Summary:
In zip code 33880, there is one middle school, Denison Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Winter Haven, Florida, as part of the Polk district.
Denison Middle School presents a striking contrast in performance. On one hand, it is a standout for its advanced students, with 100% proficiency in Geometry and 89% in Civics End-of-Course exams, far exceeding state averages. On the other hand, the majority of students struggle in core subjects, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (35-43%) and Math (24-34%) well below the state average of about 60%. The school serves a high-needs population, with 75.44% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and a chronic absenteeism rate of 38.1%, which is higher than the state average of 31.4%.
Key metrics show a high student-teacher ratio of 24.4:1 and per-student spending of $10,243. While the school has shown year-over-year improvement in advanced courses, core subject proficiency has remained stagnant. The school's state ranking has consistently been in the 10th-13th percentile over the last three years, with a 0 or 1-star rating. The primary challenge for Denison Middle School is to replicate the success of its advanced programs for all students, particularly in addressing the root causes of low proficiency and high absenteeism.
Thank you for your feedback!