Enrollment
188
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waterford, MI
Waterford Montessori Academy
Federal NCES profile for Waterford Montessori Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260105308898Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waterford Montessori Academy earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 81% of Michigan schools.
- #2 of 4
- elementary schools in Waterford · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.4:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 41.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Waterford Montessori Academy has class sizes smaller than 81% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waterford Montessori Academy ranks #2 of 4 elementary schools in Waterford, MI.
School address
District: Waterford Montessori Academy · Michigan
NCES ID 260105308898 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Waterford Montessori Academy compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Waterford Montessori Academy
Waterford Montessori Academy is a mid-sized charter elementary school in Waterford, Michigan, enrolling 188 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 41.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 188 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Among 231 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #173, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (65%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 53/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 49.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Waterford Montessori Academy spends $10,565 per pupil, 22% below the Michigan average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Waterford's elementary schools, it stands alongside Grayson Elementary (437 students): Waterford Montessori Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 20.8:1).
Its district, Waterford Montessori Academy, also runs Waterford Montessori Academy (213 students).
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Waterford Montessori Academy compares
Waterford Montessori Academy on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 23% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.2% | ▼ 24% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 188 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
188
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 19% in Michigan - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
49.5%
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
$10,565
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 65.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
African American 12.2%
Two or More 4.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 65.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.8, Waterford Montessori Academy is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waterford Montessori Academy, which includes Waterford Montessori Academy.
$10,565
Per student
-22%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 11.3%
State 78.9%
Federal 9.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Waterford Montessori Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Montessori Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waterford Montessori Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 213
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Similar elementary schools in Waterford
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~188 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Waterford Montessori Academy's federal record.
- Compare Waterford Montessori Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Waterford Montessori Academy's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Waterford Montessori Academy
How many students attend Waterford Montessori Academy?
Waterford Montessori Academy has 188 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waterford, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterford Montessori Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Waterford Montessori Academy is 13.4:1, which is 23% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waterford Montessori Academy?
41.2% of students at Waterford Montessori Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waterford Montessori Academy?
The largest demographic group at Waterford Montessori Academy is White at 65.4% of enrollment, in Waterford, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waterford Montessori Academy?
Waterford Montessori Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Waterford Montessori Academy rank among elementary schools in Waterford?
By Resource Investment Index, Waterford Montessori Academy ranks #2 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.
Is Waterford Montessori Academy a good school?
Waterford Montessori Academy earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 81% of Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Waterford Montessori Academy?
Besides Waterford Montessori Academy, Waterford Montessori Academy also operates Waterford Montessori Academy (213 students). See the Waterford Montessori Academy district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.