Lake Orion 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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Lake Orion, Michigan - 12 schools

An equity score of 54/100 ranks Lake Orion Community Schools #278 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,289 per pupil, Lake Orion Community Schools ranks #186 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

6,831
Total Enrollment
12
Schools
$14,289
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lake Orion Community Schools operates 12 public schools serving 6,831 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 combined, 3 middle, 3 elementary, 2 high schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Oakland County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,289 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 37.3% local, 54.8% state, and 7.9% 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 54/100, ranked #278 of 707 in Michigan against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 12 schools offering Advanced Placement (37 AP courses district-wide), a 452.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 26.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 72.2% White, 11.4% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Stadium Drive Elementary School, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.

Its largest campus is Lake Orion Community High School, enrolling 2,035 students (31% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Pine Tree Center, at 56 students, a 36x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Lake Orion Community High School accounts for 29.8% of all Lake Orion Community Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Lake Orion Community Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lake Orion Community Schools school enrollment varies 36× across entities

Lake Orion Community Schools school enrollment ranges from 56 students (lowest) to 2,035 students (highest), a spread of 1,979 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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 NCES Common Core of Data

Lake Orion Community Schools student-counselor ratio is 452:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Lake Orion Community Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 26.7% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Lake Orion Community Schools is typically wider than the Lake Orion Community Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.9%
Federal
54.8%
State
37.3%
Local

Funding Equity

54
Equity Score
278 / 707
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 12 schools in Lake Orion Community Schools.

White 72.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%
African American 3.2%
Asian 4.8%
Multiracial 8.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 44.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Lake Orion Community Schools's schools, above the Michigan average of 36.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Stadium Drive Elementary School 56.5
  2. 2 Carpenter Elem School 52.6
  3. 3 Pine Tree Center 52.0
  4. 4 Learning Options High School 51.3
  5. 5 Orion Oaks Elementary School 49.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 12
Schools with AP
37 AP courses total
452.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
26.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lake Orion Community Schools

School Enrollment
Lake Orion Community High School
2,035
Orion Oaks Elementary School
514
Waldon Middle School
514
Oakview Middle School
510
Paint Creek Elementary School
504
Webber School
485
Carpenter Elem School
467
Scripps Middle School
446
Stadium Drive Elementary School
444
Blanche Sims Elementary School
423
Learning Options High School
73
Pine Tree Center
56

How Lake Orion Community Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Hudsonville Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Howell Public Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Novi Community School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Waterford School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
West Ottawa Public School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Lake Orion 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 · $12,513/pupil
Compare vs Lake Orion Community Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $16,677/pupil
Compare vs Lake Orion Community Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $17,642/pupil
Compare vs Lake Orion Community Schools →

Compare Lake Orion 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 Lake Orion Community Schools?

Lake Orion Community Schools has 12 schools, including 2 high, 4 combined, 3 middle, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 6,831 students.

How much does Lake Orion Community Schools spend per student?

Lake Orion Community Schools spends $14,289 per student. The district has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #278 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Lake Orion Community Schools?

Lake Orion Community Schools students are 72.2% White, 11.4% Hispanic or Latino, 4.8% Asian, 3.2% African American, averaged across 12 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lake Orion Community Schools?

Lake Orion Community Schools has an equity score of 54/100, ranking #278 out of 707 districts in Michigan.