Denton Independent School District (Isd)

The Denton Independent School District (Isd) serves 44 schools, including 26 elementary, 9 middle, 8 high, and 1 alternative school, in a diverse North Texas area where economic backgrounds vary widely, from very low to very high poverty rates across campuses.

The district's standout schools are concentrated in the Lantana area, forming a clear "pocket of excellence." Blanton Elementary is the top performer, ranking in the 94th percentile statewide with test scores 20-30 points above the district average. Harpool Middle follows closely at the 90th percentile, significantly outperforming peers in reading and math. At the high school level, Guyer High School is a clear outlier, ranking in the 68th percentile with a 99.4% graduation rate and strong scores in Biology, English, and U.S. History, while the other three main high schools—Ray Braswell High School, Denton High School, and Ryan High School—cluster in the 38th-44th percentile range. In contrast, schools like Rivera Elementary (10th percentile) and Hodge Elementary (19th percentile) face significant challenges, with critically low proficiency rates in math and science.

A key district-wide issue is a "math problem" in middle schools, where 7th-grade math proficiency rates are alarmingly low—often in the single digits at schools like Strickland Middle (6.76%) and Bettye Myers Middle (4.95%). However, an "Algebra I paradox" exists: middle schools like Crownover Middle (91%) and Harpool Middle (88%) show very high proficiency in Algebra I, suggesting only a select group of accelerated students excel while the general curriculum struggles. The district's overall graduation rate is strong at 97.4%, but per-student spending varies dramatically, from $8,690 at Union Park Elementary to $13,723 at Calhoun Middle, with the alternative Lester Davis school spending $137,277 per student for its specialized programs.