Educational Depth
Educational Depth
Waterbury emphasizes immersive learning for people of all ages, and the City is a center for quality education. With elementary to high school, public and private, magnet or technical, on-campus and online, the City features lots of options – including three colleges and universities – to learn at some of the finest educational institutions around.
WATERBURY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Waterbury Public Schools Post University
Post is the second-largest university in the state, with over 36,000 undergraduate and post-graduate students. Waterbury is home to the University’s main campus – a 56-acre property nestled in the Country Club section, as well a multi-use space across four sprawling floors of the former Howland-Hughes department store building in the City’s downtown area. A pioneer in the combination of traditional on-campus and innovative online learning, Post University services the educational needs of learners from nearly 150 countries.
Post University 
Post is an educational innovator – with hybrid learning options and a massive online infrastructure that features over 2,000 associates dedicated to the online learning experience. Behind its motto of “Post Makes It Personal,” the University – which began in Waterbury in 1890 – has gained notoriety for its personal attention, flexible programs and in-demand degrees.
U.S. News & World Report® has ranked Post University among the Best Online Graduate Business Programs and Best Online Veterans Graduate Business Programs.
They have also ranked Post among the Best Online Graduate Business Programs, Best Online Graduate Business and Education Programs, Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans, Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.
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Student Achievement Happening At All Levels
According to the most recent Next Generation Accountability Index results generated by the Connecticut State Department of Education, Waterbury Public Schools have shown the greatest increase since 2015-2016 when compared to all other towns and cities in Connecticut that serve students in Pre-K to 12th grade.
In addition, Waterbury’s schools are considered “racially balanced” by the State of Connecticut Department of Education.
Waterbury Public Schools 
Waterbury Public Schools
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Superintendent Darren Schwartz on the Most Ambitious Era for the Public School System
Significant Investments in Public Schools
Over the last several years, the City of Waterbury embarked on an aggressive school construction program to meet the needs of increased student enrollment – which now tops 20,000 in the public school system.
Since then, five new pre-K through eighth grade neighborhood schools have been constructed. A new technical high school, Waterbury Career Academy, was opened, with a focus on manufacturing, computer technology and human services. A $15 million media center and additional classroom space was added to one middle school, a $25 million addition and alteration project was completed at one high school, a $46 million addition and alteration of one elementary school was developed, and a $38 million renovation and expansion of an immersive dual language school is planned for 2026.
Graduation rates in each of the five Waterbury high schools have risen in the last two years.
Waterbury Promise
In collaboration with the City of Waterbury and Waterbury Public Schools, Waterbury Promise is a 501(c)3 organization that creates college access opportunities for Waterbury high school students. High schoolers are given the financial resources, support services, and key relationships that lead to college success – including “last dollar” scholarships.
For Waterbury high school students who wish to continue their post-secondary education and have met the qualifications, Waterbury Promise is now providing $5,000 per student per year of college. The award covers the gap that remains after all individual grants, financial aid, and other scholarships have been applied.
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KELONDA MAULL ON THE PROMISE BEING MADE TO WATERBURY'S COLLEGE-READY STUDENTS
UConn Waterbury
UConn Waterbury provides access to lifelong learning and community engagement, with more than one hundred undergraduate programs. Students enjoy living downtown in the newly-renovated Brown Building, which features apartment-style suites overlooking the Waterbury Green.
The UConn Waterbury branch offers a Master of Business Administration program, a Teachers Certification Program – and starting in 2020, an Allied Health Sciences major. Students can use the Allied Health center of excellence to earn a degree, and to connect with the various healthcare careers available from providers in the Waterbury region. The former Odd Fellows Hall, another historic downtown site, has been completely renovated and houses research areas, lab spaces, multi-use classrooms, and a robotics arena.
A recent study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce ranked UConn Waterbury among the top 50 of all four-year public universities in the United States – and first in Connecticut – for a 10-year Return on Investment.
University of Connecticut 
University of Connecticut
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World-renowned scientist and UConn Waterbury director Fumiko Hoeft on creating career opportunities
CT State Community College Naugatuck Valley
One of the 13 colleges in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, Naugatuck Valley Community College offers over 100 degree, certificate and workforce training programs. The campus covers 110 acres just off of the I-84 highway, with classrooms and laboratories for general and specialized use.
For the last nine consecutive years, Naugatuck Valley has awarded over 1,000 associate degrees and certificates – the highest amount among all of Connecticut's community colleges.
Among nearly 700 community colleges nationwide, WalletHub recently ranked CT State Naugatuck Valley in the top 20 for educational quality and affordability.
Dave Therault
