Denton Public Schools Greatly Improves Student Success with DreamBox Math
Success Stories
Denton Public Schools
Denton, Montana
Denton Public Schools, a small rural district in Montana, serves a close-knit community of just over 60 students in grades K-12. Like many other districts, it faced persistently low math scores stemming from an outdated curriculum and a clunky online math supplement. As a result, students were disengaged and test scores lagged. “Our curriculum needed an overhaul,” says Scott Sparks, Principal of Denton Public Schools. “We were not satisfied with our math proficiency and decided we need a change.”
After careful consideration, the district selected a new math curriculum—one that could better support its teachers and modernize their approach to teaching math. At the same time, they adopted DreamBox Math— a personalized online math program available through a statewide partnership between Discovery Education and Montana. The results? A significant improvement in test scores and enthusiastic buy-in from both students and teachers.
Innovative Change Shifts Learning Outcomes
After implementing DreamBox Math, educators saw a positive shift in motivation, engagement, and learning achievement across grade levels. The program empowered teachers to deliver data-informed instruction and students received the personalized support necessary to become independent, critical thinkers.
Flexible, Intuitive Technology
A deciding factor in adopting DreamBox Math was how well it integrates with Denton’s math curriculum. Teachers can easily assign lessons aligned directly with the topics students are learning in class, ensuring continuity between their in-class instruction and independent practice. The program is also much more user-friendly compared to the district’s other online math program. “Our students prefer DreamBox Math because it has more manipulatives, is more engaging, and helps them feel successful,” observes Lori Brown-Chauvet, a first-grade teacher.
Personalized, Engaging Learning
In addition to DreamBox Math’s ease of use, the program delivers personalized learning experiences, which Denton teachers lean on regularly to support the many learning levels within their classes. The program adapts to each student’s proficiency level, offering challenges to high-achieving students and foundational support to those who needed it.
Data-Driven Instruction
DreamBox Math closely tracks the personalized learning of each student, giving teachers detailed insights into student progress that highlights strengths, struggles, and opportunities for growth. Whether teaching one-on-one, in small groups, or to an entire class, teachers combine these data-driven insights with lesson plans to deliver more meaningful instruction.
“I assign DreamBox Math for extra practice to support classroom instruction,” explains Kayla. “After teaching a concept, students work on those lessons independently, and I review the progress. The data helps me decide if they need extra practice or can move on.” For younger students, kindergarten teacher Diane Econom uses DreamBox Math data to “take a meaningful approach to teaching number sense,” which is her main goal for her class.
Daily Teaching with DreamBox Math
Teachers have embraced the flexibility, ease of use, and adaptability of DreamBox Math making it the perfect tool to support their daily teaching across grade levels.
For Kayla Ayers, DreamBox Math gives her the flexibility to teach two grade levels in one classroom, allowing one set of students to work independently on concepts that align to daily instruction while she focuses on another group. “Having extra practice with DreamBox Math is really pivotal for my instruction because I can still teach either grade level separately.”
Lori Brown-Chauvet uses it during small-group instruction in her first-grade class and to track student progress. Her students find it engaging and a confidence builder.
DreamBox Math's Impact
Within the first year, DreamBox Math and the new curriculum had a measurable impact on student success. It transformed Denton’s approach to math instruction, improved test scores as measured by STAR Math, and enhanced student engagement.
“We evaluate student math proficiency at the beginning, middle, and end of each school year,” says Diane Econom. “In the middle of last year, about 63% of kindergarten students were proficient in math skills. At the same time this year, 75% were proficient. They’re doing better with DreamBox Math, along with the new math curriculum.”
Scott Sparks noticed a significant change as well. “We’ve seen improvement across the board on our standardized test scores. All our math scores are significantly higher. We believe it’s a combination of our new math curriculum and DreamBox Math, which teachers use so well together.”
The impact goes beyond test scores, too, as students have a renewed sense of confidence in their math skills. “Students feel successful because they are able to move at a pace that works for them,” observes Lori. “This helps them build confidence and even encourages them to help one another with math challenges.”
Building on Momentum to Create a Bright Future
Denton Public Schools joins a growing number of districts leveraging Discovery Education tools provided by the statewide partnership to support all students. Through collaboration and a commitment to data-driven, personalized instruction, the district has cultivated a learning environment that sets students up for long-term success.
Looking ahead, Denton plans to further integrate DreamBox Math into their instructional strategies, ensuring that every student, regardless of their starting point, can develop confidence and proficiency in math. “As the program grows, we hope to grow with it,” shares Scott. “We’ll keep exploring how DreamBox Math can make an even bigger impact on our teaching and our students’ success.”