Summary:
The four public schools in zip code 79323, serving the town of Denver City, Texas, are all part of the Denver City Independent School District (Isd), which ranks in the 36th percentile statewide. These schools serve approximately 1,474 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, with a significant 61.1% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage across the community.
The standout school for improvement is William G Gravitt J H, which has dramatically risen from a 1-star to a 3-star rating over three years, now outperforming the district average. In contrast, Kelley Elementary is the most challenged, having dropped from a 3-star to a 1-star rating due to steep declines in 3rd-grade reading and math scores. Denver City High School presents a paradox: it boasts a near-perfect 99.1% graduation rate and a 0.0% dropout rate, yet its students score well below state averages on core tests like Algebra I (29.8% proficient vs. 54% statewide). Dodson Pri serves the youngest students (PK-2) and has the highest economic disadvantage rate at 69.5%.
A key takeaway is the "middle school paradox," where Gravitt's rapid improvement contrasts with the declining performance at Kelley Elementary and the stagnant high school, suggesting a successful intervention at the middle school level that is not yet replicated elsewhere. Additionally, Kelley Elementary shows a "5th grade bump," with reading proficiency jumping from 29.3% in 3rd grade to 61.3% in 5th grade, indicating effective remediation in upper grades. The district's high graduation rate despite low test scores suggests a strong focus on student retention, but the sharp academic declines at Kelley Elementary warrant immediate attention to curriculum or staffing changes.
Thank you for your feedback!