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Waterford, Michigan - 17 schools
An equity score of 68/100 ranks Waterford School District #95 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $15,819 per pupil, Waterford School District ranks #109 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
7,058
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$15,819
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, 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 combined, 4 elementary, 3 high, 2 middle 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 $15,819 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 38.7% local, 52.2% state, and 9.1% 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 68/100, ranked #95 of 707 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.
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 40.3% 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Donelson Hills Elementary School, with a diversity index of 71.9/100.
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.
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.
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.
Waterford School District chronic absenteeism rate is 40.3% — 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.
How many schools are in Waterford School District?
Waterford School District has 17 schools, including 3 high, 8 combined, 2 middle, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 7,058 students.
How much does Waterford School District spend per student?
Waterford School District spends $15,819 per student. The district has an equity score of 68/100, ranking #95 in Michigan.
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 68/100, ranking #95 out of 707 districts in Michigan.