Summary:
Patrick Hamilton Elementary is a public elementary school located in Dowagiac, Michigan, serving 236 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Dowagiac Union School District, which is ranked 399 out of 606 districts in Michigan and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.
Patrick Hamilton Elementary faces several challenges compared to nearby schools. The school has a more diverse student population, with higher percentages of African American (23.31%) and Hispanic (14.41%) students. It also struggles with significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 40.8% to 62.4% in recent years, well above the state and district averages. Academically, the school consistently underperforms the district and state in M-Step/English Language Arts and M-Step/Math proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in 2022-2023, only 17.8% of 3rd graders, 22.9% of 4th graders, and 42.9% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district averages of 29.6%, 32.2%, and 35.8%, respectively. Additionally, over 90% of Patrick Hamilton Elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.
Despite having the highest spending per student ($14,892 in 2022-2023) compared to the nearby Justus Gage, Kincheloe, and Sister Lakes Elementary Schools, Patrick Hamilton Elementary continues to underperform these schools academically. This suggests that factors beyond just funding, such as student demographics and school-level practices, may be contributing to the challenges at the school. Addressing the root causes of the school's high chronic absenteeism and racial achievement gaps, while also supporting the unique needs of its economically disadvantaged student population, will be crucial for improving outcomes at Patrick Hamilton Elementary.
Detail:
Public K-5
District:
Dowagiac Union School District
SchoolDigger Rank:
1132nd of 1,470 Michigan Elementary Schools
Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,892
Students who attend Patrick Hamilton Elementary usually attend:
Student/teacher ratio: 16.2
Number of students: 236
Racial breakdown:
White:
46.6%
African American:
23.3%
Hispanic:
14.4%
more
Two or more races:
12.7%
American Indian:
2.5%
Asian:
0.4%
Free/discounted lunch recipients: 90.3%
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