Wayne County

Michigan · Public K-12

Within Wayne County, Michigan, families have 573 public-school options to consider, collectively serving 259,786 K-12 students. Detroit Public Schools Community District is the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 312 elementary, 73 middle, and 134 high schools.

7-year change in Wayne County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25

Total enrollment

258,872

-15,762 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18

School count

536

-14 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18

% White

41%

was 44%

% Hispanic

10%

was 8%

% Black

42%

was 42%

% Asian

was 4%

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

Residents

1,772,259

all ages · ACS 5-yr

Schools

573

138 districts

Enrollment

259,786

students · NCES CCD

Median income

$60,539

Below Michigan avg

Free/reduced lunch

65.8%

Above Michigan avg

Elementary

312

128,341 students

Middle

38,533 students

High

134

77,073 students

Combined / other

15,839 students

LARGEST DISTRICT

Detroit Public Schools Community District

48,448 students · 138 districts in Wayne County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Wayne County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents

White

49%

Hispanic

Black

37%

Asian

Two or more

Native American

Pacific Islander

School enrollment

White

41%

Hispanic

10%

Black

42%

Asian

Two or more

Native American

Pacific Islander

Bachelor's+

27.6%

adults 25+

Poverty rate

15.9%

ACS 5-year

Unemployment

8.7%

civilian labor

Median age

23.6% under 18

Test scores in Wayne County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 235 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)

Moraine Elementary School· 83.9%
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy· 82.6%
Lewis Maire Elementary School· 76.5%
Richard Elementary School· 76.3%
Achieve Charter Academy· 75.7%

Lowest 5 schools (ELA)

Tyrone Elementary School· 12.2%
Academy of The Americas High School· 13.5%
Emerson ElementaryMiddle School· 14.8%
Mary McLeod Bethune ElementaryMiddle School· 15.0%
AdamsYoung Building· 16.1%

See all 235 schools in Wayne County ranked by score →

All schools (573)

Largest A-Z Top rated

Name	City	Level	Grades	Enrollment	Rating
Cass Technical High School	Detroit	High	09-12	2,493	·
Northville High School	Northville	High	09-12	2,441	·
Fordson High School	Dearborn	High	09-12	1,966	·
Western International High School	Detroit	High	09-12	1,959	·
Canton High School	Canton	High	06-12	1,899	·
Salem High School	Canton	High	06-12	1,871	·
Plymouth High School	Canton	High	06-12	1,816	·
Dearborn High School	Dearborn	High	09-12	1,775	·
Star International Academy	Dearborn Heights	Combined	PK-12	1,728	·
Belleville High School	Belleville	High	07-12	1,669	·
Woodhaven High School	Flat Rock	High	09-12	1,629	·
Stevenson High School	Livonia	High	08-12	1,523	·
Edsel Ford High School	Dearborn	High	09-12	1,502	·
Lincoln Park High School	Lincoln Park	High	09-12	1,384	·
Taylor High School	Taylor	High	09-12	1,371	·
John Glenn High School	Westland	High	08-12	1,368	·
Crestwood High School	Dearborn Heights	High	09-12	1,272	·
Franklin High School	Livonia	High	09-12	1,272	·
Wayne Memorial High School	Wayne	High	08-12	1,257	·
Roosevelt High School	Wyandotte	High	09-12	1,236	·
Churchill High School	Livonia	High	07-12	1,227	·
Advanced Technology Academy	Dearborn	Combined	PK-12	1,207	·
Renaissance High School	Detroit	High	09-12	1,197	·
Riverside Middle School	Dearborn Heights	Middle	05-08	1,139	·
Allen Park High School	Allen Park	High	09-12	1,133	·
Grosse Pointe South High School	Grosse Pointe Farms	High	09-12	1,123	·
Oscar A Carlson High School	Rockwood	High	09-12	1,104	·
Lincoln Park Middle School	Lincoln Park	Middle	06-08	1,089	·
Southgate Anderson High School	Southgate	High	09-12	1,052	·
Oakland International Academy 28	Detroit	Middle	02-08	1,034	·
Harper Woods Virtual Academy	Harper Woods	High	06-12	1,029	·
Earhart ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	1,002	·
River Rouge High School	River Rouge	High	09-12	987	·
Melvindale High School	Allen Park	High	09-12	982	·
Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School	Detroit	High	09-12	976	·
Munger ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	954	·
Hamtramck High School	Hamtramck	High	09-12	926	·
Grosse Pointe North High School	Grosse Pointe Woods	High	09-12	924	·
Allendale Elementary School	Melvindale	Elementary	02-05	914	·
Detroit Edison Public School Academy	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	901	·
Allen Park Middle School	Allen Park	Middle	06-08	896	·
Garden City High School	Garden City	High	09-12	896	·
John R King Academic and Performing Arts Academy	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	879	·
Harper Woods High School	Harper Woods	High	09-12	877	·
Mackenzie ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	876	·
Academy of The Americas High School	Detroit	Combined	04-12	874	·
Brownstown Middle School	Romulus	Middle	07-08	872	·
Woodrow Wilson School	Wyandotte	Middle	06-08	869	·
University Preparatory Art Design MiddleHigh	Detroit	High	06-12	855	·
Riverview Community High School	Riverview	High	09-12	854	·
Mumford High School	Detroit	High	09-12	850	·
Detroit Service Learning Academy Campus	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	847	·
Trenton High School	Trenton	High	09-12	846	·
River Rouge Alternative Virtual Academy	River Rouge	Combined	KG-12	841	·
Shumate Middle School	Rockwood	Middle	06-08	839	·
Ronald Brown Academy	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	834	·
Westfield Preparatory High School	Redford	High	07-12	834	·
Pioneer Middle School	Plymouth	Middle	06-08	827	·
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy	Plymouth	Elementary	KG-08	823	·
South Canton Scholars Charter Academy	Canton	Elementary	KG-08	822	·
Huron High School	New Boston	High	09-12	820	·
Chandler Park Academy Elementary	Harper Woods	Elementary	PK-05	817	·
Liberty Middle School	Canton	Middle	06-08	817	·
Woodhaven Upper Elementary	Woodhaven	Middle	05-06	811	·
Lee M Thurston High School	Redford	High	09-12	806	·
Voyageur Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	789	·
Bryant Middle School	Dearborn	Middle	06-08	781	·
Canton Charter Academy	Canton	Elementary	KG-08	774	·
Bates Academy	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	773	·
Achieve Charter Academy	Canton	Elementary	KG-08	771	·
Adlai Stevenson Middle School	Westland	Middle	06-08	768	·
Davison ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	765	·
Universal Learning Academy	Westland	Combined	PK-12	761	·
Creative Montessori Academy	Southgate	Elementary	PK-08	759	·
Fisher Magnet Academy	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	758	·
Brenda Scott Academy for Theatre Arts	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	754	·
Gompers ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	749	·
Legacy Charter Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	738	·
Frontier International Academy	Detroit	Combined	KG-12	737	·
Discovery Middle School	Canton	Middle	06-08	731	·
Cesar Chavez Academy High School	Detroit	High	09-12	730	·
Westfield Charter Academy	Redford	Elementary	KG-06	730	·
Grand River Academy	Livonia	Elementary	KG-08	727	·
David Ellis Academy West	Redford	Combined	PK-12	725	·
East Middle School	Plymouth	Middle	06-08	725	·
Keystone Academy	Belleville	Elementary	KG-08	721	·
Detroit Merit Charter Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	719	·
Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	715	·
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	707	·
Detroit Premier Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	706	·
Woodworth Middle School	Dearborn	Middle	06-08	699	·
Stout Middle School	Dearborn	Middle	06-08	698	·
Henry Ford Elementary School	Dearborn	Elementary	PK-05	697	·
Universal Academy	Detroit	Combined	KG-12	695	·
Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences	Detroit	Elementary	PK-05	694	·
Charles Wright Academy of Arts and Science	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	692	·
Mary McLeod Bethune ElementaryMiddle School	Detroit	Elementary	PK-08	692	·
Chandler Park Academy High School	Harper Woods	High	09-12	688	·
Detroit Enterprise Academy	Detroit	Elementary	KG-08	686	·
Quest Charter Academy	Taylor	Elementary	KG-08	683	·

