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GreatSchools Rating

Duncanville High School

Public | 9-12 | 3884 students

 
 
Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 3 ratings
2012:
Based on 4 ratings
2011:
Based on 1 rating
2010:
Based on 3 ratings

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52 reviews of this school


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Posted April 29, 2013

I have a friend who lives in Grand Prairie but sends her kids to Arlington schools. She pays a fee that is not much. We live in Duncanville and would like to send our kids to another school district like Mansfield or Arlington. Does anyone have any information on this?
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 25, 2013

I don't know what is going on with Duncanville HS now, but my son graduated in 2009 and went on to Texas A&M University. He will graduate in December 2013. He loved Duncanville HS and I always had a great rapport with his teachers. We moved to Texas from New York, it was a big adjustment but he adapted well, thanks to the curriculum at Duncanville HS.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 7, 2013

My stepson attends this school, he is currently a sophomore and I feel he is not being challenged at all. There are times that he will not have any homework for days. The assignments that he brings home from the teachers often contains grammatical errors and misspelled words, is this the material that the teachers are using to teach their students? The school is extremely over crowded, which makes for overcrowded classrooms. I will be looking to take my child out of this school as soon as he is finished with the 10th grade!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted August 30, 2012

Because of all the students transferring to Duncanville High this new yr school semester creating overcrowded students in classes. A new school being built would be highly recommended in the near future.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted August 25, 2012

This school is disappointing. No one answers their phones not even the principal. They don`t call back either. I left a message and sent an email to one of the teachers and they didn`t call back or answer to my emails. I went in person to see if they were available. They were not there and not even the counsler could help me. It is so frustrating to get a hold of someone. My son wanted a school map so I called asking if they could fax me school map. They refused to send me any. I am so displeased with this school. The staff is lazy and refuse to help you when you need to get a hold of someone.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted March 9, 2012

In may my daughter will graduate and i think all have done a wonderful job... some of the kids are just bad... if u check on your kids you find out things you did not know...go duncanville high.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 17, 2012

This school is the worst school I have ever had to deal with in the last 21 years. I have dealt with schools from a few different states and even schools within the same state, and I have never had as many problems with a school as I have with this school. The counselors don't return your calls, the principles don't return calls nor do the superintendent return calls. When I was in the process of relocating my realtor stated that duncanville isd was the "best" isd in the Dallas area, if this is the best I would hate to see the worst.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted October 15, 2011

My older son graduated from DHS in 2010 and is majoring in physics and chemistry at University of Texas. He was very well-prepared for college. My younger son will graduate this year and plans to follow the path found in Career and Technology classes. He has found his passion in life and is developing habits to succeed. I am very happy with what this school offers.
—Submitted by Trisha, a parent


Posted August 1, 2010

Not everyone ia AP program material. Students who are NOT in AP programs are discriminated against. I have found the parents of AP students to be very snobbish!!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 12, 2010

This school prepared my daughter for college. The attention to academics (not just sports) is excellent.


Posted May 26, 2010

Duncanville's AP program is one of the best program's in the district. We've had students accepted to Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and etc. I'm lucky to have been affiliated with these gifted and motivated students
—Submitted by a student


Posted October 20, 2009

I'm a former student of Duncanville and I have to say I loved it. I moved to the Houston area after graduation and when I hear horror stories and how much other people hated high school, I am saddened. High school was wonderful and I am glad I spent my forming years at DHS. GO PANTHERS!


Posted September 16, 2009

The teachers at this school are amazing they really care about their students.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 16, 2009

DHSis awesome, I went there for 2 years. it is clean, safe, and has good academics.
—Submitted by a student


Posted November 11, 2008

My child recently graduated Duncanville High school. He attended K-12 in Duncanville. The High School has some real problems. There is no accountability within the administration or the staff, there are a few good teachers but most are seriously lacking. The security there is a joke. 4K students under one roof and no one is in control. DHS is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. The staff and administration discourage parental involvement. And no one there has the time to deal with any issues. It's a joke. They barely have an 'acceptable' rating.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 7, 2008

My daughter graduated from DHS in 2005. I know it was a great experience for her. Moving from NC to Texas twice I think that the is was a true blessing. She learned more and was exposed to a lot of different things. DHS is an awesome school, keep up the good work.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted January 23, 2008

I'm an alumni of DHS and I think it's an awesome school. I learned so much from my teachers and peers. The diversity of the students prepares you for the real world. The teachers sincerely care about their students, and there's so many extracurricular activities that leaves no one out. There's a niche for everyone.


