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C

Ferndale Public Schools

Public school districtGrades K–12Regional · 3 towns

Serves Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Township, and parts of Oak Park.

Ferndale’s School Grade C− better than 19% of Michigan school districts

Students
3,102
Schools
6
Spent per student
$15,020
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
18:1
Free or reduced lunch
54%
Debt
$107.8M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Ferndale Public Schools

  • Its letter, C: results better than 28% of Michigan districts
  • Math proficiency 17 pts below the state
  • Reading proficiency 10 pts below the state
  • Graduation rate 13 pts below the state
  • Spends 9% less per student than the MI average
  • 18 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 5.8% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $107.8M, about $34,739 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

C: better than 28% of the 815 Michigan school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well below the state, 2021–22
C
GraduationFour-year graduation well below the state, class of 2023
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
C−Ferndale 19,212CPleasant Ridge 2,592C−Royal Oak Township 2,323

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Ferndale. Grade by grade →

PK–5Webb Elementary SchoolHazel Park City School District
6–8Ferndale Middle SchoolThis district
9–122 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. MI

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency17%
State average 33.6% · 1,229 students tested
Reading / language arts35%
State average 45.4% · 1,225 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)69%
State average 81.8% · 404 in the class

94% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$15,020 per student · 9% below MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 55%Support & administration 41%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 35%State 58%Federal 7%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
2,931’20
3,019’21
3,086’22
3,130’23
3,102’24

Up 5.8% since 2020–21.

Students
Black 61%White 30%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 3%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools.

Ferndale Lower Elementary Campus
Elementary · Grades K–3 · Oak Park
517 students17:1
Ferndale Upper Elementary Campus
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Oak Park
C+
501 students17:1
Ferndale Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ferndale
C−
528 students17:1
Ferndale High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ferndale
B
739 students17:1
University High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ferndale
D
469 students22:1
Tri County Educational Center
High · Grades 9–12 · Ferndale
348 students29:1

Left off: 1 school reporting no students for 2024–25.

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Berkley School DistrictBerkley, Huntington Woods
$20,296per student
Detroit Public Schools Community DistrictDetroit
$21,406per student
Hazel Park City School DistrictHazel Park
$22,396per student
Royal Oak City School DistrictRoyal Oak
$17,245per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Michigan.