Justus Gage Elementary School in Dowagiac, Michigan on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Justus Gage Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":48.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8022592,"projectId":8637615,"letterContent":"We are so excited and filled with gratitude for your generous donations to our classroom. The children use the dry erase boards and writing tools daily to improve their skills and build their confidence.\r\n\r\nThe room was filled with excitement when the boxes arrived. We opened them together with anticipation. One child exclaimed, \" It feels like Christmas!\" Once they were free from the boxes they immediately began exploring the boards and markers. \r\n\r\nThey are now used as part of our daily writing time routine. They have truly amazed me with their interest and passion for writing and drawing. So much growth has happened in just a few short months!\r\n\r\nThank you again from the bottom of our hearts!","fullyFundedDate":1733268594914,"projectUrl":"project/ready-to-write/8637615/","projectTitle":"Ready to Write!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Debbie","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8022592_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1661271983753","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8022592"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_66844","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":262,"numTeachers":17,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":8,"percentWhite":69,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":51.6,"schoolId":66844,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Justus Gage Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Justus Gage Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/dowagiac-union-school-district/justus-gage-elementary-school/66844"}

About this school

Justus Gage Elementary School is a town public school in Dowagiac, Michigan that is part of Dowagiac Union School District. It serves 262 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.4:1. Its teachers have had 14 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

262 Students

17 Teachers

301 Oak St

Dowagiac, MI 49047 View local requests

http://www.dowagiacschools.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Justus Gage Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Brooke

Ms. Debbie

Mrs. Roach

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Justus Gage Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

23%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Justus Gage Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.