Waterford School District
School District · Waterford, Michigan
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
17
9 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,194
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Avg Rating
5.8
out of 10
Schools
17
9 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,194
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Evaluating Waterford School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Waterford School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Cooley Elementary School
Waterford · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Waterford Durant High School
Waterford · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Grayson Elementary
Waterford · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Michigan rank
#327 of 533
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below Michigan avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,194
+$3,611 vs Michigan median
District size
6,892 students
Much larger than Michigan median
The short answer
Waterford School District ranks #327 of 533 Michigan districts by overall school rating. Waterford School District's schools with real test data average 5.8/10 across 16 schools. Its top-rated schools are Cooley Elementary School (7.9/10), Waterford Durant High School (6.9/10), and Grayson Elementary (6.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 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 School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Waterford School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (16 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooley Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Waterford Durant High School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Grayson Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Childrens Village School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Schoolcraft Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Waterford Kettering High School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Pierce Middle School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Houghton Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Waterford Mott High School | 5.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Kingsley Montgomery School | 5.5 / 10 |
See all 17 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Waterford School District
Waterford School District is a Waterford, Michigan school district serving 17 schools. The district educates 6,892 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1. The district invests $18,194 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.8/10, Waterford School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Cooley Elementary School, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Waterford School District students show an average math proficiency of 32.7% and ELA proficiency of 46.2%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Waterford School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Waterford School District with test data.
Schools in Waterford School District
17 schools Elementary Schools 9
Middle Schools 2
High Schools 3
District Details
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Waterford
- Total Enrollment
- 6,892
- Teachers (FTE)
- 463
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Waterford School District?
Waterford School District has 17 schools in total — 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Waterford School District?
The average composite rating for Waterford School District is 5.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Waterford School District?
Waterford School District spends $18,194 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waterford School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Waterford School District is 14.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Waterford School District?
Cooley Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Waterford School District with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What are the test scores in Waterford School District?
Across schools in Waterford School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 32.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 46.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Waterford School District compare to other districts in Michigan?
Waterford School District has an average school rating of 5.8/10 across 17 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Michigan by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 32.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 46.2%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in MI
Compare Waterford School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Detroit Public Schools Community District (106)
- Grand Rapids Public Schools (51)
- Utica Community Schools (38)
- Dearborn City School District (37)
- Ann Arbor Public Schools (32)
- Kalamazoo Public Schools (31)
- Lansing Public School District (26)
- Livonia Public Schools School District (26)
- Michigan Department of Corrections (25)
- Plymouth-canton Community Schools (25)
- Warren Consolidated Schools (23)
- Rochester Community School District (22)
- Troy School District (21)
- Chippewa Valley Schools (20)
- Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (20)
- L'anse Creuse Public Schools (19)
- Forest Hills Public Schools (18)
- Wayne-westland Community School District (16)
- Farmington Public School District (16)
- Huron Valley Schools (16)
- Kentwood Public Schools (16)
- Port Huron Area School District (16)
- Saginaw School District of the City of (16)
- Traverse City Area Public Schools (16)
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.
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