Dowagiac Middle School

Summary:

Dowagiac Middle School is a public middle school serving 408 students in grades 6-8 in Dowagiac, Michigan, which is part of the Dowagiac Union School District. The school faces several key challenges, including underperformance on academic measures, high rates of chronic absenteeism, and a student population with significant socioeconomic disadvantages.

Dowagiac Middle School has a more diverse student population than the state average, with 58.09% White, 6.13% African American, 19.12% Hispanic, and 16.18% two or more races. However, the school consistently underperforms compared to the state and its own district averages on standardized tests, with only 40.3% of 6th graders proficient in English Language Arts and 20.2% proficient in math, compared to 37.5% and 31% statewide, respectively. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching as high as 61% in 2020-2021, significantly above the state average.

Dowagiac Middle School's performance lags behind many of the nearby middle schools in the region, such as Buchanan Middle School, which is located just 16.9 miles away and consistently outperforms Dowagiac on academic measures. Additionally, the school's performance is particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students, who rank in the bottom 25% of Michigan middle schools for English Language Arts proficiency. With declining enrollment and funding, addressing these issues will be crucial for Dowagiac Middle School to improve and provide a high-quality education for its students.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 57072 Riverside Dr
       Dowagiac, MI  49047-3108


(269) 782-4440

District: Dowagiac Union School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
479th of 897 Michigan Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,865 Help


Students who attend Dowagiac Middle School usually attend:

High:    Union High School

Feeder schools for Dowagiac Middle School:

Elementary:    Justus Gage Elementary School
    Kincheloe Elementary School
    Patrick Hamilton Elementary
    Sister Lakes Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.1 Help
Number of students:  379

Racial breakdown:

