C
Dowagiac Union Schools
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 6 towns
Serves Dowagiac, LaGrange, Silver Creek, Wayne, Keeler and Pokagon, and parts of Volinia.
Students
1,815
Schools
7
Spent per student
$14,458
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
68%
Debt
$40.5M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Dowagiac Union Schools
- School Grade C: better than 32% of Indiana districts
- Math proficiency 16 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 17 pts below the state
- Graduation rate (4-year) 6 pts below the state
- Spends 13% less per student than the MI average
- 17 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 13.2% since 2020
- Debt of $40.5M, about $22,302 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Coesse.
K–54 elementary schoolsWhitley County Consolidated Schools
6–8Indian Springs Middle SchoolWhitley County Consolidated Schools
9–12Columbia City High SchoolWhitley County Consolidated Schools
Test scores vs. MI
2020–21Math proficiency19%
State average 34.6%
Reading / language arts31%
State average 47.9%
Graduation rate (4-year)77%
State average 82.9%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$14,458 per student · 13% below MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 59%Support & administration 35%Other 7%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 35%State 53%Federal 12%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
2,090’20
2,000’21
1,890’22
1,854’23
1,815’24
Down 13.2% since 2020.
Students
White 60%Hispanic 20%Two or more races 11%Black 7%American Indian/Alaska Native 2%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
7 public schools.
Justus Gage Elementary School
C+262 students15:1
Patrick Hamilton Elementary
C−224 students15:1
Kincheloe Elementary School
B−214 students14:1
Sister Lakes Elementary School
C166 students14:1
Dowagiac Middle School
C−393 students19:1
Union High School
C+507 students18:1
Pathfinders Alternative Ed
D−49 students20:1
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.