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Denison High School

Summary:

Denison High School is a public high school serving 786 students in grades 9-12 in Denison, Iowa. The school is part of the Denison Community School District, which is ranked 161 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Denison High School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science for all grade levels, suggesting the school is providing a strong academic foundation for its students. However, the school has a high percentage of students (58.78% in 2022-2023) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families. Despite this, Denison High School's spending per student ($12,297 in 2018-2019) is lower than the nearby IKM-Manning Community School District, Boyer Valley Community School District, and Ar-We-Va Community School District, which range from $14,318 to $20,284 per student.

Denison High School's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, with a decline from a high of 121 out of 320 Iowa high schools in 2015-2016 to a low of 225 out of 327 in 2020-2021. Understanding the reasons behind this trend and the school's efforts to address it would be an important area of focus. Additionally, the school's high percentage of Hispanic students (61.83%) compared to the nearby schools, which have predominantly white student populations, highlights the need to ensure equitable educational opportunities and support for this diverse student body.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 819 N 16th St
       Denison, IA  51442

(712) 263-3101

District: Denison Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
149th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,297 Help


Feeder schools for Denison High School:

Elementary:    Broadway Elementary School
    Denison Elementary School
Middle:    Denison Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  17.6 Help
Number of students:  786

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
61.8%
White:
32.4%
African American:
2.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  58.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Denison High School ranks better than 55.9% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 59.73. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (61.8%), White (32.4%), African American (2.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 58.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Denison High School is 17.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Denison High School employs 44.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Denison High School is $12,297.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Denison High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Denison High School 149th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Denison High School in the ranking list.)

Denison Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Denison Community School District 161st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Denison High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 42.40 247th 351 29.6%
2013 28.47 306th 351 12.8%
2014 56.80 156th 322 51.6%
2015 37.39 241st 324 25.6%
2016 62.61 121st 320 62.2%
2017 51.82 188th 325 42.2%
2018 44.73 219th 320 31.6%
2019 49.04 185th 327 43.4%
2021 40.51 225th 327 31.2%
2022 51.30 175th 332 47.3%
2023 65.18 108th 336 67.9%
2024 59.73 149th 338 55.9%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Denison High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Denison High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 572 3 14 9 0 n/a n/a 0 598
1989 553 2 12 8 0 n/a n/a 0 575
1990 531 4 11 3 0 n/a n/a 0 549
1991 518 4 13 4 1 n/a n/a 0 540
1992 520 2 16 3 4 n/a n/a 0 545
1993 551 2 14 1 5 n/a n/a 0 573
1994 586 2 13 5 1 n/a n/a 0 607
1995 665 2 7 5 0 n/a n/a 0 679
1996 665 2 7 5 0 n/a n/a 0 679
1997 614 1 10 11 0 n/a n/a 0 636
1998 634 2 10 13 1 n/a n/a 0 660
1999 618 0 6 11 0 n/a n/a 0 635
2000 600 0 15 33 2 n/a n/a 0 650
2001 603 0 11 29 0 n/a n/a 0 643
2002 582 2 11 89 3 n/a n/a 0 687
2003 582 2 11 89 3 n/a n/a 0 687
2004 561 5 14 111 3 n/a n/a 0 694
2005 530 5 11 148 4 n/a n/a 0 698
2006 506 6 13 170 5 n/a n/a 0 700
2007 481 5 14 203 3 n/a n/a 0 706
2008 437 3 11 207 6 n/a n/a 0 664
2009 435 4 10 222 6 n/a n/a 0 677
2010 411 7 9 250 3 0 0 0 680
2011 376 10 11 291 2 0 1 0 691
2012 397 11 14 317 1 0 1 0 741
2013 382 8 15 361 1 0 6 0 773
2014 343 8 17 338 3 0 3 0 712
2015 336 11 16 341 3 0 5 0 712
2016 303 17 9 359 2 0 4 0 694
2017 287 21 11 380 0 0 7 0 706
2018 294 31 9 399 1 0 4 0 738
2019 289 36 10 434 0 0 3 0 772
2020 275 20 8 473 2 0 2 0 780
2021 286 27 10 455 4 0 1 0 783
2022 260 21 11 490 2 0 5 0 789
2023 255 21 15 486 2 0 7 0 786

