Total enrollment
6,258
-923 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
Cass County
Michigan · Public K-12
Cass County's public schools total 23 across the county, with enrollment of about 6,258 and Edwardsburg Public Schools the largest single district. By grade band, the county runs 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 8 high schools.
7-year change in Cass County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
23
+2 (+10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
75%
was 76%
% Hispanic
9%
was 8%
% Black
5%
was 6%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
23
6 districts
Enrollment
6,258
NCES CCD
Median income
$70,443
Above Michigan avg
Free/reduced lunch
53.9%
Above Michigan avg
Elementary
9
2,949 students
Middle
4
1,329 students
High
8
1,872 students
Combined / other
2
108 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Edwardsburg Public Schools
2,519 students · 6 districts in Cass County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Cass County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
21.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.0%
civilian labor
Median age
46
20.2% under 18
Test scores in Cass County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. Michigan state average: 47.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Edwardsburg Middle School· 57.9%
- Edwardsburg Intermediate School· 57.1%
- Eagle Lake Elementary School· 53.4%
- Marcellus Middle School· 52.6%
- Marcellus Elementary School· 47.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Cassopolis Middle School· 17.2%
- Patrick Hamilton Elementary· 28.9%
- Dowagiac Middle School· 33.5%
- Sam Adams Elementary School· 35.6%
- Kincheloe Elementary School· 45.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwardsburg High School | Edwardsburg | High | 09-12 | 773 | · |
| Edwardsburg Middle School | Edwardsburg | Middle | 06-08 | 612 | · |
| HowardEllis Elementary School | Niles | Elementary | KG-05 | 529 | · |
| Union High School | Dowagiac | High | 09-12 | 507 | · |
| Dowagiac Middle School | Dowagiac | Middle | 06-08 | 393 | · |
| Eagle Lake Elementary School | Edwardsburg | Elementary | 02-03 | 385 | · |
| Sam Adams Elementary School | Cassopolis | Elementary | PK-05 | 368 | · |
| Edwardsburg Intermediate School | Edwardsburg | Elementary | 04-05 | 361 | · |
| Edwardsburg Primary School | Edwardsburg | Elementary | KG-01 | 342 | · |
| Cassopolis High School | Cassopolis | High | 09-12 | 281 | · |
| Marcellus Elementary School | Marcellus | Elementary | PK-05 | 264 | · |
| Justus Gage Elementary School | Dowagiac | Elementary | PK-05 | 262 | · |
| Patrick Hamilton Elementary | Dowagiac | Elementary | KG-05 | 224 | · |
| Kincheloe Elementary School | Dowagiac | Elementary | KG-05 | 214 | · |
| Cassopolis Middle School | Cassopolis | Middle | 06-08 | 188 | · |
| Marcellus High School | Marcellus | High | 09-12 | 160 | · |
| Marcellus Middle School | Marcellus | Middle | 06-08 | 136 | · |
| Brookside Learning Center | Cassopolis | Combined | PK-12 | 64 | · |
| Pathfinders Alternative Ed | Dowagiac | High | 06-12 | 49 | · |
| Edwardsburg Alternative Learning Center | Edwardsburg | High | 09-12 | 46 | · |
| North Pointe Center | Dowagiac | Combined | KG-12 | 44 | · |
| Volinia Outcome Base School | Decatur | High | 07-12 | 40 | · |
| Cassopolis Alternative Ed | Cassopolis | High | 09-12 | 16 | · |
Cities in Cass County
About Cass County
Across the sparse Michigan county of Cass County of about 51,520 residents, the public-school footprint covers 23 schools and about 6,258 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $70,443, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 7% higher than the Michigan median.
In terms of grade levels, Cass County spans 9 elementary schools (2,949 students), 4 middle schools (1,329), 8 high schools (1,872), and 2 combined or other schools.
Edwardsburg Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,519 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Cass County has contracted 13% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 7,181 students to 6,258. Over that span, Cass County opened 2 schools, going from 21 to 23.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Cass County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Cass County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data