Can I use Wayne County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Wayne County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Wayne County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Wayne County?

Start with the 566 listed public schools and 134 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Wayne County Schools & Education

Name: Wayne County, Michigan Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Wayne County, Michigan

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

31/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

81.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

81.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,351

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

31/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#48

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Wayne County

Measured School Summary

Wayne County faces educational challenges with a school score of 31/100 and a graduation rate of 81.7%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,351 per pupil, Wayne County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 13% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Wayne County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

566 public schools and 134 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

31/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #48 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

81.7%

0.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$7,351

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

566

134 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Wayne County has 566 public schools across 134 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Wayne County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Choice-program county

Wayne County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.

State position

#48

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Elementary to high school visible

48,251 students

Elementary 71Middle 3High 25Other 8

107 listed schools in this county slice.

Dearborn City School District

Elementary to high school visible

19,874 students

Elementary 20Middle 8High 7Other 2

37 listed schools in this county slice.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Elementary to high school visible

16,143 students

Elementary 17Middle 4High 4Other 0

25 listed schools in this county slice.

Livonia Public Schools School District

Elementary to high school visible

13,045 students

Elementary 14Middle 6High 5Other 1

26 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Detroit Public Schools Community District is the largest listed district slice, with 107 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Wayne County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Wayne County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?

Education Overview

About Schools in Wayne County, Michigan

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Michigan's Largest and Most Diverse School System

Wayne County operates a massive network of 566 public schools serving 257,765 students across 134 districts. The landscape is dominated by 319 elementary and 128 high schools, reflecting the high density of this metropolitan region.

Investing in Education Across the Metro Region

The county's graduation rate of 81.7% sits just below the state average of 82.5% and the national mark of 87.0%. Per-pupil expenditure matches the state closely at $7,351, though it trails the national median investment of $13,000.

Detroit Schools and a Strong Charter Presence

Detroit Public Schools Community District is the largest provider with 48,251 students, followed by Dearborn City Schools with nearly 20,000 students. Charter schools play a major role here, making up 27.0% of all schools with 153 individual campuses.

Large Urban Campuses and Suburban Centers

Education in Wayne County is split almost evenly between 283 city schools and 278 suburban campuses, with very few rural options. While the average school size is 471, flagship institutions like Northville High School serve nearly 2,500 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

566

in Wayne County

Reported Enrollment

257,765

563 schools reporting

School Districts

134

districts

Charter Schools

153

27% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary319

Middle71

High128

Other48

134 School Districts in Wayne County

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Dearborn City School District

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Livonia Public Schools School District

Wayne-Westland Community School District

Grosse Pointe Public Schools

Taylor School District

Woodhaven-Brownstown School District

Lincoln Park School District of the City of

Wyandotte School District of the City of

566 Public Schools in Wayne County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 34 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 566 matching schools

