Public schools in Waterford, CT
5 open public schools with an address in Waterford, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,303
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.1:1
Connecticut median 11.9:1
Charter schools
0
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Waterford public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Waterford, CT: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,303 students, an average of 461 per school. The largest campus is Waterford High School (713 students), and the largest elementary school is The Friendship School (460).
Waterford School District operates the most schools here (4), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 11.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 11.9:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 39% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Waterford
Elementary schools in Waterford
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Neck Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 309 | 10.2:1 | |
| Oswegatchie Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 292 | 9.7:1 | |
| The Friendship School Learn · Magnet | PK–KG | 460 | 17.7:1 |
Middle schools in Waterford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Lane Middle School Waterford School District | 06–08 | 529 | 11.3:1 |
High schools in Waterford
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford High School Waterford School District | 09–12 | 713 | 11.1:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White63.8%
- Hispanic20.1%
- Black3.8%
- Asian4.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial7.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Waterford schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,303 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Waterford
How many public schools are in Waterford, CT?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Waterford: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 2,303 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Waterford?
Schools with an address in Waterford belong to 2 education agencies, led by Waterford School District (4 schools), Learn (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Waterford?
Waterford High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Waterford, with 713 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Waterford?
No school with an address in Waterford is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Connecticut.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Waterford schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Waterford public schools is 11.1:1, lower than the Connecticut school median of 11.9:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Waterford guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Connecticut cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Connecticut cities