?

68%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16 South Elm St.
Waterbury, CT 06706

(203) 573-6300

District: Waterbury School District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.1%

White:

28.5%

African American:

18.4%

See top rated Connecticut high schools

Compare Waterbury Arts Magnet School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 33rd percentile in 2016 → 30th in 2026

Strengths

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

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

!Math scores 18 pts below the Connecticut average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg22%

Connecticut avg47%

Middle school

117^th of 258

Connecticut public middle schools ?

Top 45%▲ up 5 pts since 2023

From top 50% (2023) to top 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

94^th of 135

Connecticut public high schools ?

Bottom 30%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Connecticut High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 5High Schools in the Waterbury School District

144^th of 153Waterbury 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	117 of 258	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	51.8	117 of 252	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.9	116 of 250	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.8	125 of 249	49.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	48.2	89 of 164	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	27.8	113 of 164	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.5	107 of 161	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.8	102 of 160	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	102 of 166	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	62.2	32 of 115	72.2%	★★★★☆
2025	65.1	26 of 105	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	65.4	22 of 104	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	62.8	25 of 99	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	70.8	17 of 97	82.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	63.3	35 of 112	68.8%	★★★★☆
2025	60.6	46 of 117	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	40 of 109	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.9	54 of 106	49.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	98 of 164	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	56.8	78 of 162	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.9	75 of 157	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	36.9	100 of 158	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.3	103 of 169	39.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	65.6	51 of 150	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.8	55 of 153	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.9	87 of 158	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.8	68 of 151	55.0%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	24.2	94 of 135	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	22.7	103 of 141	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.0	91 of 145	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.2	75 of 142	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	19.5	100 of 139	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	35.8	121 of 200	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	23.3	101 of 121	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.7	88 of 121	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	37.0	80 of 140	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	30.4	89 of 132	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.1	110 of 196	43.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.3	122 of 193	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	44.1	132 of 188	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	33.9	149 of 189	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	55.3	114 of 186	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	53.8	109 of 176	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.4	120 of 176	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2007	51.3	119 of 176	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	29.6	41 of 58	29.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	36.7	67 of 103	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	14.9	88 of 106	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	32.2	124 of 189	34.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2023	72.5	11 of 63	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	28.8	42 of 59	28.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	40 of 104	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	32.3	43 of 70	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	55.6	21 of 70	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	38.8	33 of 63	47.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	21.0	126 of 155	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2026	18.6	87 of 115	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.6	63 of 100	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	16.1	85 of 102	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	37.7	112 of 182	38.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2021	22.3	138 of 175	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Connecticut percentile	Rating
2025	32.1	82 of 116	29.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.5	90 of 155	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.9	92 of 105	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Hispanic (2026)72nd percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile+14 vs school

White (2026)66th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)46th percentile-9 vs school

Male (2026)40th percentile-14 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2023)83rd percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2023)35th percentile-12 vs school

African American (2021)29th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)29th percentile~ school

Male (2026)24th percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2021)21st percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Connecticut (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts63%+11 vs state

Science53%~ state avg

Mathematics35%-8 vs state

Math13%-18 vs state

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Schools Near Waterbury Arts Magnet 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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
Naugatuck High School	Public	9-12	543 Rubber Ave.	Naugatuck	06770	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Naugatuck School District	No	No	No	No	(203) 720-5400	1,202	79	15.2	54.2%	453 (37.7%)	165 (13.7%)	490 (40.8%)	35 (2.9%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	51 (4.2%)								(n/a)		42.0									$20,990
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterbury Arts Magnet School

Is Waterbury Arts Magnet School a good school?

Waterbury Arts Magnet School ranks 94^th of 135 Connecticut high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Waterbury Arts Magnet School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 820 students attended Waterbury Arts Magnet School.

What is the racial makeup of Waterbury Arts Magnet School?

Students at Waterbury Arts Magnet School are 46% Hispanic, 29% White, 18% African American, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Waterbury Arts Magnet School in?

Waterbury School District

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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.