Posted January 15, 2008

I am an alumni of Duncaville H.S. I think it is a great school. It has an awesome curriculum, I didn't think that when I was in school. However now I really appreciate and am grateful for all the wonderful teachers at D'ville High. They do a great job at preparing the students for the 'Real World'. Keep up the great world.


Posted January 6, 2008

my child is in band, and has been for 5 years previously. she loves it, despite the rigorous program. It encourages working as a team, and excells in musicality, and marching. The concerts are wonderful, and we have enjoyed all of them. the students are challenged to do well, and private teaching is expected for the most part. As for the academics, they seem to be good. My child has some AP and some regular classes. In general, she has found that the aP classes are better, because of better behavior, and the more intense work. As long as the student is prepared to work hard, I believe that they can do well at DHS. As for extracurricular activities, there are many clubs, and many organizations to be involved in: athletics, languages, and others. I have heard that choir is also excellent.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 9, 2007

Duncanville High School is an amazing school. The athletics have been stellar for decades, the band is top-notch, and the pre-professional courses are numerous. There is something for everyone at DHS. Culinary Arts, Drafting, Auto Mechanics, Cosmetics, Hotel and Restaurant Management; the list goes on and on. The academic offerings are great as well. AP and Pre-AP classes have prepared me well. The one 'regular' class I took was not bad either, and that teacher had achieved a perfect score on his SAT. The school is very diverse, and white people are a minority. The dress code is a pain, but in the long run, it doesn't matter what miserable clothing you had to wear in high school. One student in my class achieved a perfect score on his ACT; several students were national merit scholars. The facilities are new and there is something for everyone at DHS.
—Submitted by a student


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
Math

The state average for Math was 70% in 2011.

1003 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
55%

2010

 
 
58%

2009

 
 
55%

2008

 
 
56%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 89% in 2011.

1007 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
87%

2010

 
 
91%

2009

 
 
84%

2008

 
 
85%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 91% in 2011.

961 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
88%

2010

 
 
85%

2009

 
 
80%

2008

 
 
75%
Math

The state average for Math was 74% in 2011.

934 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
60%

2010

 
 
53%

2009

 
 
46%

2008

 
 
45%
Science

The state average for Science was 76% in 2011.

933 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
59%

2010

 
 
52%

2009

 
 
48%

2008

 
 
47%
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 93% in 2011.

918 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
91%

2010

 
 
85%

2009

 
 
82%

2008

 
 
79%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 95% in 2011.

764 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
95%

2010

 
 
91%

2009

 
 
92%

2008

 
 
88%
Math

The state average for Math was 90% in 2011.

747 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
82%

2010

 
 
80%

2009

 
 
73%

2008

 
 
63%
Science

The state average for Science was 91% in 2011.

760 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
82%

2010

 
 
84%

2009

 
 
76%

2008

 
 
65%
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 99% in 2011.

