Best Schools in Waterford, Michigan
21 schools · 11 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Waterford?
Use this page to compare every school in Waterford by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Cooley Elementary School
Elementary · Waterford School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Waterford Montessori Academy
Elementary · Waterford Montessori Academy. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Waterford for 2026 are Cooley Elementary School (7.9/10), Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School (7.6/10), and Waterford Montessori Academy (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
21
20 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$232,733
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
21
20 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.0
out of 10
Median Home
$232,733
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 93% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Waterford schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Waterford
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (20 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooley Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Waterford Montessori Academy | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Momentum Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Waterford Durant High School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Grayson Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Waterford Montessori Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Schoolcraft Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Waterford Kettering High School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Pierce Middle School | 5.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.0/10
- Median household income
- $77,026
- Median home value
- $232,733
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 30%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Waterford compares
Michigan rank
#228 of 372
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Michigan avg (6.2)
Median household income
$77k
105% of Michigan median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in Waterford, Michigan
Waterford's public school landscape spans 19 ranked schools with a city average of 6.1 out of 10. That average signals a district where most schools land in functional middle-ground performance, but with real spread between the top options and the rest. Three schools — 16 percent of the ranked total — cross the 7.0 threshold, marking a defined tier of stronger performers above the city norm.
The elementary level leads Waterford's performance picture. Cooley Elementary School scores 8.0 out of 10, the highest-rated school in the city. Waterford Montessori Academy follows at 7.6, landing in the top tier alongside Cooley. Both sit well above the 6.1 city average. Schoolcraft Elementary rounds out the group at 6.7 — above average and a solid mid-range option. Two of Waterford's three top-tier schools are at the elementary level, giving families with younger children the widest set of strong choices.
The secondary picture offers at least one clear standout. Mason Middle School scores 6.8, just above the city average, providing a reasonable transition between the stronger elementary options and high school. Waterford Durant High School scores 7.8 — second-highest in the city overall and well above the 6.1 average. Parents planning ahead for high school have a concrete top option to anchor their search.
For parents comparing schools in Waterford, the data tells a specific story: the strongest schools cluster at the elementary and high school ends, while the middle school tier sits near the city average. Performance varies enough across all 19 ranked schools that address-level research matters. Families closest to Cooley or Waterford Montessori Academy are in the district's strongest zone. Those elsewhere should weigh all ranked options carefully — the gap between the city's top score of 8.0 and its average of 6.1 is wide enough to make school selection consequential.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 371 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 204 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 212 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 459 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 5 | 217 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 6 | 411 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 306 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 284 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 243 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 |
| 10 | 351 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.3 |
Show all 11 elementary schools in Waterford
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 742 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 2 | 729 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 123 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 902 students · 7th–12th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 1,076 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 2 | 290 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 3 | 1,362 students · Kindergarten–11th | 4.9 | ||
| 4 | 24 students · 15–15 | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 328 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.6 | ||
Schools in Waterford
Waterford, Michigan · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$77,026
Median Home Value
$232,733
Median Rent
$1,141/mo
Population
70,274
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
76%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Community Profile
Waterford has a median household income of $77,026. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $232,733, with a median rent of $1,141/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Michigan
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 5
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Michigan
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Waterford, Michigan
How many schools are in Waterford, Michigan?
Waterford has 21 schools, including 20 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Waterford, Michigan?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Waterford is 6.0 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Waterford, Michigan?
The top-ranked school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Cooley Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Waterford, Michigan?
The top-ranked elementary school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Cooley Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Waterford, Michigan?
The top-ranked middle school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Pierce Middle School with a composite score of 5.9/10.
What is the best high school in Waterford, Michigan?
The top-ranked high school in Waterford on MySchoolScout is Waterford Durant High School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
How many school districts serve Waterford, Michigan?
Waterford is served by 5 school districts: Momentum Academy, Waterford Montessori Academy, Oakside Prep Academy, Waterford School District, Oakland Schools.
What is the education level in Waterford, Michigan?
According to Census data, 30% of adults in Waterford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Waterford, Michigan?
The median household income in Waterford is approximately $77,026 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Waterford, Michigan?
Yes, Waterford has 1 private school alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waterford, Michigan?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Waterford is 15.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Waterford, Michigan?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Michigan Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.