Justus Gage Elementary School

www.dowagiacschools.org

274 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Justus Gage Elementary School is a public primary school located in Dowagiac, Michigan, serving as a key component of the Dowagiac Union Schools district. Committed to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment, the school focuses on building a strong academic foundation for students in their formative years. The campus emphasizes the development of essential literacy and numeracy skills while promoting character education and social-emotional growth to prepare children for future academic success.

As part of the Dowagiac community, Justus Gage works closely with families and stakeholders to provide a well-rounded educational experience. The school leverages the district’s broader resources to integrate modern teaching practices and technology into the classroom. Through its dedicated staff and community-oriented approach, the school strives to create an inclusive atmosphere where students are encouraged to reach their full potential and become active, responsible members of their school community.

274

Total Students

17.4

Full-Time Teachers

15.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

71.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Justus Gage Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	190
Hispanic	35
Black	19
Two or More	28
American Indian	2

White
190 (69.3 %)
Hispanic
35 (12.8 %)
Two or More
28 (10.2 %)
Black
19 (6.9 %)
American Indian
2 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Dowagiac Union School District
Phone:	(269)782-4460
Website:	http://www.dowagiacschools.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	274
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	17.4
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	182
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	14

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 41

Grade 1 51

Grade 2 48

Grade 3 46

Grade 4 44

Grade 5 44