Desoto School District

530 Lasolona Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266-4911
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 3,027 students in Desoto School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Florida.
Public Elementary Schools in Desoto School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Florida public elementary school average of 56%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 53% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Florida public elementary school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
11 Schools
3,488 Schools
# Students
4,286 Students
2,038,029 Students
# Teachers
223 Teachers
118,158 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Desoto School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has increased from 61% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (FL)
#69 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
35%
52%
32%
52%
32%
52%
75%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
52%
37%
% Black
12%
21%
% White
32%
34%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,445 is higher than the state median of $11,962. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,714 is higher than the state median of $11,615. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (FL)
Total Revenue
$53 MM
$34,349 MM
Spending
$55 MM
$33,354 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,445
$11,962
Spending / Student
$12,714
$11,615

Best Desoto School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
851 E Hickory St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-0755
Gr: PK-5 | 820 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #22.
West Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
304 W Imogene St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-3155
Gr: PK-5 | 684 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #33.
Nocatee Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4846 Sw Shores Ave
Nocatee, FL 34268
(863) 494-4511
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #44.
Desoto Virtual Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 6 students Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #55.
Desoto Virtual Franchise
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #66.
Desoto Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
420 E Gibson St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-4133
Gr: 6-8 | 1,011 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #77.
Desoto Secondary School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
318 N Wilson Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-9303
Gr: K-12 | 68 students Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: n/an/a
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12
Rank: n/an/a
Reduced Services
Alternative School
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 12 students Minority enrollment: 67%

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,286 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 68%
  • : 75% (Btm 50% in FL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education

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