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Very Good

#499 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 39% in state

Denison High School

High School · Denison Comm School District

819 N 16th St, Denison, IA 51442

Enrollment

773

Student-Teacher

18:1

Score

7.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#499 of 1,280

In Denison

#3 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 4

Denison Comm School District

Equity

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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Denison High School

7.0/10

High School in Denison · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Denison Middle School

8.5/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Denison Elementary School

4.8/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Denison High School

Denison High School is a public high school in Denison, IA, part of Denison Comm School District. Denison High School serves approximately 773 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 18:1 student-teacher ratio. Denison High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #499 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Denison High School show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts above IA schools
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • IA avg 6.0

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.6Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics7.7Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency70.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency78.6% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+3.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+1.5 pts
Overall Proficiency74% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+11.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile66th
College Readiness8.5Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,865
Chronic Absenteeism28.5%

Denison High School — Students at Denison High School score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

58.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
67.3% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 75.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.2% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
92%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
59%
ELA
69%
2021*
Math
59%
ELA
69%
2022
Math
61%
ELA
71%
2025
Math
70.3%
ELA
78.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.6/10.

How Denison High School Compares

See how Denison High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.0/10
61th percentile in IA
Academic
7.7/10
Very Good
Growth
7.6/10
Very Good
Environment
2.9/10
Needs Improvement
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
58%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
28.5%

Programs & Offerings

Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

819 N 16th St, Denison, IA 51442

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Denison High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove High School (rated 7.8/10, 22.1 miles away, in nearby Ida Grove), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Boyer Valley Middle/High School (rated 7.7/10, 17.4 miles away, in nearby Dunlap), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Westside Junior-Senior High School (rated 7.3/10, 13.1 miles away, in nearby Westside), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Denison, see our Denison schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 22.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Denison Middle School Denison 0.3 mi 8.5
Denison Elementary School Denison 0.7 mi 4.8
Broadway Elementary School Denison 0.8 mi 7.7
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Denison 1.0 mi 6.5
ST ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL Denison 1.0 mi 5.0
Schleswig Middle School Schleswig 10.3 mi 6.4
Schleswig Elementary School Schleswig 10.3 mi 9.0
Boyer Valley Elementary School Dow City 10.1 mi 8.6
Charter Oak-Ute Elementary School Charter Oak 12.7 mi 5.6
Charter Oak-Ute Junior High School Charter Oak 12.7 mi 6.9
Westside Junior-Senior High School Westside 13.1 mi 7.3
Ar-We-Va Elementary Community School Westside 13.1 mi 8.1
Irwin Elementary School Irwin 17.6 mi 8.1
Odebolt Elementary-Odebolt Odebolt 20.0 mi 7.2
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School Odebolt 20.0 mi 7.3
Boyer Valley Middle/High School Dunlap 17.4 mi 7.7
IKM-Manning Middle School Manning 17.3 mi 7.5
IKM-Manning High School Manning 17.3 mi 5.7
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove High School Ida Grove 22.1 mi 7.8
Odebolt Elementary-Ida Grove Ida Grove 22.5 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 51442 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$64,399

Median Home Value

$146,200

Median Rent

$763/mo

Population

9,586

College Educated

18%

Homeownership

75.9%

Avg Commute

14.8 min

Poverty Rate

19.9%

Median Age

36.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Gilbert High School Gilbert, IA 7.1
MOC-Floyd Valley High School Orange City, IA 7.1
Western Dubuque High School Epworth, IA 7.1
Grinnell Community Senior High School Grinnell, IA 7.2
Pella High School Pella, IA 7.2
ADM Senior High School Adel, IA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Denison High School

What grades does Denison High School serve?

Denison High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Denison High School?

Denison High School has an enrollment of approximately 773 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Denison High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Denison High School is 18:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Denison High School rank in IA?

Denison High School ranks #499 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Denison High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Denison High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 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 High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Denison High School has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Denison High School a charter school?

No, Denison High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Denison High School a Title I school?

No, Denison High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Denison High School?

58.3% of students at Denison High 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
773
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
58.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Crawford County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
28.5%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%

District

Denison Comm School District
District Enrollment
2,259
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,865
District Rank
#3 of 4

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