Public schools in Waterford, MI
20 open public schools with an address in Waterford, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
20
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,649
20 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.6:1
Michigan median 16.3:1
Charter schools
4
1 virtual
An overview of Waterford public schools
The federal directory lists 20 public schools in Waterford, MI: 11 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 4 combined or other. The 20 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,649 students, an average of 432 per school. The largest campus is Oakside Prep Academy (1,424 students), and the largest elementary school is Grayson Elementary (437).
Waterford School District operates the most schools here (15), plus 4 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.6:1, similar to the statewide school median of 16.3:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 7 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 7 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 63% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Waterford
Waterford School District
Public school district
15 schools in Waterford · 17 total
Waterford Montessori Academy
Independent charter agency
2 schools in Waterford
Momentum Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Waterford
Oakland Schools
Specialized public school district
1 school in Waterford · 6 total
Oakside Prep Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Waterford
Elementary schools in Waterford
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 298 | 16.7:1 | |
| Cooley Elementary School Waterford School District | KG–05 | 377 | 17.6:1 | |
| Donelson Hills Elementary School Waterford School District | KG–05 | 392 | 17.9:1 | |
| Grayson Elementary Waterford School District | KG–05 | 437 | 18:1 | |
| Haviland Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 308 | 14.3:1 | |
| Knudsen Elementary School Waterford School District | KG–05 | 278 | 14.9:1 | |
| Momentum Academy Momentum Academy · Charter | PK–08 | 219 | 14.6:1 | |
| Riverside Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 291 | 14.9:1 | |
| Schoolcraft Elementary School Waterford School District | PK–05 | 398 | 17.3:1 | |
| Waterford Montessori Academy Waterford Montessori Academy · Charter | PK–05 | 213 | 15.7:1 | |
| Waterford Montessori Academy Waterford Montessori Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 188 | 13.5:1 |
Middle schools in Waterford
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Middle School Waterford School District | 06–08 | 731 | 16.5:1 | |
| Pierce Middle School Waterford School District | 06–08 | 733 | 18.3:1 |
High schools in Waterford
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford Durant High School Waterford School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 120 | 9.7:1 | |
| Waterford Kettering High School Waterford School District | 07–12 | 909 | 22.4:1 | |
| Waterford Mott High School Waterford School District | 09–12 | 963 | 17.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Waterford
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsley Montgomery School Waterford School District · Special Education School | PK–12 | 45 | 4:1 | |
| Oakside Prep Academy Oakside Prep Academy · Charter | KG–12 | 1,424 | 19.9:1 | |
| Virtual Learning Academy Consortium Oakland Schools · Virtual | KG–12 | 298 | 19.4:1 | |
| Waterford Lifetracks Program Crary Campus Waterford School District · Special Education School | UG–UG | 27 | 4.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White50.9%
- Hispanic22.4%
- Black17.7%
- Asian2.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 20 Waterford schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,649 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Waterford
How many public schools are in Waterford, MI?
The current NCES directory lists 20 open public schools with a location address in Waterford: 11 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 8,649 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Waterford?
Schools with an address in Waterford belong to 5 education agencies, led by Waterford School District (15 schools), Waterford Montessori Academy (2 schools), Momentum Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Waterford?
Waterford Mott High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Waterford, with 963 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Waterford?
Yes. 4 of the 20 public schools in Waterford are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Momentum Academy, Oakside Prep Academy, Waterford Montessori Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Waterford schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Waterford public schools is 16.6:1, similar to the Michigan school median of 16.3:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Waterford guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Michigan cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Michigan cities