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Dension iowaPhoto: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Denison · Denison Community School District

Denison’s public schools score below 59% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Denison, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#84of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
70%
▲ 0 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
66%
▲ 2 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.4K
▼ 2% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.8
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
2,258 students on the public path
In brief

Denison’s schools, in brief

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 70% and math 66% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,411 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Denison Middle School, then Denison High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Rose of Lima School (private) and Zion Lutheran School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Denison’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 41% of Iowa school districts, #84 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores are above the Iowa average; graduation is below it.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 41%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (642)Better than 44%
CB−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,518 test results and a graduating class of 200 could put Denison anywhere from C to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Denison’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,517 in math, 1,518 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–3Denison Elementary SchoolDenison Community School DistrictD−
6–8Denison Middle SchoolDenison Community School DistrictB−
9–12Denison High SchoolDenison Community School DistrictC+

Denison’s public schools are run by Denison Community School District, which also serves Buck Grove, Deloit and Kiron. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

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

Denison Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 2,258 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 14.8 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,411IA $13,713 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading70%
State average 69.7% · 1518 students tested
Math66%
State average 63.8% · 1517 students tested

Denison vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Denison’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
DenisonC+Denison

Every school in Denison

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

District schools in Denisonby address
Denison Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3
D−
691 students12:1Rate it →
Broadway Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 4–5
C+
288 students15:1Rate it →
Denison Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
502 students15:1Rate it →
Denison High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
777 students18:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Rose of Lima School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
126 students21:1Rate it →
Zion Lutheran School
Grades PK–9
Private · Religious
95 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Denison’s schools

Are Denison’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Denison children attend score below 59% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #84 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Denison in?

Denison Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,258 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Denison kids go to high school?

Denison High School, with 777 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Denison’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Denison Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Denison spend per student?

$13,411 in Denison Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Denison?

Yes: St. Rose of Lima School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 126 students) and Zion Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–9, 95 students).

Parents talk

What Denison families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Denison → 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 Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.