White:
57.8%
Hispanic:
19.8%
Two or more races:
14.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  75.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Dowagiac Middle School ranks worse than 53.4% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 43.31. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Dowagiac Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (57.8%), Hispanic (19.8%), two or more races (14%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 75.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dowagiac Middle School is 18.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Dowagiac Middle School employs 20.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dowagiac Middle School is $14,865.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Dowagiac Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Dowagiac Middle School 479th of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Dowagiac Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Dowagiac Union School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Dowagiac Union School District 400th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Dowagiac Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 43.09 594th 806 26.3%
2007 34.95 653rd 823 20.7%
2008 46.91 575th 839 31.5%
2009 38.53 641st 847 24.3%
2010 40.92 644th 851 24.3%
2011 53.67 520th 858 39.4%
2012 51.79 445th 900 50.6%
2013 49.19 482nd 919 47.6%
2014 44.56 558th 921 39.4%
2015 36.19 603rd 919 34.4%
2016 28.72 641st 894 28.3%
2017 18.32 677th 821 17.5%
2018 28.62 642nd 838 23.4%
2019 20.07 653rd 792 17.6%
2021 16.28 596th 675 11.7%
2022 24.97 580th 776 25.3%
2023 31.16 597th 883 32.4%
2024 43.31 479th 897 46.6%
See the entire list of Michigan Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.32 129th 156 17.3%
2019 13.71 47th 51 7.8%
2021 17.40 13th 15 13.3%
2022 23.38 55th 65 15.4%
2023 14.26 149th 163 8.6%
2024 22.90 141st 176 19.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.33 92nd 154 40.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.92 323rd 377 14.3%
2023 19.71 180th 199 9.5%
2024 37.28 117th 201 41.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.29 592nd 815 27.4%
2019 19.45 583rd 672 13.2%
2021 23.13 441st 523 15.7%
2022 35.91 457th 691 33.9%
2023 27.46 618th 825 25.1%
2024 48.58 381st 836 54.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.13 1st 1 0.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.16 573rd 794 27.8%
2019 18.72 556th 658 15.5%
2021 16.97 467th 521 10.4%
2022 21.73 532nd 657 19.0%
2023 28.32 547th 770 29.0%
2024 39.97 445th 771 42.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.24 604th 797 24.2%
2019 15.36 568th 639 11.1%
2021 11.15 508th 540 5.9%
2022 20.66 543rd 658 17.5%
2023 26.20 572nd 776 26.3%
2024 39.00 468th 786 40.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.14 139th 366 62.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.13 218th 266 18.0%
2021 19.41 61st 69 11.6%
2022 25.25 103rd 138 25.4%
2023 19.20 207th 246 15.9%
2024 23.93 208th 257 19.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Dowagiac Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 18.46 585th 678 13.7%
2019 15.58 557th 624 10.7%
2021 16.96 506th 577 12.3%
2022 24.64 500th 638 21.6%
2023 31.37 483rd 688 29.8%
2024 43.29 371st 701 47.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Dowagiac Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Dowagiac Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 356 54 4 39 6 n/a n/a 0 459
1989 332 54 3 39 3 n/a n/a -1 430
1990 328 65 4 51 4 n/a n/a 0 452
1991 342 68 3 41 5 n/a n/a 0 459
1992 361 62 4 46 6 n/a n/a 0 479
1993 373 60 3 45 3 n/a n/a 0 484
1994 383 53 2 51 3 n/a n/a 0 492
1995 386 58 1 44 4 n/a n/a 0 493
1996 386 58 1 44 4 n/a n/a 0 493
1997 352 54 1 49 3 n/a n/a 0 459
1998 356 46 0 48 4 n/a n/a 0 454
1999 414 37 0 36 7 n/a n/a 0 494
2000 385 51 1 48 7 n/a n/a 0 492
2001 344 42 2 54 4 n/a n/a 0 446
2002 325 47 1 48 7 n/a n/a 0 428
2003 325 47 1 48 7 n/a n/a 0 428
2004 348 46 2 47 6 n/a n/a 0 449
2005 325 47 1 47 6 n/a n/a 1 427
2006 287 47 1 44 9 n/a n/a 0 388
2007 271 51 1 39 9 n/a n/a 0 371
2008 289 38 1 47 6 n/a n/a 0 381
2009 427 73 4 81 17 n/a n/a 1 603
2010 422 79 4 76 17 n/a n/a 4 602
2011 391 66 5 54 16 0 6 0 538
2012 388 59 5 68 13 0 10 0 543
2013 341 41 1 73 6 0 43 0 505
2014 326 44 2 82 3 0 50 0 507
2015 312 53 1 73 2 0 64 0 505
2016 290 54 0 78 5 0 58 0 485
2017 289 46 0 89 8 0 66 0 498
2018 314 36 0 96 7 0 66 0 519
2019 307 39 0 87 5 0 70 0 508
2020 297 40 0 99 4 0 67 0 507
2021 279 34 1 105 4 0 82 0 505
2022 257 32 1 99 3 0 72 0 464
2023 237 25 0 78 2 0 66 0 408
2024 219 26 0 75 6 0 53 0 379

