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Denison Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

1098^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,216 Florida Middle Schools

Better than 10% of Florida middle schools

Summary

Denison Middle School in Winter Haven, FL, is a public school serving 684 students in grades 6-8 within the Polk district, where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school has faced significant challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 10-17% of Florida middle schools over the past decade, with a current state ranking in the 10th percentile.

The most critical issue at Denison is its alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rate of 38.1% for the 2023-2024 school year, which is dramatically higher than nearby high-performing schools like Union Academy (14.5%) and Berkley Accelerated (17.9%). This rate is more comparable to other struggling schools in the area, such as Westwood Middle School (44.2%). Proficiency in core subjects like English Language Arts and Math is also among the lowest in the region; for example, 6th Grade ELA proficiency is 43%, compared to 69% at the nearby magnet school Jewett Middle Academy Magnet, which is just 1.67 miles away. This proximity creates a stark contrast, suggesting that families seeking better outcomes may be opting out of Denison.

Interestingly, Denison shows a "tale of two schools" in its test scores: while the general student body struggles, a small group of students in advanced courses achieves remarkable results, with 81% proficient in Algebra 1 and 100% in Geometry. The school's per-student spending of $10,243 is higher than that of high-performing peers like Berkley Accelerated ($7,956), indicating that funding is not the primary issue. However, the student-teacher ratio has risen to 24.4, the second-highest among compared schools, which may limit individualized attention. While there has been slight improvement from pandemic-era lows, such as 6th Grade ELA rising from 17% to 43% over three years, the school remains far below district and state averages, with the key to improvement likely lying in addressing its chronic absenteeism crisis.

684

Students ?

24.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,243

Per pupil spending ?

75.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

400 Avenue A SE
Winter Haven, FL 33880

(863) 291-5353

District: Polk

Students who attend Denison Middle School usually attend:

High:

Winter Haven Senior High School

Feeder schools for Denison Middle School:

Elementary:	Elbert Elementary School
	Garden Grove Elementary School
	John Snively Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

39.5%

African American:

38.7%

White:

18.7%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 17th percentile in 2016 → 10th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Florida average (39% vs 61% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school39%

District avg48%

Florida avg61%

1,098^th of 1,216

Florida public middle schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From bottom 17% (2016) to bottom 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Florida Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

20^th of 25Middle Schools in the Polk

61^st of 70Polk among Florida districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Florida percentile	Rating
2026	14.0	1098 of 1216	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.1	1054 of 1205	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.2	1063 of 1196	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.3	1056 of 1177	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.7	1015 of 1148	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.1	1059 of 1136	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	14.4	974 of 1099	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.9	890 of 1035	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.3	873 of 1031	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.2	829 of 997	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	18.6	840 of 999	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	24.8	734 of 956	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.3	696 of 897	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	32.3	640 of 891	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.6	624 of 839	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.0	547 of 780	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	34.0	521 of 740	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	37.5	493 of 736	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	38.4	449 of 675	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	30.0	453 of 602	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Florida (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+44 vs state

Civics89%+12 vs state

Algebra 181%+18 vs state

English Language Arts38%-24 vs state

Science32%-20 vs state

Math31%-28 vs state

1.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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What people are saying

by a parent
Monday, August 8, 2016

I think it's time the Polk County School Board steps up and does something about their troubled schools. Denison is one of the worse and I have the misfortune to be raising three grandchildren who have attended this low grade school. It has effected the boy the most and they don't care. Florida needs to pay closer attention. Denison Middle is ranked 808? How sad for our future leaders. Close Quote

by a student
Wednesday, March 30, 2011

When I went to school there, it was not a safe haven for learning... Bullies ran rampant, and most of the time the students without money were ignored... Close Quote

