Dowagiac Union School District

Last updated
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 ID 2612150 [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
Website www.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]

Contents

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]
SchoolAddressNotes
Dowagiac Union High School701 W Prairie Ronde, DowagiacGrades 9-12. Opened 1961. [12]
Dowagiac Middle School57072 Riverside Drive, DowagiacGrades 6-8. Opened 2005. [16]
Justus Gage Elementary301 Oak Street, DowagiacGrades PreK-5
Kincheloe Elementary25121 Gage Street, DowagiacGrades K-5
Patrick Hamilton Elementary614 Spruce Street, DowagiacGrades K-5
Sister Lakes Elementary68079 M-152, Benton HarborGrades K-5
Pathfinders Alternative & Adult Education501 N Paul Street, DowagiacAlternative 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Dowagiac Union School District". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 Editorial staff of Dowagiac Union High School yearbook. Wahoo 1964 (Dowagiac Union High School yearbook). p. 4.
  7. 1 2 Dowagiac Area History Museum. "School Tour- A Dowagiac History Timeline" (PDF). Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  8. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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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