Total enrollment
258,872
-15,762 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
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 2024-25School count
536
-14 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
41%
was 44%
% Hispanic
10%
was 8%
% Black
42%
was 42%
% Asian
4%
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
73
38,533 students
High
134
77,073 students
Combined / other
54
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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
27.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.7%
civilian labor
Median age
38
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)
Cities in Wayne County
Detroit195 schoolsDearborn42 schoolsLivonia32 schoolsRedford23 schoolsCanton21 schoolsDearborn Heights21 schoolsTaylor17 schoolsHamtramck16 schoolsWestland16 schoolsPlymouth14 schoolsRomulus13 schoolsFlat Rock11 schoolsHarper Woods11 schoolsLincoln Park10 schoolsSouthgate10 schoolsGarden City9 schoolsInkster9 schoolsWyandotte9 schoolsBelleville8 schoolsRiverview8 schoolsAllen Park7 schoolsNorthville7 schoolsEcorse6 schoolsGrosse Pointe Woods5 schoolsNew Boston5 schoolsRiver Rouge5 schoolsWayne5 schoolsWoodhaven5 schoolsGrosse Ile4 schoolsGrosse Pointe Farms4 schoolsHighland Park4 schoolsRockwood4 schoolsTrenton4 schoolsBrownstown3 schoolsMelvindale3 schoolsGrosse Pointe Park2 schoolsBrownstown Twp1 schoolDearborn Hts1 schoolGibraltar1 schoolGrosse Pointe1 schoolSouthgate1 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
Wayne County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data