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Denison High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 598 34.6 17.2 12.4
1989 575 34.7 16.5 12.9
1990 549 33.7 16.2 12.8
1991 540 32.7 16.5 11.9
1992 545 36.0 15.1 12.8
1993 573 34.7 16.5 13.8
1994 607 34.0 17.9 14.7
1995 679 44.0 15.4 14.6
1996 679 44.0 15.4 14.6
1997 636 44.1 14.4 17.9
1998 660 42.9 15.4 20
1999 635 43.2 14.7 26.8
2000 650 41.5 15.7 28.2
2001 643 38.3 16.8 26.3
2002 687 48.2 14.3 33.3
2003 687 48.2 14.3 33.3
2004 694 48.2 14.4 39.5
2005 698 45.5 15.3 44.3
2006 700 44.0 15.9 40.1
2007 706 43.2 16.3 44.9
2008 664 42.8 15.5 47.6
2009 677 40.4 16.8 49.5
2010 680 43.5 15.6 52.6
2011 691 39.4 17.5 55.6
2012 741 42.5 17.4 57.6
2013 773 44.1 17.5 59.4
2014 712 46.0 15.4 62.4
2015 712 46.0 15.4 60.8
2016 694 44.0 15.7 64.7
2017 706 42.1 16.7 65.7
2018 738 41.7 17.6 64.9
2019 772 43.2 17.8 67.2
2020 780 42.9 18.1 68.2
2021 783 46.9 16.6 67.9
2022 789 45.0 17.5 50.6
2023 786 44.6 17.6 58.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Denison High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 598 34.6 17.2 12.4
1989 575 34.7 16.5 12.9
1990 549 33.7 16.2 12.8
1991 540 32.7 16.5 11.9
1992 545 36.0 15.1 12.8
1993 573 34.7 16.5 13.8
1994 607 34.0 17.9 14.7
1995 679 44.0 15.4 14.6
1996 679 44.0 15.4 14.6
1997 636 44.1 14.4 17.9
1998 660 42.9 15.4 20
1999 635 43.2 14.7 26.8
2000 650 41.5 15.7 28.2
2001 643 38.3 16.8 26.3
2002 687 48.2 14.3 33.3
2003 687 48.2 14.3 33.3
2004 694 48.2 14.4 39.5
2005 698 45.5 15.3 44.3
2006 700 44.0 15.9 40.1
2007 706 43.2 16.3 44.9
2008 664 42.8 15.5 47.6
2009 677 40.4 16.8 49.5
2010 680 43.5 15.6 52.6
2011 691 39.4 17.5 55.6
2012 741 42.5 17.4 57.6
2013 773 44.1 17.5 59.4
2014 712 46.0 15.4 62.4
2015 712 46.0 15.4 60.8
2016 694 44.0 15.7 64.7
2017 706 42.1 16.7 65.7
2018 738 41.7 17.6 64.9
2019 772 43.2 17.8 67.2
2020 780 42.9 18.1 68.2
2021 783 46.9 16.6 67.9
2022 789 45.0 17.5 50.6
2023 786 44.6 17.6 58.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Denison High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $313 (2.5%) $11,984 (97.5%) $12,297

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Denison High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 185th of 327 High schoolsRanks 108th of 336 High schools
 24.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Denison High School)76.483.2
 6.8%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Denison Community School District)76.783.2
 6.5%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)74.372.9
 1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Denison High School)69.174.1
 5%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Denison Community School District)68.474.1
 5.7%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)67.167
 0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Denison High School)70.272.4
 2.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Denison Community School District)69.372.4
 3.1%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)71.468.7
 2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Denison High School)63.373.5
 10.2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Denison Community School District)62.573.5
 11%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)66.967.3
 0.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students772786
 1.8%
African American3621
 41.7%
American Indian02
Asian1015
 50%
Hispanic434486
 12%
Pacific Islander00
White289255
 11.8%
Two or More Races37
 133.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients67.2%58.8%
 8.4%

Schools Near Denison High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Denison High School

Denison High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Broadway Elementary School
Elementary : Denison Elementary School
Middle : Denison Middle School

Students at Denison High School are 62% Hispanic, 32% White, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

Denison High School ranks 149th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 786 students attended Denison High School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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