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Excellent

#103 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 8% in state

Denison Middle School

Middle School · Denison Comm School District

1201 North 16th Street, Denison, IA 51442

Enrollment

490

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

8.5

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#103 of 1,280

In Denison

#1 of 4

public schools

In district

#1 of 4

Denison Comm School District

Equity

9.7 / 10

Excellent

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Denison Middle School

8.5/10

Middle School in Denison · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Denison High School

7.0/10

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

Broadway Elementary School

7.7/10

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

About Denison Middle School

Denison Middle School is a public middle school in Denison, IA, part of Denison Comm School District. Denison Middle School serves approximately 490 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Denison Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #103 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Denison Middle School show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.8 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.4Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change+0.23 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.5Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency76.9% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency79.7% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+4.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+6 pts
Overall Proficiency78% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+19.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile77th
Resources & Environment6.9Average25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,865
Chronic Absenteeism13.1%

Denison Middle School — Students at Denison Middle School score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

65.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.4% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 70.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
76.8% (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
70%
ELA
65%
2010
Math
74%
ELA
64%
2011
Math
72%
ELA
60%
2012
Math
76%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
74%
ELA
73%
2014
Math
74%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
73%
ELA
72%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
74%
2017
Math
70%
ELA
74%
2018
Math
69%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
69%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
63%
ELA
70%
2021*
Math
63%
ELA
70%
2022
Math
69%
ELA
72%
2025
Math
76.9%
ELA
79.7%

* 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: 9.4/10.

How Denison Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.5/10
92th percentile in IA
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
9.4/10
Excellent
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
65%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.1%

Programs & Offerings

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

1201 North 16th Street, Denison, IA 51442

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Denison Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. IKM-Manning Middle School (rated 7.5/10, 17.6 miles away, in nearby Manning), with a comparable rating. Another option is Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School (rated 7.3/10, 19.7 miles away, in nearby Odebolt), a more accessible option. Additionally, Charter Oak-Ute Junior High School (rated 6.9/10, 12.5 miles away, in nearby Charter Oak), a more accessible option. For more schools in Denison, see our Denison schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 22.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Denison High School Denison 0.3 mi 7.0
Broadway Elementary School Denison 1.1 mi 7.7
Denison Elementary School Denison 1.1 mi 4.8
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Denison 1.2 mi 6.5
ST ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL Denison 1.3 mi 5.0
Schleswig Middle School Schleswig 9.9 mi 6.4
Schleswig Elementary School Schleswig 9.9 mi 9.0
Boyer Valley Elementary School Dow City 10.3 mi 8.6
Charter Oak-Ute Elementary School Charter Oak 12.5 mi 5.6
Charter Oak-Ute Junior High School Charter Oak 12.5 mi 6.9
Westside Junior-Senior High School Westside 13.2 mi 7.3
Ar-We-Va Elementary Community School Westside 13.2 mi 8.1
Irwin Elementary School Irwin 18.0 mi 8.1
Odebolt Elementary-Odebolt Odebolt 19.7 mi 7.2
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School Odebolt 19.7 mi 7.3
Boyer Valley Middle/High School Dunlap 17.6 mi 7.7
IKM-Manning Middle School Manning 17.6 mi 7.5
IKM-Manning High School Manning 17.6 mi 5.7
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove High School Ida Grove 21.7 mi 7.8
Odebolt Elementary-Ida Grove Ida Grove 22.2 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
Nevada Middle School Nevada, IA 8.5
Susan Clark Junior High Muscatine, IA 8.5
Ballard Middle School Huxley, IA 8.4
Center Point-Urbana Middle School Center Point, IA 8.6
Central DeWitt Intermediate School Dewitt, IA 8.6
Decorah Middle School Decorah, IA 8.6

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 490 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Denison Middle School is 14.8:1. 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 IA?

Denison Middle School ranks #103 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Denison Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Denison Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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?

65.3% 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
8 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
4 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
490
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
65.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Crawford County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.1%

District

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

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