At a glance
Reported students
606
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
44.3
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
13.7:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
PK–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Connecticut elementary enrollment
94th percentile
Compared with 591 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
455
Wendell L. Cross School: 606 reported students.
State peer staffing position
75th percentile
13.7:1 reported; state peer median 12.2:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 429
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Student–teacher ratio
- 10.7:1
What the reported data says about Wendell L. Cross School
Wendell L. Cross School is a public elementary school serving grades PK–08 in Waterbury. It is one of 29 current school records connected to Waterbury School District. NCES reports 606 students for 2024–25.
Among 591 elementary schools in Connecticut with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 371 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 94th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 13.7:1, above the Connecticut median of 12.2:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Hispanic or Latino (53.3%) and Black (22.6%). English learners represent 14.2% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 18.4%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Wendell L. Cross School
- 1How do the reported 13.7:1 student–teacher ratio and 44.3 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 14.2%
- Students with disabilities
- 18.4%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 71.8%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 1
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White15.2%
- Hispanic53.3%
- Black22.6%
- Asian1.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial6.6%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Waterbury School District
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–05
614 reported students
Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–05
590 reported students
B. W. Tinker School
Elementary · Grades PK–05
578 reported students
H. S. Chase School
Elementary · Grades PK–05
543 reported students
Gilmartin School
Elementary · Grades PK–08
462 reported students
Carrington School
Elementary · Grades PK–08
455 reported students
Public schools near Wendell L. Cross School
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–05 | 275 | 1 mi |
| Gilmartin School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–08 | 462 | 1.1 mi |
| Hopeville School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–05 | 291 | 1.1 mi |
| Washington School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–05 | 284 | 1.3 mi |
| H. S. Chase School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–05 | 543 | 1.4 mi |
| Woodrow Wilson School Elementary · Waterbury School District | PK–05 | 415 | 1.6 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Wendell L. Cross School
What grades does Wendell L. Cross School serve?
Wendell L. Cross School reports grades PK–08 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Waterbury School District.
How many students attend Wendell L. Cross School?
Wendell L. Cross School reported 606 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 94th percentile among 591 Connecticut elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 429 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Wendell L. Cross School?
The calculated ratio is 13.7:1, based on 606 students and 44.3 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Connecticut median for the same school level is 12.2:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Wendell L. Cross School a public, charter, or magnet school?
Wendell L. Cross School is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Waterbury School District attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Wendell L. Cross School students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
71.8% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Wendell L. Cross School in?
Wendell L. Cross School is part of Waterbury School District, based in Waterbury, CT, which operates 29 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Wendell L. Cross School?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Roberto Clemente International Dual Language School (1 mi), Gilmartin School (1.1 mi), Hopeville School (1.1 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.