Cities in Wayne County

Detroit195 schools Dearborn42 schools Livonia32 schools Redford23 schools Canton21 schools Dearborn Heights21 schools Taylor17 schools Hamtramck16 schools Westland16 schools Plymouth14 schools Romulus13 schools Flat Rock11 schools Harper Woods11 schools Lincoln Park10 schools Southgate10 schools Garden City9 schools Inkster9 schools Wyandotte9 schools Belleville8 schools Riverview8 schools Allen Park7 schools Northville7 schools Ecorse6 schools Grosse Pointe Woods5 schools New Boston5 schools River Rouge5 schools Wayne5 schools Woodhaven5 schools Grosse Ile4 schools Grosse Pointe Farms4 schools Highland Park4 schools Rockwood4 schools Trenton4 schools Brownstown3 schools Melvindale3 schools Grosse Pointe Park2 schools Brownstown Twp1 school Dearborn Hts1 school Gibraltar1 school Grosse Pointe1 school Southgate1 school

About Wayne County

Wayne County is a large Michigan county of about 1,772,259 residents, home to 573 public schools and roughly 259,786 students.

For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,539 a year, roughly 28% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 16% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% lower than the Michigan median.

On the school-mix side, Wayne County comprises 312 elementary schools (128,341 students), 73 middle schools (38,533), 134 high schools (77,073), and 54 combined or other schools.

Detroit Public Schools Community District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 48,448 students across Wayne County.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 258,872 students, shrank 6% from the 274,634 reported in SY 2017-18. The school count fell from 550 to 536 across the same 7-year window.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Wayne County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Wayne County?

There are 573 public K-12 schools in Wayne County, Michigan, with a combined enrollment of about 259,786.

How many high schools are in Wayne County?

Wayne County, Michigan has 134 public high schools, serving approximately 77,073 students.

How many middle schools are in Wayne County?

Wayne County, Michigan has 73 public middle schools, serving approximately 38,533 students.

How many elementary schools are in Wayne County?

Wayne County, Michigan has 312 public elementary schools, serving approximately 128,341 students.

What is the largest school district in Wayne County?

Detroit Public Schools Community District is the largest school district in Wayne County, serving approximately 48,448 students. The county contains 138 school districts overall.

What is the population of Wayne County?

Wayne County, Michigan has a population of approximately 1,772,259, with a median age of 38. About 23.6% of residents are under 18.

What is the median household income in Wayne County?

Median household income in Wayne County is $60,539, below the Michigan average of $66,133. About 15.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

How educated are residents of Wayne County?

Approximately 27.6% of adults 25 and older in Wayne County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

What share of students in Wayne County qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Roughly 65.8% of students in Wayne County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Michigan county average of 53.4%.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Wayne County schools?

Across Wayne County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 22.1 to 1.

Wayne County school rankings

Largest schools All rankings →

DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data