Which Downriver school boss makes the most?

The average school superintendent salary Downriver is $188,661. Of all of the public Downriver school districts, nine superintendents earn below that mark and seven superintendents make more than the average.

Using public data, The News Herald logged superintendent salaries (Medicare wages), student count in the 2024-25 school year and revenues per public in the 2023-24 school year for 16 Downriver school districts.

The school district that paid its superintendent the most in 2024 was River Rouge School District, with a salary of $373,454. The next highest salary was in Romulus Community Schools with $242,909.

Even though the River Rouge School District does not have the highest Downriver student population, they did have the highest revenues per pupil in the 2023-24 school year, which was $21,629.

Dr. Tina Kerr, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA), wrote in an email that it’s important for school districts to pay competitive salaries.

“Competitive compensation packages for superintendents ensures districts maintain strong, consistent leadership that drives educational success for the community. Superintendents are the CEO of their districts and oversee millions of dollars in budgets, hundreds of employees, and the education of thousands of students,” she stated. “Competitive compensation helps districts attract and retain the kind of experienced, visionary leaders our communities deserve. When compensation falls behind, districts risk losing talented leaders to neighboring systems, which disrupts stability and progress for students.”

The average revenues per pupil Downriver is $16,976, with six school districts having a higher revenue per pupil and ten under that mark.

The school district that pays its superintendent the least in its salary is Grosse Ile Township Schools with $137,151 in 2024. The second lowest salary was Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools with $153,706 in 2024.

The average revenues per pupil Downriver is $16,976, with both Grosse Ile Township Schools and Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools falling under that average with $15,899 and $16,640, respectively.

The district with the lowest revenues per pupil is Allen Park Public Schools at $14,296, with its superintendent making the seventh highest salary Downriver at $193,261.

The district with the highest student population is the Taylor School District with 5,316 students. The revenues per pupil is third overall at $20,638 with the superintendent making $169,090, eighth highest overall.

The district with the lowest student population is Ecorse Public Schools with 1,150. Even with the low population though, the revenues per pupil is above average and sixth overall at $17,697, with the superintendent making $161,000, 13th highest overall.

Here are all of the school district’s superintendent’s salaries:

1. River Rouge School District – $373,454.17
2. Romulus Community Schools – $242,909.14
3. Woodhaven-Brownstown School District – $211,929.14
4. Flat Rock Community Schools – $207,717.96
5. Lincoln Park Public Schools – $203,054.87
6. Southgate Community School District – $196,587.84
7. Allen Park Public Schools – $193,261.74
8. Wyandotte Public Schools – $169,034.36
9. Taylor School District – $169,090.00
10. Huron School District – $168,854.72
11. Trenton Public Schools – $161,611.28
12. Ecorse Public Schools – $161,000.00
13. Riverview Community School District – $157,651.51
14. Gibraltar School District – $155,554.15
15. Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools – $153,706.79
16. Grosse Ile Township Schools – $137,151.55

Here are all of the revenues per pupil for the 2023-24 school year:

1. River Rouge School District – $21,629
2. Romulus Community Schools – $21,374
3. Taylor School District – $20,638
4. Southgate Community School District – $18,345
5. Lincoln Park Public Schools – $18,024
6. Ecorse Public Schools – $17,697
7. Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools – $16,640
8. Huron School District – $15,951
9. Grosse Ile Township Schools – $15,899
10. Flat Rock Community Schools – $15,462
11. Trenton Public Schools – $15,376
12. Woodhaven-Brownstown School District – $15,346
13. Gibraltar School District – $15,135
14. Riverview Community School District – $14,915
15. Wyandotte Public Schools – $14,890
16. Allen Park Public Schools – $14,296

Here is a list of the student count for each district:

1. Taylor School District – 5,316
2. Woodhaven-Brownstown School District – 5,297
3. Lincoln Park Public Schools – 4,812
4. Wyandotte Public Schools – 4,036
5. Southgate Community School District – 3,743
6. Allen Park Public Schools – 3,694
7. Gibraltar School District – 3,618
8. River Rouge School District – 3,092
9. Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools – 2,983
10. Riverview Community School District – 2,728
11. Trenton Public Schools – 2,582
12. Huron School District – 2,489
13. Romulus Community Schools – 2,061
14. Flat Rock Community Schools – 1,754
15. Grosse Ile Township Schools – 1,493
16. Ecorse Public Schools – 1,150