Summary:
The Dowagiac Union School District in Michigan is home to 4 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. While the district as a whole faces academic challenges, with proficiency rates below state averages, a few standout schools emerge from the data.
Kincheloe Elementary School stands out for its strong performance, with the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts across 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades compared to the other schools in the district. In 2024-2025, 51.3% of Kincheloe's 3rd graders were proficient in ELA, far exceeding the district and state averages. The school also had solid math proficiency, with over 40% of 3rd graders and 34% of 4th graders scoring proficient or better. Sister Lakes Elementary School also performed well, with the highest 5th grade proficiency rates in both ELA (40.6%) and Math (37.5%) among the district's schools.
However, the district as a whole faces significant challenges, with all 4 schools reporting chronic absenteeism rates of 29.5% in 2023-2024, well above the state average. Additionally, the schools serve populations with high percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 71.43% at Kincheloe to 86.82% at Patrick Hamilton Elementary. These socioeconomic factors likely contribute to the district's academic performance gaps compared to state averages.
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