Dowagiac Union School District

243 S Front St
Dowagiac, MI 49047-1738
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Dowagiac Union School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 442 students in Dowagiac Union School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Michigan.
Public Middle Schools in Dowagiac Union School District have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the Michigan public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Michigan public middle school average of 42% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,329 Schools
# Students
1,815 Students
535,615 Students
# Teachers
110 Teachers
32,063 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Dowagiac Union School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 844 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#588 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
22%
35%
33%
45%
34%
38%
92%
81%
(2022-23)
34.5%
33.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.61
% American Indian
2%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
20%
9%
% Black
7%
23%
% White
60%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,877 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,629. The school district revenue/student has grown by 23% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,137 is less than the state median of $17,806. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$29 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$28 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,877
$18,629
Spending / Student
$15,137
$17,806

Best Dowagiac Union School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pathfinders Alternative Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
501 N Paul St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4471
Gr: 6-12 | 49 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Dowagiac Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
57072 Riverside Dr
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4440
Gr: 6-8 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 43%

Recent Articles

What Makes an Elementary School Feel Supportive?
What Makes an Elementary School Feel Supportive?
Discover what makes one elementary school more supportive than another, from teacher relationships and family communication to classroom attention, belonging, student services, leadership, routines, and responsive academic support systems.
Second School Tour: Questions Parents Forget to Ask
Second School Tour: Questions Parents Forget to Ask
A second school tour can reveal what families miss initially. Learn which questions to ask about teachers, support, schedules, safety, communication, programs, and everyday student life before enrolling.
Attendance Policies Are Changing: Parent Guide 2026
Attendance Policies Are Changing: Parent Guide 2026
Attendance policies are changing across public schools. Learn what parents should examine about absences, tardiness, interventions, flexibility, communication, and student support before choosing a school for their child today.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,815 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 40%
  • : 92% (Top 10% in MI)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 22% (Btm 50%)
  • : 33% (Btm 50%)
  • : 34% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

Quick Links