Average
#2436 of 3,192 schools in MI
Justus Gage Elementary School
Elementary School · Dowagiac Union School District · Dowagiac, MI
A Dowagiac Union School District elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
243 SOUTH FRONT ST, Dowagiac, MI 49047
- Math 35% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 31% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Justus Gage Elementary School score 33% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 59 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 33% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
82%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Justus Gage Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 69Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 49Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,170/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Dowagiac), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,469
Median home value
$182,000
Median rent
$750/mo
College educated
21.2%
Homeownership
72.4%
Poverty rate
19.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49047; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Pointe CenterEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | K–12 | 0.3 mi | 43 | Compare → |
| Calvary Bible AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–11 | 0.8 mi | 25 | Compare → |
| Patrick Hamilton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 220 | Compare → |
| Sister Lakes Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | K–5 | Not available | 168 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Dowagiac Union School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #4 of 7
- District spending per student
- $15,432NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 22.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Justus Gage Elementary School is listed in Dowagiac Union School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Justus Gage Elementary School
Justus Gage Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dowagiac, MI, part of Dowagiac Union School District, serving approximately 283 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #2,436 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Justus Gage Elementary School
What grades does Justus Gage Elementary School serve?
Justus Gage Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Justus Gage Elementary School?
Justus Gage Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 283 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Justus Gage Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Justus Gage Elementary School is 16.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Justus Gage Elementary School rank in MI?
Justus Gage Elementary School ranks #2,436 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Justus Gage Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Justus Gage Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Justus Gage Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Justus Gage Elementary School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 47% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Justus Gage Elementary School a charter school?
No, Justus Gage Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Justus Gage Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Justus Gage Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Justus Gage Elementary School?
82.0% of students at Justus Gage Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 283
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- Cass County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.7%
- Phone
- (269) 782-4460
- Area population (ZIP 49047)
- 14,506
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 42.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49047; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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