Waterford School District

WATERFORD, Michigan — 17 schools

7,058
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$19,093
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Waterford School District operates 17 public schools serving 7,058 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 other, 4 elementary, 3 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 6,641 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Oakland County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,093 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 38.7% local, 52.2% state, and 9.1% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $72,160 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 65/100, ranked #130 of 756 in Michigan against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 17 schools offering Advanced Placement (52 AP courses district-wide), a 215.2:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 44.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.5% White, 17.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% African American across the district's schools.

Waterford School District school enrollment varies 36× across entities

Waterford School District school enrollment ranges from 27 students (lowest) to 963 students (highest), a spread of 936 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

Waterford School District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 57.7% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Waterford School District student-counselor ratio is 215:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Waterford School District chronic absenteeism rate is 44.0% — 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 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

9.1%
Federal
52.2%
State
38.7%
Local

Funding Equity

65
Equity Score
130 / 756
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Oakland County county, where this district is located.

$1,009
Studio/mo
$1,122
1 BR/mo
$1,411
2 BR/mo
$1,724
3 BR/mo
$1,868
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$72,160
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 17 schools in Waterford School District.

White 59.5%
Hispanic or Latino 17.1%
African American 15.6%
Asian 2.0%
Multiracial 4.9%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 17
Schools with AP
52 AP courses total
215.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
44.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Waterford School District

School Enrollment
Waterford Mott High School
963
Waterford Kettering High School
909
Pierce Middle School
733
Mason Middle School
731
Grayson Elementary
437
Schoolcraft Elementary School
398
Donelson Hills Elementary School
392
Cooley Elementary School
377
Haviland Elementary School
308
Beaumont Elementary School
298
Riverside Elementary School
291
Houghton Elementary School
278
Knudsen Elementary School
278
Waterford Durant High School
120
Childrens Village School
56
Kingsley Montgomery School
45
Waterford Lifetracks Program Crary Campus
27

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 · $13,844/pupil
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Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $17,609/pupil
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Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $22,548/pupil
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Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $16,462/pupil
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Compare Waterford School District

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 Waterford School District?

Waterford School District has 17 schools, including 3 high, 8 other, 2 middle, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 7,058 students.

How much does Waterford School District spend per student?

Waterford School District spends $19,093 per student. The district has an equity score of 65/100, ranking #130 in Michigan.

What is the average teacher salary in Waterford School District?

The average teacher salary in Waterford School District is $72,160 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Waterford School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Oakland County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Waterford School District?

Waterford School District students are 59.5% White, 17.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% African American, 2.0% Asian, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Waterford School District?

Waterford School District has an equity score of 65/100, ranking #130 out of 756 districts in Michigan. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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