Summary:
Zip code 06705 in Waterbury, Connecticut is served by a single high school, Crosby High School, which enrolls students in grades 9-12 and operates within the Waterbury School District. Serving approximately 1,453 students, the school is the sole provider of secondary education in this area, with a student body where 83% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty community.
Crosby High School shows a mixed performance picture. Its graduation rate of 88.4% exceeds the Waterbury School District average of 86.2% but trails the state average of 91.2%. However, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern, with 31.0% of students chronically absent—nearly double the state rate of 16.4%. Academic proficiency is well below state levels: only 26.1% of 11th graders are proficient in English Language Arts (versus 55.3% statewide), 14.0% in math (versus 31.3%), and just 8.2% in science (versus 50.5%). While math proficiency improved notably from 9.4% to 14.0% year-over-year, science proficiency is alarmingly low at less than half the district average and one-sixth of the state average.
The school remains in the bottom tier of Connecticut high schools, ranking at the 8th percentile in 2025–2026 after sitting at the 6th percentile the prior year. Performance trends are inconsistent: ELA and science proficiency dipped slightly in the latest year, while math showed meaningful improvement. The school’s per-student spending of $16,404 (from 2018–2019) is relatively high, yet outcomes remain low, suggesting challenges beyond funding. Despite these difficulties, Crosby’s graduation rate outpaces its district, and its math proficiency now slightly exceeds the district average. For parents, this is a school with significant academic struggles, particularly in science, and high absenteeism, but also one where some positive signs—such as rising math scores and a graduation rate above the district—offer a glimmer of hope amid ongoing challenges.
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