Average
#2309 of 3,192 schools in MI
Sister Lakes Elementary School
Elementary School · Dowagiac Union School District · Dowagiac, MI
A Dowagiac Union School District elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
243 SOUTH FRONT ST, Dowagiac, MI 49047
- Math 28% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 35% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 14:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Sister Lakes Elementary School score 31% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 51 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 31% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 42% (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
74.4%
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 Sister Lakes 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 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 33Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | PK–12 | 3.6 mi | 91 | Compare → |
| Justus Gage Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.1 | PK–5 | Not available | 283 | Compare → |
| Kincheloe Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | K–5 | Not available | 224 | Compare → |
| Patrick Hamilton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | K–5 | Not available | 220 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Dowagiac Union School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #3 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
Sister Lakes Elementary School is listed in Dowagiac Union School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Sister Lakes Elementary School
Sister Lakes Elementary School is a public elementary school in Dowagiac, MI, part of Dowagiac Union School District, serving approximately 168 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,309 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Sister Lakes Elementary School
What grades does Sister Lakes Elementary School serve?
Sister Lakes Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Sister Lakes Elementary School?
Sister Lakes Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 168 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sister Lakes Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sister Lakes Elementary School is 14:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sister Lakes Elementary School rank in MI?
Sister Lakes Elementary School ranks #2,309 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Sister Lakes Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Sister Lakes Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Sister Lakes Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Sister Lakes Elementary School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Sister Lakes Elementary School a charter school?
No, Sister Lakes Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sister Lakes Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Sister Lakes Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sister Lakes Elementary School?
74.4% of students at Sister Lakes 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 168
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Van Buren County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 28.6%
- Phone
- (269) 782-4468
- 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
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.