High Schools in Waterford School District

The Waterford School District is home to three high schools—Waterford Mott High School, Waterford Kettering High School, and Waterford Durant High School—serving roughly 1,992 students in grades 7-12 across a suburban area northwest of Detroit.

Waterford Kettering High School is the clear standout, with a 95.3% graduation rate that tops the state average by 11 points and a dropout rate of just 1.8%. Its SAT math proficiency (24.2%) is more than triple that of Waterford Mott High School (7.7%), and it leads the district in every academic subject, including science (35.5% proficient) and SAT reading/writing (50%). Waterford Mott High School, the largest school with 963 students, sits in the middle—its 86% graduation rate is near the state average, but its 41.1% chronic absenteeism rate and low math scores suggest significant room for improvement. Waterford Durant High School is the smallest (120 students) and most challenged, with a 62.3% graduation rate, 77.7% chronic absenteeism, and the highest poverty rate (78.3% free/reduced lunch). Despite spending $29,153 per student—78% more than Kettering—Durant achieves the lowest outcomes, likely because it serves as an alternative school for students who struggled elsewhere.

For parents, the key takeaway is that school choice matters greatly within this district. Kettering offers near-elite graduation metrics and respectable test scores, while Mott and Durant face serious engagement and achievement hurdles. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide red flag—even Kettering's 28.2% rate exceeds the state average. Math is a universal weakness, with only Kettering approaching state proficiency levels. The district's 46th-percentile ranking masks wide internal variation, so parents should look closely at individual school data rather than district averages when making decisions.