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Schools in Wayne Township · Dowagiac Union Schools, Decatur Public Schools

Wayne Township’s public schools score below 65% of Michigan districts on tests and graduation

22% of students in Wayne Township’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Wayne 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 98% 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
34%
▼ 11 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
22%
▼ 12 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
16.8
MI 16.5
Schools in town
1
1,006 students on the public path
In brief

Wayne Township’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1130 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Wayne Township’s, its schools beat 17%, lower than their 35% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 22% in math, against 45% and 34% statewide; 98% 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 Wayne Township’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Dowagiac Union Schools spends $14,458 per student and Decatur $14,149, 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 Wayne Township’s grade

C Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 35% 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 35%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1130)Better than 17%
Towns in Cass County (15)Better than 40%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,332 test results and a graduating class of 138 could put Wayne Township anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Wayne Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,330 in math, 1,334 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Kincheloe Elementary SchoolDowagiac Union SchoolsC+
6–122 schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C

Wayne Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Dowagiac Union Schools). From grade K, students attend the Decatur Public Schools, shared with Decatur, Decatur and Hamilton. Its school is in Decatur. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Wayne 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
Decatur Public SchoolsGrades K–12 · 2 schools · 755 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,149MI $16,528 · FY2024
B−
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 · K–12, Decatur Public Schools37%
State average 45.4% · 369 students tested
Math · K–12, Decatur Public Schools24%
State average 33.6% · 369 students tested

Wayne Township vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Wayne TownshipC+Dowagiac Union Schools PK–12 · Decatur K–12
DowagiacCDowagiac Union Schools
HamiltonB−Decatur
LaGrangeCCassopolis PK–12 · Dowagiac Union Schools PK–12
VoliniaBMarcellus

2 of the 4 neighbors share Dowagiac Union Schools with Wayne Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Wayne Township

3 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).

District schools in Wayne Townshipby address
Kincheloe Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Dowagiac
C+
214 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Wayne Townshipin other towns
Decatur Jr Sr High School
High · Grades 6–12 · Decatur
C
399 students20:1Rate it →
Dowagiac Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dowagiac
C−
393 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about Wayne Township’s schools

Are Wayne Township’s schools good?

On Michigan’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Wayne Township children attend score below 65% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 17%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Wayne Township in?

Two districts: Dowagiac Union Schools runs grades PK–12, and Decatur Public Schools runs grades K–12, shared with Decatur, Decatur and Hamilton.

What is Wayne 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 Wayne Township spend per student?

$14,458 in Dowagiac Union Schools and $14,149 in Decatur Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Wayne Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Wayne 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.