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.
Overall District Rank
#588 out of 862 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
35%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
38%
Graduation Rate
92%
81%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)34.5%
33.3%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.59
0.59
% American Indian
2%
1%
% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
20%
9%
% Black
7%
22%
% White
60%
60%
% 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.
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 Preschools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Justus Gage Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
301 Oak St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4460
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269) 782-4460
Gr: PK-5 | 262 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Recent Articles
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
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 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.
