Top Rankings
Dowagiac Union School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 2 public middle schools serving 429 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 16% (versus the Michigan public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 44% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public middle school average of 42% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,349 Schools
# Students
1,854 Students
537,315 Students
# Teachers
111 Teachers
31,652 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 851 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 65-69% has decreased from 75-79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#592 out of 866 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
21%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
38%
Graduation Rate
65-69%
81%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.59
0.60
% American Indian
2%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
19%
9%
% Black
7%
23%
% White
60%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
12%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,543 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,510. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,819 is less than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$29 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$28 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,543
$18,510
Spending / Student
$14,819
$17,693
Best Dowagiac Union School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Pathfinders Alternative Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
501 N Paul St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4471
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4471
Grades: 6-12
| 50 students
Rank: #22.
Dowagiac Middle School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
57072 Riverside Dr
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4440
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4440
Grades: 6-8
| 379 students
Recent Articles

What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning has been highly touted by some educators as a viable option to traditional learning models. We’ll take a look at what project-based learning is and why it is getting so much attention today.

What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.

“Smart Snacks” Standards Coming to School Vending Machines Nationwide
We explore new federal regulations that will ban junk food from public schools. This means no more sweets and soda in cafeteria lines, vending machines and snacks sold in other locations around the schools.