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Knudsen Elementary School

Q: Is Knudsen Elementary School a good school?

Knudsen Elementary School ranks 805 th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

805^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Knudsen Elementary School in Waterford, MI, serves approximately 278 students in grades K-5 as part of the Waterford School District, and has recently achieved its highest state ranking in a decade, climbing to the 46th percentile.

This school is showing a remarkable turnaround story. After years of ranking in the bottom third of Michigan elementary schools, Knudsen has made significant strides, especially in the most recent school year. The most impressive gains are with students from low-income backgrounds, who make up about 64% of the student body. This group jumped from the 34th to the 69th percentile statewide in a single year, suggesting that new, targeted teaching strategies are working well. The school also excels in the early grades; 3rd graders here outperform both district and state averages in reading and math. Another big win is in attendance: chronic absenteeism has plummeted from a pandemic-era high of 39% to just 14.6%, which is far better than the district average of 25.6% and the state average of 27.9%. This improvement is a strong sign that students are engaged and coming to school ready to learn.

However, the picture is not uniformly bright. While the school has improved overall, there are clear challenges. Performance drops significantly by 5th grade, where math proficiency is less than half the state average, and social studies proficiency is a very low 6.98%. There is also a notable gap between how boys and girls are performing, with boys now ranking much higher than girls. When compared to nearby schools like Haviland Elementary School, which serves a similar student population just under a mile away, Knudsen still has ground to cover in upper-grade subjects. Interestingly, Knudsen spends more per student ($18,156) than several higher-performing nearby schools, which suggests the issue isn't a lack of resources but rather how instruction is delivered in the upper grades. For parents, this is a school with strong early foundations and a clear upward momentum, but one that needs to focus on sustaining that growth through 5th grade.

278

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,156

Per pupil spending ?

64.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5449 Crescent Rd
Waterford, MI 48327-2719

(248) 682-7300

District: Waterford School District

Students who attend Knudsen Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Waterford Mott High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.3%

Hispanic:

14.7%

African American:

9.7%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Knudsen Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 32nd percentile in 2016 → 46th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 14 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Social Studies scores 21 pts below the Michigan average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg37%

Michigan avg38%

805^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 32% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 9Elementary Schools in the Waterford School District

335^th of 625Waterford School District among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	43.2	805 of 1492	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.7	960 of 1488	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.0	951 of 1486	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.2	917 of 1470	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.9	1001 of 1344	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.4	913 of 1153	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.0	1066 of 1408	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.5	982 of 1448	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.3	1065 of 1466	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.7	1053 of 1548	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	25.9	1216 of 1580	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	46.2	897 of 1533	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	44.1	947 of 1563	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	34.2	1163 of 1566	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.6	1214 of 1552	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	38.7	1235 of 1552	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	41.1	1206 of 1589	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	42.5	1168 of 1577	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	59.7	751 of 1565	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	70.1	433 of 1545	72.0%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	34.1	187 of 270	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	28.6	932 of 1343	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.0	914 of 1338	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.4	960 of 1342	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.1	1019 of 1321	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.4	686 of 902	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.6	1004 of 1171	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.3	1026 of 1443	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	46.5	108 of 222	51.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	61.9	417 of 1352	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	34.3	887 of 1346	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.3	878 of 1381	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.7	775 of 1350	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	26.8	847 of 1099	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	642 of 749	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.6	798 of 1134	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	47.3	774 of 1397	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	62.8	466 of 1372	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	35.5	856 of 1366	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.9	859 of 1347	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.2	729 of 1334	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.2	969 of 1196	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.5	895 of 1446	38.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	42.0	696 of 1199	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	23.3	969 of 1206	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.5	996 of 1204	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.3	904 of 1198	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.1	947 of 1102	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	20.1	850 of 1005	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	1044 of 1128	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	28.8	952 of 1253	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile+23 vs school

Male (2026)66th percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2018)51st percentile+19 vs school

White (2026)42nd percentile-4 vs school

English Language Learner (2018)31st percentile~ school

Female (2026)31st percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts46%+4 vs state

Science33%-7 vs state

Math32%-6 vs state

Social Studies7%-21 vs state

3.3

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★1

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, June 27, 2019

I’m sure the teachers are doing the best they can with what they have. We have experienced a few dedicated teachers who really get to know the students and are great with parent communication.
We’ve also had one nightmare experience. Unfortunately this teacher is a kindergarten teacher. Perhaps in an older student classroom she would be more effective but she fails to communicate with parents and takes the child’s behavior as a personal attack.
I’d assume the problem is the management / principal. This school culture embraces the loss of recess as punishment for behavior from the previous day. The principal supports the teacher which is noble however it at times dismisses parents concerns. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, December 29, 2017

1st and 2nd grade attendee male child. So far so good. Child is enrolled a year early based on official age. 1st grade was a haze, teacher no longer there so it was a wash. 2nd grade teacher Redick is very involved / hands on. Like the free form sitting and learning approach. She is a bit more intense for expectations in consideration of my kids' age and fidgety status, but it's good for him to experience the contrast. I expect him to respect while "in someone else's house", but am a bit more flexible personally as I don't expect him to conform and become a factory issued automoton ready to work a lockdown 9-5 existence worshipping at the altar of a 40 year choke hold 401k aspiration. I grew up in the original hood so his educational experience is a bit more elevated and interesting. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, August 19, 2016

