Waterford School District

Public school district · Oakland County · Michigan · NCES district ID 2635310

Waterford School District spent $17,911 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 91% of the other Michigan districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $14,214). Its 17 schools enrolled 6,641 students in 2024-25; 53.1% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,680 per student, up 9.9% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 87% (Michigan: 81.8%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Michigan districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Waterford in enrollment (6,590 to 7,436 students) and Waterford itself.

Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Waterford, FY23Birmingham $20,475; Waterford $17,911; Lake Orion Community Schools $15,748; Northville Public Schools $15,646; Port Huron Area $15,215; Novi Community $15,072; West Ottawa Public Schools $14,755; Midland Public Schools $14,162; Hudsonville Public Schools $14,135; Howell Public Schools $13,222; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k12.5k15k17.5k20k22.5kBirmingham$20,475Waterford$17,911Lake Orion Community Schools$15,748Northville Public Schools$15,646Port Huron Area$15,215Novi Community$15,072West Ottawa Public Schools$14,755Midland Public Schools$14,162Hudsonville Public Schools$14,135Howell Public Schools$13,222State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Waterford, FY23Birmingham $20,475; Waterford $17,911; Lake Orion Community Schools $15,748; Northville Public Schools $15,646; Port Huron Area $15,215; Novi Community $15,072; West Ottawa Public Schools $14,755; Midland Public Schools $14,162; Hudsonville Public Schools $14,135; Howell Public Schools $13,222; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k12.5k15k17.5k20k22.5kBirmingham$20,475Waterford$17,911Lake Orion Community Schools$15,748Northville Public Schools$15,646Port Huron Area$15,215Novi Community$15,072West Ottawa Public Schools$14,755Midland Public Schools$14,162Hudsonville Public Schools$14,135Howell Public Schools$13,222State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Waterford, FY23Birmingham $20,475; Waterford $17,911; Lake Orion Community Schools $15,748; Northville Public Schools $15,646; Port Huron Area $15,215; Novi Community $15,072; West Ottawa Public Schools $14,755; Midland Public Schools $14,162; Hudsonville Public Schools $14,135; Howell Public Schools $13,222; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k15k20k22.5kBirmingham$20,475Waterford$17,911Lake Orion Community Schools$15,748Northville Public Schools$15,646Port Huron Area$15,215Novi Community$15,072West Ottawa Public Schools$14,755Midland Public Schools$14,162Hudsonville Public Schools$14,135Howell Public Schools$13,222State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Waterford, FY23Birmingham $20,475; Waterford $17,911; Lake Orion Community Schools $15,748; Northville Public Schools $15,646; Port Huron Area $15,215; Novi Community $15,072; West Ottawa Public Schools $14,755; Midland Public Schools $14,162; Hudsonville Public Schools $14,135; Howell Public Schools $13,222; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k15k20k22.5kBirmingham$20,475Waterford$17,911Lake Orion Community Schools$15,748Northville Public Schools$15,646Port Huron Area$15,215Novi Community$15,072West Ottawa Public Schools$14,755Midland Public Schools$14,162Hudsonville Public Schools$14,135Howell Public Schools$13,222State median, 1,000+ students $14,214

Where the money came from

$153,001,000 in revenue: 53.1% state, 34.8% local and 12.1% federal. Total spending including $30,197,000 of capital outlay was $164,765,000, or $23,344 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Waterford School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $81,213,000; Local $53,311,000; Federal $18,477,000; total $153,001,000.
  • State$81,213,000 53%
  • Local$53,311,000 35%
  • Federal$18,477,000 12%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 347 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

6,948 students in 2022-23, 6,742 students in 2023-24, 6,641 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Waterford School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,948, 2023-24: 6,742, 2024-25: 6,64102k4k6k8k2022-236,9482023-246,7422024-256,641
Waterford School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,948, 2023-24: 6,742, 2024-25: 6,64102k4k6k8k2022-236,9482023-246,7422024-256,641
Waterford School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,948, 2023-24: 6,742, 2024-25: 6,64102k4k6k8k2022-236,9482023-246,7422024-256,641
Waterford School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 6,948, 2023-24: 6,742, 2024-25: 6,64102k4k6k8k2022-236,9482023-246,7422024-256,641

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-236,948408.017.0
2023-246,742418.716.1
2024-256,641411.716.1

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$29,873,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,233 per student

Waterford School District booked $29,873,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 434 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $68,910 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 78 in 100 Michigan districts with a figure (state median $62,387, 536 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Michigan teacher salary at $65,198 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$21,790,00072.9%
Special education$6,153,00020.6%
Vocational$845,0002.8%
Other programs$1,085,0003.6%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,382 in 2018-19, $3,470 in 2019-20, $3,587 in 2020-21, $3,943 in 2021-22, $4,233 in 2022-23.

