Needs Improvement
#3662 of 3,778 schools in FL
Denison Middle School
Middle School · Polk · Winter Haven, FL
A Polk middle school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.
400 AVENUE A SE, Winter Haven, FL 33880
- Math 25% vs FL 53% (2024)
- Reading 25% vs FL 52% (2024)
- 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Denison Middle School score 25% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2024 FAST proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 24 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 25% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 31% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
77%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Denison Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 43Car-Dependent
- Bike 61Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,786/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Winter Haven), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$56,803
Median home value
$200,900
Median rent
$1,128/mo
College educated
17.3%
Homeownership
65.8%
Poverty rate
18.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 33880; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future Scholars Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.9private | K–10 | 0.2 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Future Scholars Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | K–9 | 0.2 mi | 37 | Compare → |
| Language & Literacy Academy for LearningCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.4 | PK–12 | 0.2 mi | 341 | Compare → |
| Valor Christian Leadership AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | K–12 | 1.4 mi | 56 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Polk
- Schools in district
- 167
- Rank in district
- #143 of 155
- District spending per student
- $11,242NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Denison Middle School is listed in POLK; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Denison Middle School
Denison Middle School is a public middle school in Winter Haven, FL, part of Polk, serving approximately 729 students in grades 6th-8th with a 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #3,662 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Denison Middle School
What grades does Denison Middle School serve?
Denison Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Denison Middle School?
Denison Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 729 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Denison Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Denison Middle School is 21.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Denison Middle School rank in FL?
Denison Middle School ranks #3,662 of 3,778 schools in FL.
What is Denison Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Denison Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Denison Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Denison Middle School has 31% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 35% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Denison Middle School a charter school?
No, Denison Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Denison Middle School a Title I school?
No, Denison Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Denison Middle School?
77.0% of students at Denison Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 729
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 52.0%
- Phone
- (863) 291-5353
- Area population (ZIP 33880)
- 42,336
- Area average commute
- 26.8 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 33880; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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