Best Public Schools in Denison, TX

The city of Denison, Texas, is served by 12 schools across two districts, primarily the Denison Independent School District (Isd), which educates roughly 5,141 students from elementary through high school, with a smaller subset of schools falling under the Sherman Independent School District (Isd).

For parents, the standout performer is Denison High School, which boasts a strong 97.3% graduation rate and a low 0.8% dropout rate, with Biology scores exceeding state averages. In contrast, alternative schools like Pathways High School and Jefferson Learning Center face significant challenges, with very low test scores and high dropout rates. Among elementary schools, Mayes Elementary is a consistent top performer, while Terrell Elementary has seen a steep decline to a 0-star rating. A notable paradox is that Pathways High School spends an extraordinary $47,925 per student—over four times the district average—yet has the worst academic outcomes, while Mayes Elementary spends the least ($10,070) and achieves strong results.

Interesting findings include the "Algebra I Anomaly" at Henry Scott Middle, where students taking the Algebra I exam achieve an 81.18% proficiency rate, far exceeding state averages, despite the school struggling in other subjects. Additionally, Cooke/Fannin/Grayson County Juvenile Post Ajud Facility shows surprising strength in U.S. History (75% proficient) and English II Reading (71.43% proficient), both exceeding state averages. Overall, while the Denison Independent School District (Isd) ranks in the bottom third of Texas districts, Denison High School remains a bright spot with consistent improvement, and elementary schools like Hyde Park Elementary show promising turnarounds.