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School district · Michigan · LEAID 2632220

South Lake Schools

South Lake Schools is in the smallest third by enrollment among comparable Michigan districts (1,473 students in the NCES CCD F-33 cohort). Per-pupil spending, enrollment, and budget for South Lake Schools come from the NCES Common Core of Data F-33 finance survey (FY2023).

$73,464
Est. avg teacher salary

Well above benchmark

$23,033
Per-pupil spending
1,473
Students enrolled
89th
Pct. in MI
$73,464

South Lake Schools is in the smallest third by enrollment among comparable Michigan districts (1,473 students in the NCES CCD F-33 cohort). Estimated average teacher salary is $73,464, near the national average of $70,245, serving 1,473 students (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Smaller enrollment scale: South Lake Schools is in the smallest third by enrollment among comparable Michigan districts (1,473 students in the NCES CCD F-33 cohort).
  • 89th percentile for Michigan
  • 65th percentile nationally
  • 21% of spending reaches instructional salaries
  • Michigan ranks #32 of 49 on the salary estimate and #11 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • South Lake Schools ranks #54 of 492 Michigan districts by estimated teacher salary and #66 of 492 by per-pupil spending. Brighton Area Schools pay #1 at $122,714 is not Pontiac City School District spending #1 at $41,914 per pupil
  • +28.1% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (not applied to the FTE figure above)

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Instructional payroll mix vs Michigan median

Among 575 Michigan districts that break out F-33 program salary totals, South Lake Schools's instructional payroll puts 87.1% into regular program , 5.3 points above the state median of 81.7%. Regular-program teachers claim more of the instructional salary pool here than at the median Michigan district.

Program South Lake MI median Gap
Regular program 87.1% 81.7% +5.3 pp
Special education 9.2% 11.4% -2.2 pp
Vocational programs 1.2% 0.0% +1.2 pp
Other programs 2.5% 4.4% -1.9 pp

Shares are of this district's reported F-33 teacher-salary program totals (Z35–Z38), compared with the median share across 575 in-state peers with a positive program sum. NCES LEAID 2632220 · FY2023.

LEAID 2632220 · NCES CCD F-33 FY2023

South Lake F-33 compensation desk

SALARY-HIGH +16% vs state RANK-ST-MID P89 in state RANK-NAT-MID P65 national PPE-HIGH $23K/pupil ENR-SMALL 1,473 students INSTR-LOW 21% instr BASIS-FTE FTE-reported PHOTO-NEAR Near Linden FY-2023-LIGHT FY2023 book

FY2023: $73,464 estimated average teacher salary · P89 in Michigan · P65 nationally · 21% instructional salary share. Nearest salary peer: Clarkston (+$160est. salary).

Salary neighbourhood chart for South Lake

Salary neighbourhood · South Lake

South Lake already leads most of its in-state peer set; the chart plots it against the top and bottom pay poles for context (NCES F-33 FY2023, not a full state reprint).

est. salary
Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey As of FY2023
Appropriate use & corrections
National salary distribution for South Lake

South Lake Schools's estimated salary vs. every US district

NCES F-33 estimate, reliable-salary districts only

$73,464 Top 35% higher than 65% of 10,684 US districts

Show national distribution $30,000–$40,000: 155 US districts (1%). Below this entry. $40,000–$50,000: 1,360 US districts (13%). Below this entry. $50,000–$60,000: 2,382 US districts (22%). Below this entry. $60,000–$70,000: 2,402 US districts (22%). Below this entry. $70,000–$80,000: 1,633 US districts (15%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$90,000: 1,097 US districts (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$100,000: 662 US districts (6%). Above this entry. $100,000–$110,000: 371 US districts (3%). Above this entry. $110,000–$120,000: 249 US districts (2%). Above this entry. $120,000–$130,000: 156 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $130,000–$140,000: 112 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $140,000–$150,000: 57 US districts (1%). Above this entry. $150,000–$160,000: 25 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $160,000–$170,000: 13 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $170,000–$180,000: 10 US districts (0%). Above this entry. $180,000–$190,000: 0 US districts (0%). Above this entry. South Lake Schools $30,000 $190,000 every reliable-salary US district, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $10K-wide band; taller bars hold more US districts. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 · FY2023