761 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
97%

2010

 
 
97%

2009

 
 
95%

2008

 
 
93%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Math

All Students55%
Female57%
Male53%
Black or African American50%
Asian91%
Hispanic57%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White75%
Economically disadvantaged52%
Not economically disadvantaged63%
Special education9%
Not special education59%
Limited English proficient (LEP)32%
Proficient in English57%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant55%
Gifted/talented98%

Reading

All Students87%
Female90%
Male84%
Black or African American88%
Asian92%
Hispanic85%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
White94%
Economically disadvantaged85%
Not economically disadvantaged92%
Special education46%
Not special education90%
Limited English proficient (LEP)51%
Proficient in English88%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant87%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

English Language Arts

All Students88%
Female93%
Male84%
Black or African American89%
Asian92%
Hispanic84%
American Indian or Alaska Native91%
White98%
Economically disadvantaged86%
Not economically disadvantaged92%
Special education48%
Not special education91%
Limited English proficient (LEP)56%
Proficient in English90%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant88%
Gifted/talented100%

Math

All Students60%
Female60%
Male61%
Black or African American57%
Asian71%
Hispanic58%
American Indian or Alaska Native45%
White84%
Economically disadvantaged56%
Not economically disadvantaged68%
Special education17%
Not special education64%
Limited English proficient (LEP)35%
Proficient in English62%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant60%
Gifted/talented96%

Science

All Students59%
Female56%
Male63%
Black or African American56%
Asian72%
Hispanic56%
American Indian or Alaska Native73%
White89%
Economically disadvantaged54%
Not economically disadvantaged70%
Special education14%
Not special education63%
Limited English proficient (LEP)19%
Proficient in English61%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant59%
Gifted/talented95%

Social Studies

All Students91%
Female90%
Male91%
Black or African American90%
Asian91%
Hispanic90%
American Indian or Alaska Native91%
White96%
Economically disadvantaged89%
Not economically disadvantaged94%
Special education60%
Not special education93%
Limited English proficient (LEP)59%
Proficient in English92%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant91%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

English Language Arts

All Students95%
Female96%
Male93%
Black or African American96%
Asian96%
Hispanic93%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White98%
Economically disadvantaged94%
Not economically disadvantaged96%
Special education78%
Not special education96%
Limited English proficient (LEP)50%
Proficient in English96%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant95%
Gifted/talented100%

Math

All Students82%
Female80%
Male84%
Black or African American79%
Asian81%
Hispanic83%
American Indian or Alaska Native80%
White95%
Economically disadvantaged81%
Not economically disadvantaged84%
Special education51%
Not special education85%
Limited English proficient (LEP)40%
Proficient in English83%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant82%
Gifted/talented100%

Science

All Students82%
Female80%
Male85%
Black or African American83%
Asian96%
Hispanic78%
American Indian or Alaska Native80%
White93%
Economically disadvantaged79%
Not economically disadvantaged87%
Special education39%
Not special education86%
Limited English proficient (LEP)30%
Proficient in English83%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant82%
Gifted/talented100%

Social Studies

All Students97%
Female97%
Male97%
Black or African American96%
Asian100%
Hispanic97%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White100%
Economically disadvantaged96%
Not economically disadvantaged99%
Special education82%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)85%
Proficient in English98%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant97%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

  • In 2010-2011, this school was rated "Academically Acceptable".
  • In 2009-2010, this school was rated "Academically Acceptable".
  • In 2008-2009, this school was rated "Academically Acceptable".

About the tests


Texas uses Accountability Ratings to indicate the overall performance of each school and district. The ratings are based on TAKS test results, dropout rates for grades 7 and 8 and school completion rates for grades 9 through 12. Schools and districts rated under standard accountability procedures are designated as Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable. Schools and districts rated under alternative education accountability (AEA) procedures are designated as either AEA: Academically Acceptable or AEA: Academically Unacceptable.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 48% 13%
Hispanic 39% 50%
White 9% 31%
Asian 3% 3%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1% 0%
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander 0% 0%
Two or more races 0% 2%
Source: NCES, 2010-2011

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Special education 11%N/A10%
Gifted/talented students 7%N/A8%
Economically disadvantaged 51%N/A55%
Limited English proficient (LEP) 5%N/A17%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 17N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Beginning teachers 1%N/A8%
1 to 5 years 33%N/A30%
6 to 10 years 19%N/A20%
11 to 20 years 23%N/A23%
21 or more years 24%N/A19%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008

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900 W Camp Wisdom
Duncanville, TX 75116
Phone: (972) 708-3700

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