Denison Comm School District

819 N 16th St
Denison, IA 51442
(District boundaries shown in map)
5/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Denison Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 public schools serving 2,258 students in Denison Comm School District. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.
Public Schools in Denison Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the Iowa public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
4 Schools
1,322 Schools
# Students
2,258 Students
497,791 Students
# Teachers
153 Teachers
35,023 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Denison Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 87% has increased from 85-89% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#176 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
73%
68%
70%
70%
64%
63%
87%
87.5%
(2022-23)
19.6%
24.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.50
0.48
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
3%
% Hispanic
66%
14%
% Black
3%
7%
% White
27%
70%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
1%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,628 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,179. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,326 is less than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$33 MM
$9,049 MM
Spending
$32 MM
$9,021 MM
Revenue / Student
$14,628
$18,179
Spending / Student
$14,326
$18,122

Best Denison Comm School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Denison Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1201 North 16th Street
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-9393
Gr: 6-8 | 502 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #22.
Denison High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
819 N 16th St
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3101
Gr: 9-12 | 777 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #33.
Broadway Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1515 Broadway
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3103
Gr: 4-5 | 288 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #44.
Denison Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
38 N 20th St
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3104
Gr: PK-3 | 691 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 75%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Denison Comm School District?
Denison Comm School District manages 4 public schools serving 2,258 students.
What is the rank of Denison Comm School District?
Denison Comm School District is ranked #184 out of 325 school districts in Iowa (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Iowa school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Denison Comm School District?
66% of Denison Comm School District students are Hispanic, 27% of students are White, 3% of students are Asian, 3% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Denison Comm School District?
Denison Comm School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.
What is Denison Comm School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $14,326 is less than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,258 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 73%
  • : 87% (Top 20% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 73% (Top 50%)
  • : 70% (Btm 50%)
  • : 64% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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