- Enrollment
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Dowagiac, MI
Dowagiac Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Dowagiac Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261215004918
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dowagiac Middle School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #5 of 7
- public schools in Dowagiac · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 64.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Dowagiac Middle School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dowagiac Middle School ranks #5 of 7 public schools in Dowagiac, MI.
School address
District: Dowagiac Union School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261215004918 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Dowagiac Middle School shrank from 408 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (-7.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 23.4 → 20.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 261215004918 · Dowagiac, MI Middle · SMALL · TRAD
393 enr · 17.1:1 · 64.2% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Union High School (507 students)
Dowagiac Middle School shrank from 408 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (-7.1%). Teacher FTE lost 23.4 → 20.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Dowagiac Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union High Sch
Union High School
507 students
- This school
Dowagiac Middle School
393 students
- Justus Gage El
Justus Gage Elementary School
262 students
- Patrick Hamilt
Patrick Hamilton Elementary
224 students
- Kincheloe Elem
Kincheloe Elementary School
214 students
- Sister Lakes E 166
Sister Lakes Elementary School
166 students
What this shows Dowagiac Middle School reports 393 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dowagiac Middle School compares
Dowagiac Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.2% | ▲ 18% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 393 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
393
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
64.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 54% in Michigan - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
57.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,351
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 393 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 125 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 56.5%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
Two or More 12.7%
African American 7.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.3%
Largest group: White at 56.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.4, Dowagiac Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Dowagiac Union School District reports $15,351 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dowagiac Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Justus Gage Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Patrick Hamilton Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kincheloe Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sister Lakes Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dowagiac Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 262
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 224
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 214
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 166
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~393 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dowagiac Middle School
How many students attend Dowagiac Middle School?
Dowagiac Middle School has 393 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Dowagiac, MI. CCD year-over-year: 408 (2022-23) → 379 (2023-24), down 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dowagiac Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dowagiac Middle School is 17.1:1, which is 2% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dowagiac Middle School?
64.2% of students at Dowagiac Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dowagiac Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Dowagiac Middle School is White at 56.5% of enrollment, in Dowagiac, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dowagiac Middle School?
Dowagiac Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Dowagiac Middle School rank among public schools in Dowagiac?
By Resource Investment Index, Dowagiac Middle School ranks #5 of 7 public schools in Dowagiac, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Dowagiac on the city page.
What other schools are in Dowagiac Union School District?
Besides Dowagiac Middle School, Dowagiac Union School District also operates Union High School (507 students), Justus Gage Elementary School (262 students), and Patrick Hamilton Elementary (224 students). See the Dowagiac Union School District district page for the complete list.