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 is 1 public preschool serving 262 students in Dowagiac Union School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Michigan.
Public Preschool in Dowagiac Union School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Michigan public pre school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 40% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public preschool average of 41% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,085 Schools
# Students
1,815 Students
374,269 Students
# Teachers
110 Teachers
25,217 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%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

22%
35%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

33%
45%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

34%
38%
92%
81.8%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
34.5%
33.3%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.59
0.59

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
2%
1%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Asian
n/a
3%

Showing 1989–2011. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
20%
9%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
7%
22%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
60%
60%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
11%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,835 in this school district is less than the state median of $22,574. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,132 is less than the state median of $21,841. The school district spending/student has grown by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$34 MM
$30,868 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$33 MM
$29,866 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$18,835
$22,574

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$18,132
$21,841

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Dowagiac Union School District Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Justus Gage Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Oak St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4460
Gr: PK-5 | 262 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • 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

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