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 Michigan 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
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.