Enrollment
393
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+18% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Dowagiac Middle School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Dowagiac Middle School
Dowagiac Middle School is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Dowagiac, Michigan, enrolling 393 students.
At 17.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Michigan median, within a few percentage points of the 17.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 64.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 393 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Among 625 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #449, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and Hispanic or Latino (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 393 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 125 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 393 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Dowagiac Union School District also operates Union High School (507 students) and Justus Gage Elementary School (262 students) alongside Dowagiac Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Dowagiac Middle School compares
Dowagiac Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$14,021
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dowagiac Union School District, which includes Dowagiac Middle School.
$14,021
Per student
+4%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.6%
State 45.7%
Federal 21.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~393 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Dowagiac Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Dowagiac Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Dowagiac Union School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is Dowagiac Middle School a good school?
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. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.