Love this school! All 3 of my girls attend there. It is like a big family. Very welcoming!! Close Quote

Schools Near Knudsen Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Knudsen Elementary School	Public	K-5	5449 Crescent Rd	Waterford	48327	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 682-7300	278	19	14.8	64.4%	190 (68.3%)	27 (9.7%)	41 (14.7%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	16 (5.8%)	43.2	805^th of 1492 public elementary schools	46.0%		33.7	960^th of 1488 public elementary schools	35.5%	155			52.3	42.6	41.9			50.0	32.6	14.0			32.6		7.0		$18,156	$1,440	$16,715
Haviland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5305 Cass Elizabeth Rd	Waterford	48327	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 682-2620	308	22	14.3	57.5%	177 (57.5%)	41 (13.3%)	62 (20.1%)	10 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (5.8%)	65.7	479^th of 1492 public elementary schools	67.9%		51.3	698^th of 1488 public elementary schools	53.1%	219			40.0	65.8	52.1			46.0	57.9	35.4			45.8		33.3		$21,081	$1,578	$19,503
Waterford Montessori Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4350 Elizabeth Lake Rd	Waterford	48328	Oakland County	Waterford Montessori Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(248) 674-2400	188	14	13.4	38.8%	123 (65.4%)	23 (12.2%)	31 (16.5%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.8%)	32.2	968^th of 1492 public elementary schools	35.1%		68.5	431^st of 1488 public elementary schools	71.0%	537	85.3	23.5	21.7			42.9	64.7	26.1			14.3	44.1		55.9		76.5	$8,668	$616	$8,052
Riverside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5280 Farm Rd	Waterford	48327	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 674-0805	291	19	14.9	64.9%	178 (61.2%)	42 (14.4%)	47 (16.2%)	6 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.2%)	23.8	1102^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	26.1%		21.1	1138^th of 1488 public elementary schools	23.5%	36			22.5	39.6	28.8			27.5	31.3	10.2			25.4		10.2		$21,553	$1,583	$19,970
Beaumont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6532 Elizabeth Lake Rd	Waterford	48327	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 682-6822	298	18	16.7	61.1%	190 (63.8%)	55 (18.5%)	33 (11.1%)	12 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.3%)	45.4	767^th of 1492 public elementary schools	48.6%		56.8	611^th of 1488 public elementary schools	58.9%	156			21.9	53.5	55.3			26.6	41.9	36.2			38.3		21.3		$17,439	$1,526	$15,913
Gretchko Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5300 Greer Rd	West Bloomfield	48324	Oakland County	West Bloomfield School District	No	No	No	No	(248) 865-6570	331	24	13.8	31.7%	169 (51.1%)	78 (23.6%)	41 (12.4%)	12 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	30 (9.1%)	68.8	425^th of 1492 public elementary schools	71.5%		59.5	566^th of 1488 public elementary schools	62.0%	141			42.1	45.7	67.3			56.1	28.3	38.8			59.2		44.9		$17,025	$549	$16,476
Cooley Elementary School	Public	K-5	2000 Highfield Rd	Waterford	48329	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 673-0300	377	21	17.5	50.4%	273 (72.4%)	29 (7.7%)	49 (13.0%)	13 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.2%)	65.8	477^th of 1492 public elementary schools	68.0%		56.4	622^nd of 1488 public elementary schools	58.2%	145			43.1	55.2	58.5			48.6	43.3	34.0			56.6		30.2		$17,539	$1,633	$15,905
Houghton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	8080 Elizabeth Lake Rd	White Lake	48386	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 698-9230	278	19	14.3	58.3%	189 (68.0%)	26 (9.4%)	37 (13.3%)	5 (1.8%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.5%)	40.4	856^th of 1492 public elementary schools	42.6%		37.2	905^th of 1488 public elementary schools	39.2%	49			34.8	28.6	47.5			37.0	35.7	30.0			37.5		15.0		$21,163	$1,529	$19,633
Donelson Hills Elementary School	Public	K-5	2690 Wewoka Rd	Waterford	48328	Oakland County	Waterford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 682-9530	392	22	17.8	79.8%	128 (32.7%)	86 (21.9%)	135 (34.4%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.4%)	33.6	946^th of 1492 public elementary schools	36.6%		28.9	1027^th of 1488 public elementary schools	31.0%	81			32.8	41.2	38.0			33.3	35.3	12.5			24.0		14.0		$16,769	$1,833	$14,936
Momentum Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	60 S Lynn Ave	Waterford	48328	Oakland County	Momentum Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(248) 682-5000	219	15	14.6	87.7%	11 (5.0%)	56 (25.6%)	144 (65.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.7%)								(n/a)	52.0	358.8	14.8	1372.5	1471.3	1566.4	22.2	22.2	1369.7	1455.8	1554.2	1668.2	1469.5	16.0	1469.6	24.0	$00	$00	$00

Frequently Asked Questions about Knudsen Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Knudsen Elementary School?

Students at Knudsen Elementary School are 68% White, 15% Hispanic, 10% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Knudsen Elementary School a good school?

Knudsen Elementary School ranks 805^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Knudsen Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 278 students attended Knudsen Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Knudsen Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Knudsen Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Waterford Mott High School

What district is Knudsen Elementary School in?

Waterford School District

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.