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First Methodist Episcopal Church of PokagonFirst Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon · Photo: Michael Tomko · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Pokagon Township · Dowagiac Union Schools, Cassopolis Public Schools

Pokagon Township’s public schools score below 70% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Pokagon Township’s districts is 19%, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Pokagon Township, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
30%
▼ 15 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
19%
▼ 15 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–74%
▼ 8–12 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.5K
▼ 13% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Dowagiac Union Schools
Students per teacher
16.6
MI 16.5
Schools in town
0
2,603 students on the public path
In brief

Pokagon Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1231 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pokagon Township’s, its schools beat 8%, lower than their 30% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 30% of tested students were proficient in reading and 19% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

70–74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan (the state reports Pokagon Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Dowagiac Union Schools spends $14,458 per student and Cassopolis $15,322, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Pokagon Township’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C: better than 30% of Michigan school districts. Both inputs trail the Michigan average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 30%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1231)Better than 8%
Towns in Cass County (15)Better than 13%
C−C+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,436 test results and a graduating class of 138 could put Pokagon Township anywhere from C− to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Pokagon Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,434 in math, 1,438 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Pokagon Township, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC to C+

Pokagon Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Dowagiac Union Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Cassopolis Public Schools, shared with Calvin, Cassopolis, Jefferson, LaGrange, Penn and Vandalia. Its elementary school is in Cassopolis. Parts of Pokagon Township (19% of its land) are served by Niles instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Pokagon Township

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Dowagiac Union SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 1,815 students, down 13% since 2020–21 · 16.5 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,458MI $16,528 · FY2024
C
Cassopolis Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 853 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 16.9 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$15,322MI $16,528 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Dowagiac Union Schools33%
State average 45.4% · 965 students tested
Math · PK–12, Dowagiac Union Schools21%
State average 33.6% · 961 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Cassopolis Public Schools25%
State average 45.4% · 473 students tested
Math · PK–12, Cassopolis Public Schools14%
State average 33.6% · 473 students tested

Pokagon Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Pokagon Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Pokagon TownshipCDowagiac Union Schools PK–12 · Cassopolis PK–12
DowagiacCDowagiac Union Schools
HowardB−Niles
LaGrangeCCassopolis PK–12 · Dowagiac Union Schools PK–12
Silver CreekCDowagiac Union Schools
BerrienC−Berrien Springs PK–12 · Eau Claire PK–12

3 of the 5 neighbors share Dowagiac Union Schools with Pokagon Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Pokagon Township

9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Pokagon Townshipin other towns
Sam Adams Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cassopolis
C−
368 students16:1Rate it →
Justus Gage Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dowagiac
C
262 students15:1Rate it →
Patrick Hamilton Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Dowagiac
C−
224 students15:1Rate it →
Kincheloe Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Dowagiac
C+
214 students14:1Rate it →
Sister Lakes Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Benton Harbor
C
166 students14:1Rate it →
Dowagiac Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dowagiac
C−
393 students19:1Rate it →
Cassopolis Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cassopolis
D
188 students14:1Rate it →
Union High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dowagiac
C
507 students18:1Rate it →
Cassopolis High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cassopolis
C+
281 students21:1Rate it →

Questions about Pokagon Township’s schools

Are Pokagon Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Pokagon Township children attend score below 70% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 8%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pokagon Township in?

Two districts: Dowagiac Union Schools runs grades PK–12, and Cassopolis Public Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Calvin, Cassopolis, Jefferson, LaGrange, Penn and Vandalia.

Where do Pokagon Township kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Union High School and Cassopolis High School.

What is Pokagon Township’s graduation rate?

70–74% of the class of 2023 in Dowagiac Union Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Pokagon Township spend per student?

$14,458 in Dowagiac Union Schools and $15,322 in Cassopolis Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pokagon Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pokagon Township → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.