Summary:
The five elementary schools (PK-4) in the Denison Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the 32nd percentile statewide, serve between 255 and 508 students each, with a high average of 66.3% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Mayes Elementary stands out as the district's consistent top performer, earning a 3-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 59th-63rd percentile. It significantly outperforms other schools in 4th-grade math and reading, often exceeding state averages, despite having the second-lowest per-student spending ($10,070) and a 67.91% poverty rate. In contrast, Terrell Elementary is the lowest-performing school, with a steep decline from the 29th to the 8th percentile and 0 stars, showing the lowest test scores district-wide. Hyde Park Elementary is the most volatile, making a dramatic recovery from a 2-star to a projected 3-star rating, despite having the highest per-student spending ($13,225) and the lowest poverty rate (51%). Houston Elementary presents an anomaly: despite the highest poverty rate (78.43%) and smallest enrollment, its 3rd-grade math proficiency (61.9%) far exceeds the district (44%) and state (44.88%) averages, though this strength drops sharply in 4th grade.
A key takeaway is that spending does not guarantee performance, as Hyde Park's advantages do not translate to top results, while Mayes succeeds with fewer resources. Reading is a district-wide weakness, with only Mayes (4th grade) and Hyde Park (3rd grade) meeting state averages. The widening gap between Mayes' stability and Terrell's decline is a critical concern, while Houston's 3rd-grade math success suggests targeted interventions could be effective. The average student-teacher ratio is 14.4:1, with Lamar Elementary having the lowest per-student spending ($10,241).
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