Top Rankings
Watertown City School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New York for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 6 public elementary schools serving 2,228 students in Watertown City School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in New York.
Public Elementary Schools in Watertown City School District have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the New York public elementary school average of 52%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 48% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New York public elementary school average of 61% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NY)
# Schools
8 Schools
3,702 Schools
# Students
3,958 Students
1,748,855 Students
# Teachers
294 Teachers
153,131 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Watertown City School District, which is ranked #868 of all 1,008 school districts in New York (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 70% has decreased from 72% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#875 out of 1017 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
49%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
78%
Graduation Rate
70%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
10%
% Hispanic
12%
30%
% Black
7%
16%
% White
68%
39%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,504 in this school district is less than the state median of $31,324. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,349 is less than the state median of $32,199. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$77 MM
$78,541 MM
Spending
$73 MM
$80,737 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,504
$31,324
Spending / Student
$18,349
$32,199
Best Watertown City School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Harold T Wiley School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1351 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Gr: 5-6 | 621 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #22.
North Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
171 E Hoard St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3750
Gr: K-4 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Sherman School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
836 Sherman St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Gr: K-4 | 311 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Knickerbocker School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
739 Knickerbocker Dr
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Gr: K-4 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Ohio Street School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1537 Ohio St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3755
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3755
Gr: K-4 | 311 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #66.
Starbuck Elementary School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
430 E Hoard St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3765
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3765
Gr: K-4 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
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