Pathfinders Alternative Ed

www.dowagiacschools.org

38 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Pathfinders Alternative Education, located in Dowagiac, Michigan, operates as a specialized branch of the Dowagiac Union Schools district. Designed to serve students who may not thrive in a traditional classroom setting, the school focuses on providing a flexible, supportive, and personalized learning environment. Its primary mission is to help students overcome academic or personal barriers, allowing them to earn their high school diplomas and prepare for post-secondary success through an individualized approach to curriculum and instruction.

The program emphasizes a smaller, more intimate academic setting that fosters closer relationships between students and staff. By utilizing tailored instruction and credit recovery options, Pathfinders aims to re-engage students who have fallen behind or who require a different pace of learning. As part of the wider Dowagiac community, the school plays a vital role in ensuring that all students—regardless of their academic journey—have access to the resources and guidance necessary to achieve graduation and develop long-term career or educational goals.

Total Students

2.2

Full-Time Teachers

17.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

105.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Pathfinders Alternative Ed
Demographic	Student Count
White	16
Hispanic	8
Black	9
Two or More	5

White
16 (42.1 %)
Black
9 (23.7 %)
Hispanic
8 (21.1 %)
Two or More
5 (13.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Primarily virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Dowagiac Union School District
Phone:	(269)782-4471
Website:	http://www.dowagiacschools.org
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	38
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	2.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	37
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	3

* 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

Grade 9 12

Grade 10 14

Grade 11 6

Grade 12 5

Ungraded 1