Public schools in Wayne County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Northville High School	Profile	Northville Public Schools	NORTHVILLE, 48168Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,499
Cass Technical High School	Profile	Detroit Public Schools Community District	DETROIT, 48201City: Large	9–12	High	2,395
Fordson High School	Profile	Dearborn City School District	DEARBORN, 48126City: Midsize	9–12	High	2,339
Western International High School	Profile	Detroit Public Schools Community District	DETROIT, 48209City: Large	9–12	High	2,151
Dearborn High School	Profile	Dearborn City School District	DEARBORN, 48124City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,969
Plymouth High School	Profile	Plymouth-Canton Community Schools	CANTON, 48187Suburb: Large	6–12	High	1,931
Canton High School	Profile	Plymouth-Canton Community Schools	CANTON, 48187Suburb: Large	6–12	High	1,890
Salem High School	Profile	Plymouth-Canton Community Schools	CANTON, 48187Suburb: Large	6–12	High	1,859
Belleville High School	Profile	Van Buren Public Schools	BELLEVILLE, 48111Suburb: Large	7–12	High	1,770
Star International Academy	Profile	Star International Academy	DEARBORN HEIGHTS, 48127Suburb: Large	PK–12	Charter	1,698
Edsel Ford High School	Profile	Dearborn City School District	DEARBORN, 48124City: Midsize	9–12	High	1,639
Stevenson High School	Profile	Livonia Public Schools School District	LIVONIA, 48152City: Small	9–12	High	1,636
John Glenn High School	Profile	Wayne-Westland Community School District	WESTLAND, 48185Suburb: Large	8–12	High	1,542
Taylor High School	Profile	Taylor School District	TAYLOR, 48180City: Small	9–12	High	1,394
Lincoln Park High School	Profile	Lincoln Park School District of the City of	LINCOLN PARK, 48146Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,367
Wayne Memorial High School	Profile	Wayne-Westland Community School District	WAYNE, 48184Suburb: Large	6–12	High	1,361
Crestwood High School	Profile	Crestwood School District	DEARBORN HEIGHTS, 48127Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,336
Franklin High School	Profile	Livonia Public Schools School District	LIVONIA, 48150City: Small	9–12	High	1,327
Churchill High School	Profile	Livonia Public Schools School District	LIVONIA, 48150City: Small	9–12	High	1,241
Grosse Pointe South High School	Profile	Grosse Pointe Public Schools	GROSSE POINTE FARMS, 48236Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,238

Northville High School

Northville Public Schools

NORTHVILLE, 48168 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,499 students

Cass Technical High School

Detroit Public Schools Community District

DETROIT, 48201 / City: Large

Profile9–12High2,395 students

Fordson High School

Dearborn City School District

DEARBORN, 48126 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,339 students

Western International High School

Detroit Public Schools Community District

DETROIT, 48209 / City: Large

Profile9–12High2,151 students

Dearborn High School

Dearborn City School District

DEARBORN, 48124 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,969 students

Plymouth High School

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

CANTON, 48187 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–12High1,931 students

Canton High School

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

CANTON, 48187 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–12High1,890 students

Salem High School

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

CANTON, 48187 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–12High1,859 students

Belleville High School

Van Buren Public Schools

BELLEVILLE, 48111 / Suburb: Large

Profile7–12High1,770 students

Star International Academy

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, 48127 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–12Charter1,698 students

Edsel Ford High School

Dearborn City School District

DEARBORN, 48124 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,639 students

Stevenson High School

Livonia Public Schools School District

LIVONIA, 48152 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,636 students

John Glenn High School

Wayne-Westland Community School District

WESTLAND, 48185 / Suburb: Large

Profile8–12High1,542 students

Taylor High School

Taylor School District

TAYLOR, 48180 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,394 students

Lincoln Park High School

Lincoln Park School District of the City of

LINCOLN PARK, 48146 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,367 students

Wayne Memorial High School

Wayne-Westland Community School District

WAYNE, 48184 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–12High1,361 students

Crestwood High School

Crestwood School District

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, 48127 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,336 students

Franklin High School

Livonia Public Schools School District

LIVONIA, 48150 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,327 students

Churchill High School

Livonia Public Schools School District

LIVONIA, 48150 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,241 students

Grosse Pointe South High School

Grosse Pointe Public Schools

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, 48236 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,238 students

Additional School Profiles

Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.

14 more profiles

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,351

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Wayne County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?

Alcona County (95.0%), Alger County (95.0%), and Schoolcraft County (95.0%) currently lead Michigan among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?

Across Michigan counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,394. The highest current county values are Keweenaw County ($18,000), Lake County ($10,369), and Leelanau County ($9,877). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Wayne County?

Wayne County has a school score of 31/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Wayne County?

The high school graduation rate in Wayne County is 81.7%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Wayne County spend per student?

Wayne County spends $7,351 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Wayne County, Michigan — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Wayne County, Michigan?

How do schools in Wayne County perform academically?

What are the major school districts in Wayne County, Michigan?

What is the school experience like in Wayne County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Kalkaska County

Michigan

+0 pts

31/100

School score

Monroe County

Michigan

+0 pts

31/100

School score

Barry County

Michigan

-1 pts

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School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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