Waterford School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,382, 2019-20: $3,470, 2020-21: $3,587, 2021-22: $3,943, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,3822019-20$3,4702020-21$3,5872021-22$3,9432022-23$4,233
Waterford School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,382, 2019-20: $3,470, 2020-21: $3,587, 2021-22: $3,943, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,3822019-20$3,4702020-21$3,5872021-22$3,9432022-23$4,233
Waterford School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,382, 2019-20: $3,470, 2020-21: $3,587, 2021-22: $3,943, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,3822019-20$3,4702020-21$3,5872021-22$3,9432022-23$4,233
Waterford School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,382, 2019-20: $3,470, 2020-21: $3,587, 2021-22: $3,943, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,3822019-20$3,4702020-21$3,5872021-22$3,9432022-23$4,233

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Waterford School District scored proficient or above: 39% in reading and 27% in math, against 44% in reading and 34% in math across Michigan. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Michigan, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMichiganStudents tested
Reading and language arts39%44%2,965
Math27%34%2,963

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

87% of the 565 students in Waterford School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 81.8% across Michigan. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMichigan
Four-year graduation rate87%81.8%
Students in the class565115,301

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

9 elementary schools, 3,057 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Grayson Elementary43718.050.8%Targeted program
Schoolcraft Elementary School39817.352.8%Targeted program
Donelson Hills Elementary School39217.976.0%Schoolwide program
Cooley Elementary School37717.648.8%Targeted program
Haviland Elementary School30814.355.5%Targeted program
Beaumont Elementary School29816.760.1%Targeted program
Riverside Elementary School29114.961.2%Targeted program
Houghton Elementary School27814.356.1%Targeted program
Knudsen Elementary School27814.961.2%Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 middle schools, 1,464 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Pierce Middle School73318.352.8%Not Title I
Mason Middle School73116.562.0%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 high schools, 1,992 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Waterford Mott High School96317.250.7%Not Title I
Waterford Kettering High School90922.441.0%Not Title I
Waterford Durant High School1209.775.8%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 other schools, 128 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Childrens Village School564.050.0%Not Title I
Kingsley Montgomery School454.055.6%Not Title I
Waterford Lifetracks Program Crary Campus274.851.9%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Waterford School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Waterford School District

  1. Michigan districts by spending per studentWaterford School District ranks 33 of 347 Michigan districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($17,911).#33 of 347
  2. Every school district in MichiganWaterford School District is the number 32 by size of 892 Michigan districts, with 7,058 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#32 of 892
  3. Northville Public SchoolsThe next larger Michigan district: 7,115 students in fall 2022, $15,646 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,646
  4. Howell Public SchoolsThe next smaller Michigan district: 6,871 students in fall 2022, $13,222 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$13,222
  5. Compare Waterford School District with Northville Public SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Waterford Mott High School, its largest high school963 students in 2024-25, 17.2 per teacher.963
  7. Teacher salary spending across MichiganWaterford School District spent $68,910 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $62,387); spending, not a salary.$68,910
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Waterford School District

  1. How many schools and students are in Waterford School District?
    17 schools were open in 2024-25 (9 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 3 other), enrolling 6,641 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Waterford School District spend per student?
    $17,911 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Michigan median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $14,214 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $19,680 per student, up 9.9% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Waterford School District's money come from?
    $153,001,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 53.1% state, 34.8% local and 12.1% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Waterford School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 829 of the 9,587 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 8.6%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Waterford School District spend on teacher salaries?
    $29,873,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,233 per student. Divided by the 434 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $68,910 per teacher, more than 78 in 100 Michigan districts (state median $62,387). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Michigan teacher salary at $65,198 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Waterford School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Waterford School District scored proficient or above: 39% in reading and 27% in math, against 44% in reading and 34% in math across Michigan. Michigan's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Waterford School District?
    87% of the 565 students in Waterford School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 81.8% across Michigan. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Waterford School District's NCES district ID?
    2635310. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .