Coldwater Community Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Coldwater, Michigan - 5 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Coldwater Community Schools #670 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,967 per pupil, Coldwater Community Schools ranks #597 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,756
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$12,967
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Coldwater Community Schools operates 5 public schools serving 2,756 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Branch County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,967 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 32.6% local, 51.8% state, and 15.6% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 26/100, ranked #670 of 702 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (13 AP courses district-wide), a 317.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 39.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.4% White, 13.0% Hispanic or Latino, 3.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Larsen Elementary School, with a diversity index of 37.1/100.

Its largest campus is Coldwater High School, enrolling 981 students (35% of the district's total enrollment).

Coldwater High School accounts for 34.9% of all Coldwater Community Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Coldwater Community Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Coldwater Community Schools school enrollment varies 2.6× across entities

Coldwater Community Schools school enrollment ranges from 375 students (lowest) to 981 students (highest), a spread of 606 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Coldwater Community Schools reports 55.1% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Coldwater Community Schools student-counselor ratio is 318:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Coldwater Community Schools is typically wider than the Coldwater Community Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Coldwater Community Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 39.3% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

15.6%
Federal
51.8%
State
32.6%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
670 / 702
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Coldwater Community Schools.

White 79.4%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
African American 3.8%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 35.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Coldwater Community Schools's schools, about the same as the Michigan average of 36.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Larsen Elementary School 37.1
  2. 2 Legg Middle School 35.4
  3. 3 Lakeland Elementary School 34.9
  4. 4 Coldwater High School 34.1
  5. 5 Jefferson Elementary School 33.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
13 AP courses total
317.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
39.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Coldwater Community Schools

School Enrollment
Coldwater High School
981
Legg Middle School
616
Larsen Elementary School
463
Jefferson Elementary School
378
Lakeland Elementary School
375

How Coldwater Community Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Western School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Adrian Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Gaylord Community Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Airport Community Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
South Redford School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Coldwater Community Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs Coldwater Community Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs Coldwater Community Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs Coldwater Community Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $14,974/pupil
Compare vs Coldwater Community Schools →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Coldwater Community Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Coldwater Community Schools?

Coldwater Community Schools has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,756 students.

How much does Coldwater Community Schools spend per student?

Coldwater Community Schools spends $12,967 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #670 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Coldwater Community Schools?

Coldwater Community Schools students are 79.4% White, 13.0% Hispanic or Latino, 3.8% African American, 1.0% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Coldwater Community Schools?

Coldwater Community Schools has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #670 out of 702 districts in Michigan.