Average
#1168 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 37% in state
Pathfinders Alternative Ed
High School · Dowagiac Union School District · Dowagiac, MI
A Dowagiac Union School District high school serving grades 6th – 12th.
243 SOUTH FRONT ST, Dowagiac, MI 49047
- Math 25% proficient (2017)
- Reading 25% proficient (2017)
- 30.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Pathfinders Alternative Ed score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
2017 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 25% across the 5-year record (2013–2017).
Show all 5 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 25% (multi-year average, 2013-2017) · reading/ELA 25% (multi-year average, 2013-2017)
Based on 10 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
76%
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 Pathfinders Alternative Ed 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 23Car-Dependent
- Bike 42Somewhat 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.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.7 | 9–12 | 0.0 mi | 530 | Compare → |
| North Pointe CenterEnrollment path unverified | 7.9 | K–12 | 0.7 mi | 43 | Compare → |
| Calvary Bible AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–11 | 1.6 mi | 25 | 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
- #1 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
Pathfinders Alternative Ed is listed in Dowagiac Union School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pathfinders Alternative Ed
Pathfinders Alternative Ed is a public high school in Dowagiac, MI, part of Dowagiac Union School District, serving approximately 50 students in grades 6th-12th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,168 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2017) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2017).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pathfinders Alternative Ed
What grades does Pathfinders Alternative Ed serve?
Pathfinders Alternative Ed serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Pathfinders Alternative Ed?
Pathfinders Alternative Ed has an enrollment of approximately 50 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pathfinders Alternative Ed?
The student-teacher ratio at Pathfinders Alternative Ed is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pathfinders Alternative Ed rank in MI?
Pathfinders Alternative Ed ranks #1,168 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Pathfinders Alternative Ed's MySchoolScout rating?
Pathfinders Alternative Ed has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Pathfinders Alternative Ed?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pathfinders Alternative Ed has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2017) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2017).
Is Pathfinders Alternative Ed a charter school?
No, Pathfinders Alternative Ed is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pathfinders Alternative Ed a Title I school?
No, Pathfinders Alternative Ed is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pathfinders Alternative Ed?
76.0% of students at Pathfinders Alternative Ed 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
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 50
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 3
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- Cass County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 8.0%
- Phone
- (269) 782-4471
- 4-Year Graduation
- 30.0%
- 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 · 2017 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2017 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 · 2017 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2017 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.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2013-2017; directory SY 2023–24
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