Schools Near Denison Middle School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				FAST English Language Arts (2026)					FAST Math (2026)			Statewide Science Science (2026)	EOC Algebra 1 (2026)	EOC Geometry (2026)	EOC Biology 1 (2026)	EOC US History (2026)	EOC Civics (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	FAST English Language Arts 6th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 7th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 8th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 9th Grade	FAST English Language Arts 10th Grade	FAST Math 6th Grade	FAST Math 7th Grade	FAST Math 8th Grade	Statewide Science Science 8th Grade	EOC Algebra 1 End of Course	EOC Geometry End of Course	EOC Biology 1 End of Course	EOC US History End of Course	EOC Civics End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Denison Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Avenue A SE	Winter Haven	33880	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 291-5353	684	28	24.4	75.4%	128 (18.7%)	265 (38.7%)	270 (39.5%)	7 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.9%)	14	1098^th of 1216 public middle schools	9.7%		16.1	1054^th of 1205 public middle schools	12.5%	44	43.0	35.0	35.0			34.0	24.0	31.0	32.0	81.0	100.0			89.0	$10,243	$1,529	$8,714
Jewett Middle Academy Magnet	Public, Magnet	6-8	601 Martin Luther King Jr Blv	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 291-5320	566	26	21.7	58.3%	198 (35.0%)	194 (34.3%)	133 (23.5%)	22 (3.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.0%)	62.9	426^th of 1216 public middle schools	65.0%		64.8	391^st of 1205 public middle schools	67.6%	35	69.0	67.0	66.0			65.0	35.0	70.0	64.0	80.0	87.0			99.0	$10,438	$1,224	$9,214
Westwood Middle School	Public	6-8	3520 Avenue J NW	Winter Haven	33881	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5484	712	44	16.1	77.2%	123 (17.3%)	233 (32.7%)	322 (45.2%)	4 (0.6%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.4%)	22	1014^th of 1216 public middle schools	16.6%		19.9	1005^th of 1205 public middle schools	16.6%	9	36.0	32.0	48.0			47.0	16.0	38.0	41.0	84.0	65.0			94.0	$12,030	$1,699	$10,331
Jere L. Stambaugh Middle	Public	6-8	226 Main St N	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 965-5494	1,013	46	22.0	75.8%	369 (36.4%)	196 (19.3%)	405 (40.0%)	7 (0.7%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	31 (3.1%)	22.5	1008^th of 1216 public middle schools	17.1%		19.3	1016^th of 1205 public middle schools	15.7%	8	33.0	42.0	43.0			38.0	47.0	26.0	45.0	79.0	100.0			83.0	$9,690	$1,501	$8,188
Lake Alfred Polytech Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	925 Buena Vista Dr N	Lake Alfred	33850	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 295-5988	734	36	20.3	72.8%	214 (29.2%)	153 (20.8%)	341 (46.5%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	20 (2.7%)	37.5	813^th of 1216 public middle schools	33.1%		33.1	847^th of 1205 public middle schools	29.7%	34	54.0	55.0	48.0			48.0	36.0	64.0	43.0	96.0	95.0			98.0	$10,216	$1,349	$8,867
Discovery Academy Of Lake Alfred	Public, Charter	6-8	1000 Buena Vista Dr N	Lake Alfred	33850	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	Yes	(863) 295-5955	1,039	48	21.6	66.8%	302 (29.1%)	183 (17.6%)	505 (48.6%)	10 (1.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (3.6%)	54.4	553^rd of 1216 public middle schools	54.5%		48.3	615^th of 1205 public middle schools	49.0%	62	68.0	61.0	67.0			50.0	62.0	47.0	56.0	90.0	83.0			84.0	$8,375	$544	$7,830
Dundee Ridge Middle Academy	Public, Magnet	6-8	5555 Lake Trask Rd	Dundee	33838	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 419-3088	725	36	20.1	72.0%	138 (19.0%)	140 (19.3%)	421 (58.1%)	10 (1.4%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	12 (1.7%)	53.9	558^th of 1216 public middle schools	54.1%		51	577^th of 1205 public middle schools	52.1%	19	59.0	62.0	62.0			43.0	63.0	66.0	62.0	89.0	100.0			98.0	$9,865	$1,162	$8,703
Daniel Jenkins Academy Of Technology Middle School	Public, Magnet	6-8	701 Ledwith Ave	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	Yes	No	Yes	(863) 421-3267	506	25	20.2	72.5%	39 (7.7%)	162 (32.0%)	292 (57.7%)	4 (0.8%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	55.3	538^th of 1216 public middle schools	55.8%		52.4	557^th of 1205 public middle schools	53.8%	19	64.0	65.0	64.0			59.0	45.0	57.0	59.0	76.0	94.0			100.0	$10,514	$1,479	$9,034
Shelley S. Boone Middle School	Public	6-8	225 22nd St S	Haines City	33844	Polk County	Polk	No	No	No	Yes	(863) 421-3302	1,329	50	26.5	64.7%	149 (11.2%)	372 (28.0%)	773 (58.2%)	14 (1.1%)	2 (0.2%)	7 (0.5%)	12 (0.9%)	12.2	1109^th of 1216 public middle schools	8.8%		12	1095^th of 1205 public middle schools	9.1%	14	36.0	38.0	35.0			35.0	27.0	24.0	28.0	80.0	82.0			78.0	$8,790	$1,170	$7,619
Berkley Accelerated	Public, Charter	6-10	5316 Berkley Rd	Auburndale	33823	Polk County	Polk	Yes	No	No	No	(863) 984-2400	622	31	20.0	30.7%	421 (67.7%)	30 (4.8%)	145 (23.3%)	9 (1.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.3%)	71.1	315^th of 1216 public middle schools	74.1%		73.2	290^th of 1205 public middle schools	75.9%	25	82.0	81.0	67.0	78.0	79.0	85.0	85.0	33.0	27.0	88.0	81.0	92.0	93.0	90.0	$7,956	$318	$7,638

Frequently Asked Questions about Denison Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Denison Middle School?

Students at Denison Middle School are 39% Hispanic, 39% African American, 19% White, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Denison Middle School in?

Polk

Is Denison Middle School a good school?

Denison Middle School ranks in the bottom 9.7% of Florida middle schools.

How many students attend Denison Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 684 students attended Denison Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Denison Middle School attend?

Students who attend Denison Middle School usually go on to attend Winter Haven Senior High School

Rate Denison Middle School!

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Latest Florida data All new data »

2025–26 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataMar 20, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 13, 2026

2024–25 EOC, FAST & Statewide Science test scoresJun 26, 2025

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