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 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 28% (versus the New York public elementary school average of 41%), 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
1,750,092 Students
# Teachers
294 Teachers
153,310 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Watertown City School District, which is ranked #863 of all 1,015 school districts in New York (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has increased from 77% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#863 out of 1020 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
46%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
49%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
68%
78%

Graduation Rate
78%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.51
0.73
# American Indian Students
12 Students
14,013 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
55 Students
175,821 Students
% Asian Students
1%
10%
# Hispanic Students
452 Students
531,348 Students
% Hispanic Students
12%
30%
# Black Students
262 Students
278,768 Students
% Black Students
7%
16%
# White Students
2,681 Students
682,836 Students
% White Students
68%
39%
# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
3,810 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
489 Students
63,556 Students
% of Two or more races Students
12%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
60,112
# Students in K Grade:
326
169,096
# Students in 1st Grade:
342
177,074
# Students in 2nd Grade:
354
181,096
# Students in 3rd Grade:
283
177,104
# Students in 4th Grade:
290
180,516
# Students in 5th Grade:
316
181,163
# Students in 6th Grade:
285
184,038
# Students in 7th Grade:
280
161,270
# Students in 8th Grade:
294
161,773
# Students in 9th Grade:
324
24,993
# Students in 10th Grade:
284
23,859
# Students in 11th Grade:
270
21,596
# Students in 12th Grade:
247
21,027
# Ungraded Students:
63
25,375
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,504 in this school district is less than the state median of $31,307. 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 $32,183. 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
$31,307

Spending / Student
$18,349
$32,183

Best Watertown City School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Harold T Wiley School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1351 Washington St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3780
Grades: 5-6
| 621 students
Rank: #22.
Sherman School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
836 Sherman St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3760
Grades: K-4
| 311 students
Rank: #33.
North Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | 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
Grades: K-4
| 440 students
Rank: #44.
Knickerbocker School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
739 Knickerbocker Dr
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3740
Grades: K-4
| 360 students
Rank: #55.
Ohio Street School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1537 Ohio St
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3755
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-3755
Grades: K-4
| 311 students
Rank: #66.
Starbuck Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | 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
Grades: K-4
| 185 students
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