DeSoto County Schools & Education
DeSoto County, Mississippi
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.1%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,017
National avg $13,239
State avg $5,954
School Score
34/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 27/100
State Score Position
#22
of 81 counties by score
Education Data Brief: DeSoto County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 34/100, DeSoto County maintains a strong graduation rate of 92.0%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,017 per pupil, DeSoto County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 27% above the Mississippi average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read DeSoto County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
42 public schools and 1 district are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
34/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #22 of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data.
Completion
92.0%
4.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,017
$937 below the state average
School coverage
42
1 district represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
DeSoto County has 42 public schools across 1 district, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What DeSoto County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST carries most of the listed public-school system, with 42 of 42 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#22
of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data. The county score is 7 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Elementary to high school visible
35,003 students
42 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST is the largest listed district slice, with 42 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in DeSoto County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in DeSoto County, Mississippi
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Large-Scale Educational Hub in Northern Mississippi
DeSoto County manages a massive education infrastructure with 42 total public schools, including 23 elementary, 8 middle, and 10 high schools. This single-district system serves 35,003 students, making it one of the largest and most consolidated school populations in the state.
Unified Under the DeSoto County School District
The DeSoto County School District operates as the sole provider for the area, managing all 42 schools and 35,003 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, ensuring a streamlined public education experience for all residents.
Suburban Excellence with Room to Grow
Education here feels distinctly suburban, with 25 schools located in suburban areas and 17 in rural settings. Schools are notably large, averaging 898 students, with DeSoto Central High School topping the list at 1,995 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
42
in DeSoto County
Reported Enrollment
35,003
42 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in DeSoto County
42 Public Schools in DeSoto County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 15 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 42 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Southaven, 38672Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,995 |
| SOUTHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | SOUTHAVEN, 38671Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,850 |
| DESOTO CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | SOUTHAVEN, 38672Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,468 |
| SOUTHAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | SOUTHAVEN, 38671Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,456 |
| HERNANDO HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HERNANDO, 38632Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,419 |
| HORN LAKE HIGH | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HORN LAKE, 38637Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,361 |
| LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | OLIVE BRANCH, 38654Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,275 |
| HERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HERNANDO, 38632Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,150 |
| OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | OLIVE BRANCH, 38654Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,117 |
| PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Olive Branch, 38654Suburb: Large | PK–5 | Primary | 1,110 |
| CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | OLIVE BRANCH, 38654Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,075 |
| LEWISBURG MIDDLE | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Hernando, 38632Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 1,031 |
| HORN LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HORN LAKE, 38637Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,021 |
| SOUTHAVEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Southaven, 38671Suburb: Large | 3–5 | Primary | 990 |
| LAKE CORMORANT HIGH | Profile | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Lake Cormorant, 38641Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 969 |
| HORN LAKE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | Record | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HORN LAKE, 38637Suburb: Large | 3–5 | Primary | 921 |
| DESOTO CENTRAL PRIMARY | Record | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | Southaven, 38672Rural: Fringe | KG–2 | Primary | 876 |
| DESOTO CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Record | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | SOUTHAVEN, 38672Suburb: Large | 3–5 | Primary | 796 |
| OAK GROVE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | Record | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HERNANDO, 38632Rural: Fringe | 4–5 | Primary | 787 |
| HERNANDO ELEM | Record | DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST | HERNANDO, 38632Suburb: Large | KG–1 | Primary | 779 |
DESOTO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Southaven, 38672 / Suburb: Large
SOUTHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
SOUTHAVEN, 38671 / Suburb: Large
DESOTO CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
SOUTHAVEN, 38672 / Suburb: Large
SOUTHAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
SOUTHAVEN, 38671 / Suburb: Large
HERNANDO HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HERNANDO, 38632 / Suburb: Large
HORN LAKE HIGH
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HORN LAKE, 38637 / Rural: Fringe
LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
OLIVE BRANCH, 38654 / Rural: Fringe
HERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HERNANDO, 38632 / Suburb: Large
OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
OLIVE BRANCH, 38654 / Suburb: Large
PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Olive Branch, 38654 / Suburb: Large
CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
OLIVE BRANCH, 38654 / Rural: Fringe
LEWISBURG MIDDLE
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Hernando, 38632 / Rural: Distant
HORN LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HORN LAKE, 38637 / Suburb: Large
SOUTHAVEN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Southaven, 38671 / Suburb: Large
LAKE CORMORANT HIGH
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Lake Cormorant, 38641 / Rural: Fringe
HORN LAKE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HORN LAKE, 38637 / Suburb: Large
DESOTO CENTRAL PRIMARY
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
Southaven, 38672 / Rural: Fringe
DESOTO CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
SOUTHAVEN, 38672 / Suburb: Large
OAK GROVE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY
DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST
HERNANDO, 38632 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,017
State avg $5,954
Compare Nearby Counties
Review DeSoto County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Mississippi counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Mississippi?
How should I read the school score in DeSoto County?
What is the graduation rate in DeSoto County?
How much does DeSoto County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in DeSoto County, Mississippi — FAQ
What does the school system look like in DeSoto County, Mississippi?
DeSoto County manages a massive education infrastructure with 42 total public schools, including 23 elementary, 8 middle, and 10 high schools. This single-district system serves 35,003 students, making it one of the largest and most consolidated school populations in the state.
What are the major school districts in DeSoto County, Mississippi?
The DeSoto County School District operates as the sole provider for the area, managing all 42 schools and 35,003 students. There are currently no charter schools in the county, ensuring a streamlined public education experience for all residents.
What is the school experience like in DeSoto County?
Education here feels distinctly suburban, with 25 schools located in suburban areas and 17 in rural settings. Schools are notably large, averaging 898 students, with DeSoto Central High School topping the list at 1,995 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.