- Enrollment
- 963
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waterford, MI
Cooley Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cooley Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 263531007142
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cooley Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Michigan schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Waterford · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.9:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 48.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cooley Elementary School has class sizes larger than 72% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cooley Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Waterford, MI.
School address
District: Waterford School District · Michigan
NCES ID 263531007142 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Cooley Elementary School shrank from 408 students in 2022-23 to 371 in 2023-24 (-9.1%).
Teacher FTE added 20.2 → 23.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 263531007142 · Waterford, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
377 enr · 18.9:1 · 48.3% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Waterford Mott High School (963 students)
Cooley Elementary School shrank from 408 students in 2022-23 to 371 in 2023-24 (-9.1%). Teacher FTE added 20.2 → 23.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Cooley Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Waterford Mott
Waterford Mott High School
963 students
- Waterford Kett
Waterford Kettering High School
909 students
- Pierce Middle
Pierce Middle School
733 students
- Mason Middle S
Mason Middle School
731 students
- Grayson Elemen
Grayson Elementary
437 students
- This school 377
Cooley Elementary School
377 students
What this shows Cooley Elementary School reports 377 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cooley Elementary School compares
Cooley Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.9:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.3% | ▼ 11% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 377 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.9:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
377
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 72% in Michigan - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,911
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.4%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
African American 7.7%
Asian 3.4%
Two or More 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 72.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.1, Cooley Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Waterford School District reports $17,911 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cooley Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Mott High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waterford Kettering High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pierce Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mason Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grayson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cooley Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 909
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 733
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 437
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar elementary schools in Waterford
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~377 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cooley Elementary School
How many students attend Cooley Elementary School?
Cooley Elementary School has 377 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waterford, MI. CCD year-over-year: 408 (2022-23) → 371 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cooley Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cooley Elementary School is 18.9:1, which is 8% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cooley Elementary School?
48.3% of students at Cooley Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cooley Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cooley Elementary School is White at 72.4% of enrollment, in Waterford, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cooley Elementary School?
Cooley Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cooley Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Waterford?
By Resource Investment Index, Cooley Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Waterford, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Waterford on the city page.
What other schools are in Waterford School District?
Besides Cooley Elementary School, Waterford School District also operates Waterford Mott High School (963 students), Waterford Kettering High School (909 students), and Pierce Middle School (733 students). See the Waterford School District district page for the complete list.