What stands out about South Lake Schools

  • Estimated teacher pay here rose +28.1% between FY2019 and FY2023, outpacing Michigan's statewide +17.1% by 10.9 points, a growth rate faster than 88% of the 513 Michigan districts with a comparable FY2019 baseline.
  • Enrolment fell from 1,597 to 1,473 students (7.8% down) across FY2019–FY2023 while the instructional salary pool per teacher went up. Districts on that path are usually holding staffing steady against a falling roll, which lifts the per-teacher figure without anyone getting a raise, so read this page's salary estimate alongside the enrolment line rather than on its own.

This pay stretches further than the headline figure suggests

Nominal district estimate
$73,463.876

The FY2023 salary estimate shown in the hero.

Michigan price level
94.3 / 100

BEA all-items regional price parity; 100 is the U.S. average.

National-price equivalent
$77,908

+6% versus the nominal figure.

Prices in Michigan run below the national average, so this salary has roughly the buying power of the national-price equivalent above. A district in a costlier state can advertise a larger nominal salary and still leave a teacher with less.

Regional price parity: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2023 all-items RPP by state. The adjustment applies a statewide index to a district figure, so it captures how Michigan compares nationally, not how this district compares with others in its own state. Compare every state on this basis.

How this salary figure is calculated
Full NCES reading for South Lake Schools

What the Numbers Say About South Lake Schools

South Lake Schools is a small school district in Michigan, serving 1,473 students at an estimated per-pupil spending of $23,033. Estimated average teacher salary, derived from reported teacher salary expenditure (F-33 items Z35-Z38) divided by teacher FTE, is $73,464, placing the district in the high-investment tier of NCES F-33 respondents. NCES LEAID 2632220 references the FY2023 Common Core of Data Local Education Agency Finance Survey.

Relative to the Michigan statewide average of $63,155, teacher pay in South Lake Schools runs meaningfully above the state benchmark, a 16.3% gap, and near the national instructional-salary estimate of $70,245 (4.6% differential). Among enrolling districts in Michigan, it pays more than 89% of them. Michigan itself ranks #32 of 49 nationally on average teacher compensation, which shapes the funding ceiling districts operate under.

On the budget side, South Lake Schools reports $33.9M in total expenditure against $29.7M in revenue, with instructional salaries accounting for 21% of spending, a compensation-to-budget ratio that signals how much of each tax dollar reaches classroom educators. Regular-program teacher salary outlay is $5.7M, special-education teacher pay is $0.6M.

How does South Lake Schools compare?

Estimated average teacher salary versus a peer district, the Michigan average, and the national average. Pick any in-state district to compare.

South Lake Schools $73,464
Detroit Public Schools Community District $78,081
Michigan avg $63,155
National avg $70,245

South Lake Schools pays -5.9% less than Detroit Public Schools Community District · per-pupil $23,033 vs $23,287

Derived from NCES F-33 teacher salary expenditure (Z35-Z38) and CCD Staff Universe teacher FTE (FY2023); a small minority use the documented fallback. Unreliable service entities are excluded.

Data-derived comparison paths

Find comparable Michigan districts

On pay, South Lake Schools sits closest to Linden Community Schools; on per-pupil investment, its nearest match is Marion Public Schools. These are not simply nearby districts: each group is selected from the same NCES FY2023 dataset using a matching salary or per-pupil-investment signal and a comparable enrollment range.

