- Enrollment
- 507
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Dowagiac, MI
Justus Gage Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Justus Gage Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261215004919
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Justus Gage Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #4 of 7
- public schools in Dowagiac · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 71.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Justus Gage Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Justus Gage Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Dowagiac, MI.
School address
District: Dowagiac Union School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261215004919 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Justus Gage Elementary School held near 283 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 17.4 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 261215004919 · Dowagiac, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
262 enr · 15.4:1 · 71.5% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Union High School (507 students)
Justus Gage Elementary School held near 283 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 17.4 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Justus Gage Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Union High Sch
Union High School
507 students
- Dowagiac Middl
Dowagiac Middle School
393 students
- This school
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 Justus Gage Elementary School reports 262 students on the CCD universe file.
How Justus Gage Elementary School compares
Justus Gage Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.5% | ▲ 32% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 262 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
262
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 36% in Michigan - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.4%
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
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.0%
Two or More 8.0%
African American 6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.1%
Largest group: White at 66.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.2, Justus Gage Elementary 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 Justus Gage Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dowagiac Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Patrick Hamilton Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kincheloe Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sister Lakes Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Justus Gage Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- 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 other 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 (~262 students)
Frequently asked questions about Justus Gage Elementary School
How many students attend Justus Gage Elementary School?
Justus Gage Elementary School has 262 students enrolled. It is a public school in Dowagiac, MI. CCD year-over-year: 274 (2022-23) → 283 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Justus Gage Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Justus Gage Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 12% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 2% lower 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 Justus Gage Elementary School?
71.5% of students at Justus Gage Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Justus Gage Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Justus Gage Elementary School is White at 66.4% of enrollment, in Dowagiac, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Justus Gage Elementary School?
Justus Gage Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (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 Justus Gage Elementary School rank among public schools in Dowagiac?
By Resource Investment Index, Justus Gage Elementary School ranks #4 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 Justus Gage Elementary School, Dowagiac Union School District also operates Union High School (507 students), Dowagiac Middle School (393 students), and Patrick Hamilton Elementary (224 students). See the Dowagiac Union School District district page for the complete list.