Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Waterford

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
URGER (canal tugboat)URGER (canal tugboat) · Photo: Ted Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in Waterford · Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District, Shenendehowa Central School District

Waterford’s public schools outscore 87% of New York districts

70% of students in Waterford’s public schools are proficient in math, above the New York average (46%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Waterford, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New York, not nationally.

#73of 755 New York townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New York state tests taken in spring 2022, when 84% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
67%
▲ 18 pts vs NY 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
70%
▲ 23 pts vs NY 46%
2021–22
Graduate on time
96%
▲ 9 pts vs NY 87%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$21.1K
▼ 39% vs NY $34.6K
FY2024 · Shenendehowa Central
Students per teacher
12.9
NY 11.2 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
718 students on the public path
In brief

Waterford’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1084 New York towns with household incomes within a quarter of Waterford’s, its schools beat 98%, higher than their 87% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 67% and math 70% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 46% statewide; 96% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 87%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free spends $25,852 per student and Shenendehowa Central $21,150, against $34,607 across New York (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Mary's School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Waterford’s grade

A Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 87% of New York school districts, #73 of 755 New York towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New York average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New York school districts we grade (1,013)Better than 87%
Lower resultsHigher results
New York towns with similar household incomes (1084)Better than 98%
Towns in Saratoga County (19)Better than 89%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,473 test results and a graduating class of 778 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 84% of Waterford’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,729 in math, 4,216 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Waterford, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary SchoolWaterford-Halfmoon Union Free School DistrictC+
7–12Waterford-Halfmoon Junior-Senior High SchoolWaterford-Halfmoon Union Free School DistrictB−

Waterford runs its own schools through grade 12 (Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District). From grade K, students attend the Shenendehowa Central School District, shared with Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Malta and Round Lake. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Waterford

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 718 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 9.1 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$25,852NY $34,607 · FY2024
B−
Shenendehowa Central School DistrictGrades K–12 · 12 schools · 9,348 students · 13.4 per teacher (NY 11.2)
$21,150NY $34,607 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District45%
State average 48.9% · 260 students tested
Math · PK–12, Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District50%
State average 46.5% · 294 students tested
Reading · K–12, Shenendehowa Central School District68%
State average 48.9% · 3956 students tested
Math · K–12, Shenendehowa Central School District71%
State average 46.5% · 4435 students tested

Waterford vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New York towns that share Waterford’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
WaterfordAWaterford-Halfmoon Union Free PK–12 · Shenendehowa Central K–12
CohoesC−Cohoes City
HalfmoonA−Mechanicville City PK–12 · Shenendehowa Central K–12
ColonieA−South Colonie Central PK–12 · North Colonie Central K–12
SchaghticokeB−Hoosic Valley Central
TroyC−Troy City PK–12 · Lansingburgh Central PK–12
Waterford (village)B−Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free

Every school in Waterford

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New York’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Waterfordby address
Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C+
388 students10:1Rate it →
Waterford-Halfmoon Junior-Senior High School
High · Grades 7–12
B−
330 students8:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary's School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
215 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Waterford’s schools

Are Waterford’s schools good?

By New York’s own tests, yes: the public schools Waterford children attend outscore 87% of New York’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #73 of 755 New York towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 98%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Waterford in?

Two districts: Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District runs grades PK–12, and Shenendehowa Central School District runs grades K–12, shared with Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Malta and Round Lake.

What is Waterford’s graduation rate?

96% of the class of 2023 in Shenendehowa Central School District graduated in four years, against 87% across New York.

How much does Waterford spend per student?

$25,852 in Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District and $21,150 in Shenendehowa Central School District (FY2024), against $34,607 across New York. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Waterford?

Yes: St. Mary's School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 215 students).

Parents talk

What Waterford families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Waterford → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New York. Stars are from neighbors.