Closest on estimated pay
  1. Linden Community Schools
  2. Lakewood Public Schools
  3. DeWitt Public Schools
  4. Taylor School District
  5. Clintondale Community Schools
  6. Chippewa Hills School District
  7. Grosse Ile Township Schools
  8. Lincoln Consolidated School District
  9. Sparta Area Schools
  10. Elk Rapids Schools
  11. Oak Park School District of the City of
Closest on per-pupil investment
  1. Marion Public Schools
  2. Ravenna Public Schools
  3. Holland City School District
  4. Hazel Park School District of the City of
  5. Durand Area Schools
  6. Southgate Community School District
  7. Tahquamenon Area Schools
  8. Fitzgerald Public Schools
  9. Wyoming Public Schools
  10. Berkley School District
  11. Wyandotte School District of the City of

Similar estimated teacher pay

Similar per-pupil investment

Out-of-state districts near South Lake Schools's smaller enrollment

Two out-of-state peer sets for South Lake Schools: closest on enrollment (1,473 students here) and closest on estimated average teacher salary ($73,464 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood.

Similar enrollment

Nearest other districts by NCES student count (floored at ≥200).

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other districts by F-33-derived average teacher salary, distinct from the enrollment row.

Enrollment and salaries from NCES CCD F-33; estimated teacher pay can diverge widely at the same student count because of state funding, cost of living, and local bargaining.

Revenue & Expenditure

$29.7M
Total Revenue
$33.9M
Total Expenditure
$7.2M
Instruction Salaries
21% of total spending

Instructional Salary by Program

$5.7M
Regular Program
$0.6M
Special Education
$0.1M
Vocational
$0.2M
Other Programs

The teacher salaries behind this page's average are the ones NCES reports for 4 programs in South Lake Schools: the regular program, special education, vocational programs and other programs. Every program category NCES breaks out separately carries a figure here. Together they are 90% of everything the district spends on instructional salaries; the other 10% pays instructional aides, paraprofessionals, substitutes and other instructional staff who are not counted as teachers here.

Michigan Teacher Pay Overview

The highest average among comparably sized Michigan districts belongs to Brighton Area Schools at $122,714. South Lake Schools sits in the upper quarter of that field at 52 of 431, nearer the ceiling than the floor. North Carolina and South Carolina are the states closest to Michigan on BEA's price parity, which makes them the fair comparison; against a costlier state this salary goes further than its number suggests.

View all Michigan districts →

Other Michigan Districts

Smaller-district sample from 508 Michigan peers; bar length shows pay magnitude within this enrollment band.

Montrose Community Schools
$67,640
1,460 students
Gladstone Area Schools
$59,650
1,490 students
Watervliet School District
$62,681
1,452 students
Essexville-Hampton Public Schools
$51,386
1,500 students
Houghton-Portage Township School District
$66,574
1,445 students
Standish-Sterling Community Schools
$65,629
1,505 students

This is a sample of 6 from 508 Michigan districts with enrollment and salary data reliable enough to compare in the NCES CCD F-33 survey.

Frequently Asked Questions about South Lake Schools
What is the average teacher salary in South Lake Schools?

The average teacher salary in South Lake Schools is $73,464 (NCES CCD FY2023), from reported teacher salary expenditure (F-33 items Z35-Z38) divided by the district's reported teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey).

How does South Lake Schools teacher pay compare to the Michigan average?

South Lake Schools pays 16.3% more than the Michigan state average of $63,155. The district's average is $73,464.

How does South Lake Schools teacher pay compare to the national average?

South Lake Schools pays 4.6% above the national average of $70,245. The district average is $73,464.

What is the per-pupil spending in South Lake Schools?

South Lake Schools spends approximately $23,033 per student annually (NCES FY2023), covering instructional salaries, support services, and administration.

What percentage of South Lake Schools's budget goes to teacher salaries?

Instructional salaries account for 21% of South Lake Schools's total expenditure of $33.9M (NCES FY2023).

Next read for South Lake Schools
Disclaimer & data sources

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher

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Editorial standards & source notes

According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. South Lake Schools's salary and finance figures are computed directly from its FY2023 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2023.