Best Schools in Denton, Texas
35 schools · 18 Elementary · 3 Middle · 7 High · 7 Other
Choosing a school in Denton?
Use this page to compare every school in Denton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ryan EL
Elementary · Denton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Guyer H S
High · Denton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Nette Shultz
Elementary · Denton ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Denton for 2026 are Ryan EL (8.6/10), Guyer H S (8.3/10), and Nette Shultz (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 27 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
35
30 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$312,467
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
35
30 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.7
out of 10
Median Home
$312,467
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 91% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Denton schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +7.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Denton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Denton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (27 of 35). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan EL | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Guyer H S | 8.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Nette Shultz | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | North Texas Collegiate Academy-north Campus | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Mcnair EL | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Immaculate Conception Catholic School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Pecan Creek EL | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Denton H S | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Houston EL | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Ryan H S | 6.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $76,728
- Median home value
- $312,467
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Denton compares
Texas rank
#486 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$77k
103% of Texas median
Schools in this city
30
About Schools in Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas offers 27 ranked public schools spread across a meaningful performance range. The city-wide average of 6.3 out of 10 is a useful baseline, but it obscures real variation across campuses. Seven schools, representing 26% of the ranked pool, score 7.0 or above — giving families who do their homework several strong campuses to target.
The highest-rated school in the city is Guyer High School, which earns an 8.7 — the top score across all 27 ranked schools. Denton High School follows at 8.6, giving families two high school options in the 8.5-plus range. Strong results aren't confined to secondary campuses: Ryan Elementary also scores 8.6, matching Denton High, while Nette Shultz Elementary comes in at 8.4. North Texas Collegiate Academy-North Campus, an elementary-level school, rounds out the top five at 7.9.
The 2.4-point gap between the city average (6.3) and the top score (8.7) tells parents something concrete: Denton rewards intentional school selection. Where you live determines which campuses your children can attend, and the difference between a median campus and one of the city's top five is significant. High scores appear at both the elementary and high school levels, which means parents should trace the full feeder path — the campuses in between matter as much as the endpoints.
For families evaluating Denton, start with Guyer High School and Ryan Elementary as reference points, then work backward through feeder patterns to understand which neighborhoods put students on that track. With 26% of ranked schools scoring 7.0 or above, the city has real options at the top end — but they're concentrated on specific campuses, not spread evenly across the city. Mapping school zone boundaries before committing to a neighborhood is the highest-leverage move a family can make here.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 678 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 704 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 224 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 567 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 647 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 527 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 7 | 524 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 606 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 |
| 9 | 689 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 10 | 270 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.1 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Denton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 738 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 2 | 782 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 3 | 962 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,570 students · 9th–12th | 8.3 |
| 2 | 2,054 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 2,156 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 4 | 62 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 181 students · 11th–12th | 5.5 |
| 6 | 72 students · 5th–12th | 4.2 |
| 7 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112 students · 2nd–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 2 | 265 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.9 | ||
| 3 | 304 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.7 | ||
| 4 | 20 students · 3rd–12th | — | ||
| 5 | 2 students · 10th–11th | — | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Koan School
Private
125 students · Pre-K–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 2 | Denton Calvary Academy
Private
221 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.7 | ||
Schools in Denton
Denton, Texas · 35 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$76,728
Median Home Value
$312,467
Median Rent
$1,480/mo
Population
169,570
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
51%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
15.5%
Community Profile
Denton has a median household income of $76,728. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $312,467, with a median rent of $1,480/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.5%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 7
- Other
- 7
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Denton, Texas
How many schools are in Denton, Texas?
Denton has 35 schools, including 30 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Denton, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Denton is 5.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Denton, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Denton on MySchoolScout is Ryan EL with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Denton, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Denton on MySchoolScout is Ryan EL with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Denton, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Denton on MySchoolScout is Calhoun Middle with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Denton, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Denton on MySchoolScout is Guyer H S with a composite score of 8.3/10.
How many school districts serve Denton, Texas?
Denton is served by 4 school districts: North Texas Collegiate Academy, Ki Charter, Carrollton-farmers Branch ISD, Denton ISD.
What is the education level in Denton, Texas?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Denton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Denton, Texas?
The median household income in Denton is approximately $76,728 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Denton, Texas?
Yes, Denton has 5 private schools alongside 30 public schools. The top-rated private school is Immaculate Conception Catholic School with a score of 7.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Denton, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Denton is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Denton, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Public Schools in Texas 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
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- Best Schools in Austin, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Dallas, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in Fort Worth, TX — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.