Dowagiac Union School District

Dowagiac Union Schools
Address
243 South Front Street[1]
Dowagiac
, Cass, Michigan, 49047
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentGregory Blomgren[2]
Schools7[3]
Budget$31,163,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
NCES District ID2612150[3]
Students and staff
Students1,860 (2023-2024)[3]
Teachers110.5 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024)[3]
Staff262.26 FTE (2023-2024)[3]
Student–teacher ratio16.83 (2023-2024)[3]
Other information
Websitewww.dowagiacschools.org

Dowagiac Union Schools is a public school district in southwest Michigan. In Cass County, it serves Dowagiac and parts of the townships of LaGrange, Pokagon, Silver Creek, and Wayne.[4] It also serves parts of Keeler Township in Van Buren County[5] and Pipestone Township in Berrien County.[4]

History

A school was built in Dowagiac around 1858, but it burned down three years later.[6] In 1861, a Union School was built at the corner of Main and Parsonage Streets.[7]

At the current site of Justus Gage Elementary, a ward school (or elementary school) was built in 1864.[7] It was replaced in 1902 by a new Dowagiac High School.[8]

A new high school was built in 1925 at the site of the Union School,[9][6] 520 Main Street.[10] It opened in 1927.[8] The building featured relief sculptures on the cornice and the inscription ENTER TO LEARN LEAVE TO SERVE.[11]

The current Dowagiac Union High School partially opened in fall 1961, and the remainder of the building was completed and occupied in January 1962.[12] Then-candidate for Michigan governor George W. Romney gave the high school's dedication speech on March 27, 1962.[13] The former high school became Central Junior High School.[6]

On September 15, 1963, a parachutist was injured when he landed on the roof of the high school.[14]

Central Junior High, which became Central Middle School, closed in 2005[15] and the new Dowagiac Middle School opened in fall 2005.[16] The middle school includes an 870-seat auditorium.[17][18]

Schools

Schools in Dowagiac Union School District[19]
School Address Notes
Dowagiac Union High School 701 W Prairie Ronde, Dowagiac Grades 9-12. Opened 1961.[12]
Dowagiac Middle School 57072 Riverside Drive, Dowagiac Grades 6-8. Opened 2005.[16]
Justus Gage Elementary 301 Oak Street, Dowagiac Grades PreK-5
Kincheloe Elementary 25121 Gage Street, Dowagiac Grades K-5
Patrick Hamilton Elementary 614 Spruce Street, Dowagiac Grades K-5
Sister Lakes Elementary 68079 M-152, Benton Harbor Grades K-5
Pathfinders Alternative & Adult Education 501 N Paul Street, Dowagiac Alternative high school and adult education

References

  1. ^ Dowagiac Union Schools. "Dowagiac Union Schools". Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  2. ^ Dowagiac Union Schools. "Annual Education Report 2023-2024" (PDF). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Dowagiac Union School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ^ a b Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Cass County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Van Buren County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Editorial staff of Dowagiac Union High School yearbook. Wahoo 1964 (Dowagiac Union High School yearbook). p. 4.
  7. ^ a b Dowagiac Area History Museum. "School Tour- A Dowagiac History Timeline" (PDF). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Editorial staff of Dowagiac Union High School yearbook. The Wahoo of 1935 (Dowagiac Union High School yearbook 1935). p. 6.
  9. ^ "Board orders steel lockers". The Dowagiac Daily News. December 29, 1925. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Author and journalist Rick Bragg". The Kalamazoo Gazette. October 20, 2002. p. D1.
  11. ^ Editorial staff of Dowagiac Union High School yearbook. Wahoo 1961 (Dowagiac Union High School yearbook). pp. 2–3.
  12. ^ a b "Part of new Dowagiac High to be occupied this fall". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). September 2, 1961. p. 1.
  13. ^ United Press International (March 28, 1962). "Attitude on schools is rapped". Lansing State Journal. p. 6.
  14. ^ "Chutist survives Cass fall". Niles Daily Star (Niles, Mich.). September 16, 1963. p. 1.
  15. ^ Eby, John (February 21, 2005). "With the brand-new Dowagiac Middle School...". The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Mich.). p. 3.
  16. ^ a b Burch, Ann. "Board gets new look at middle school cafeteria". The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.). p. 2B.
  17. ^ Eby, John (February 20, 2006). "Lincoln Clark first director of arts center". Niles Daily Star (Niles, Mich.). p. Horizons 2006 section page 3.
  18. ^ Dowagiac Union Schools. "Performing Arts Center". Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  19. ^ Dowagiac Union School District. "Schools menu". Retrieved September 30, 2025.
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