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dowagiac Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 459 n/a n/a n/a
1989 430 n/a n/a 21.9
1990 452 30.0 15.0 29
1991 459 n/a n/a n/a
1992 479 n/a n/a 33.6
1993 484 n/a 0.0 33.5
1994 492 25.7 19.1 25.8
1995 493 26.5 18.6 26
1996 493 26.5 18.6 26
1997 459 26.0 17.7 31.8
1998 454 26.0 17.5 33.5
1999 494 27.0 18.3 35.8
2000 492 27.0 18.2 39
2001 446 27.0 16.5 38.6
2002 428 26.4 16.2 50
2003 428 26.4 16.2 50
2004 449 27.7 16.2 50.1
2005 427 27.7 15.4 50.5
2006 388 26.1 14.9 50.3
2007 371 26.7 13.9 45.8
2008 381 21.5 17.7 53.8
2009 603 30.2 20.0 65
2010 602 31.6 19.0 71.4
2011 538 31.2 17.2 69.7
2012 543 27.1 20.0 72.7
2013 505 22.5 22.4 66.5
2014 507 23.3 21.7 75.5
2015 505 26.0 19.4 73.3
2016 485 26.0 18.6 77.7
2017 498 25.7 19.3 72.7
2018 519 25.6 20.2 74.6
2019 508 24.4 20.7 74.2
2020 507 25.7 19.6 77.1
2021 505 23.9 21.1 87.5
2022 464 23.1 20.0 83.2
2023 408 23.3 17.4 71.8
2024 379 20.8 18.1 75.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Dowagiac Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 459 n/a n/a n/a
1989 430 n/a n/a 21.9
1990 452 30.0 15.0 29
1991 459 n/a n/a n/a
1992 479 n/a n/a 33.6
1993 484 n/a 0.0 33.5
1994 492 25.7 19.1 25.8
1995 493 26.5 18.6 26
1996 493 26.5 18.6 26
1997 459 26.0 17.7 31.8
1998 454 26.0 17.5 33.5
1999 494 27.0 18.3 35.8
2000 492 27.0 18.2 39
2001 446 27.0 16.5 38.6
2002 428 26.4 16.2 50
2003 428 26.4 16.2 50
2004 449 27.7 16.2 50.1
2005 427 27.7 15.4 50.5
2006 388 26.1 14.9 50.3
2007 371 26.7 13.9 45.8
2008 381 21.5 17.7 53.8
2009 603 30.2 20.0 65
2010 602 31.6 19.0 71.4
2011 538 31.2 17.2 69.7
2012 543 27.1 20.0 72.7
2013 505 22.5 22.4 66.5
2014 507 23.3 21.7 75.5
2015 505 26.0 19.4 73.3
2016 485 26.0 18.6 77.7
2017 498 25.7 19.3 72.7
2018 519 25.6 20.2 74.6
2019 508 24.4 20.7 74.2
2020 507 25.7 19.6 77.1
2021 505 23.9 21.1 87.5
2022 464 23.1 20.0 83.2
2023 408 23.3 17.4 71.8
2024 379 20.8 18.1 75.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dowagiac Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $956 (9.6%) $9,036 (90.4%) $9,992
2020 $856 (8.5%) $9,174 (91.5%) $10,031
2021 $1,448 (12.9%) $9,808 (87.1%) $11,256
2022 $1,608 (13.9%) $9,950 (86.1%) $11,558
2023 $1,808 (12.2%) $13,057 (87.8%) $14,865

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dowagiac Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 653rd of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 597th of 883 Middle schools
 14.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Middle School)26.226.4
 0.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Union School District)26.226.4
 0.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)41.737.5
 4.2%
6th Grade Math (Dowagiac Middle School)18.918.4
 0.5%
   6th Grade Math (Dowagiac Union School District)18.918.4
 0.5%
   6th Grade Math (Michigan)35.129.6
 5.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Middle School)26.931.1
 4.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Union School District)26.931.1
 4.2%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Dowagiac Middle School)1723.8
 6.8%
   7th Grade Math (Dowagiac Union School District)1723.8
 6.8%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade Social Studies (Dowagiac Middle School)12.918.9
 6%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Dowagiac Union School District)12.918.9
 6%
   8th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)2826.7
 1.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Middle School)48.748.7
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Dowagiac Union School District)48.748.7
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Dowagiac Middle School)2614.7
 11.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Dowagiac Union School District)2614.7
 11.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)41.436.3
 5.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students508408
 19.7%
African American3925
 35.9%
American Indian52
 60%
Asian00
Hispanic8778
 10.3%
Pacific Islander00
White307237
 22.8%
Two or More Races7066
 5.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients74.2%71.8%
 2.4%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Dowagiac Middle School

Students at Dowagiac Middle School are 58% White, 20% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 7% African American, 2% American Indian.

Students who attend Dowagiac Middle School usually go on to attend Union High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 379 students attended Dowagiac Middle School.

Dowagiac Middle School ranks 479th of 897 Michigan middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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