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Desoto School District

Item: Desoto School District
Rating: 1
Author: Public School Review

530 Lasolona Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266-4911

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (863) 494-4222

www.desotoschools.com

For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 1,107 students in Desoto School District. This district's average middle is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Florida.

Public Middle Schools in Desoto School District have an score of 29% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 53%), and score of 30% (versus the 52% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District

This State (FL)

# Schools

11 Schools

1,745 Schools

# Students

4,286 Students

1,042,011 Students

# Teachers

223 Teachers

54,708 Teachers

Student : Teacher Ratio

19:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desoto School District	Florida
1	2	500
3	1	533
4	3	535
5	1	535
6	281	2,548
7	411	2,824
8	374	2,764
9	14	475
10	6	484
11	7	442
12	7	466

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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 2021-2022 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 75% has increased from 64% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (FL)

#69 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Desoto School District
2022	#69
2021	#68
2019	#71
2018	#71
2017	#70
2016	#72
2015	#69
2014	#69
2013	#70
2012	#66
2011	#65

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31%

52%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2022	31%	52%
2021	31%	48%
2019	40%	59%
2018	38%	58%
2017	35%	57%
2016	32%	54%
2015	35%	53%
2014	43%	59%
2013	44%	58%
2012	48%	57%
2011	61%	68%

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32%

52%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2022	32%	52%
2021	32%	52%
2019	35%	56%
2018	38%	55%
2017	30%	54%
2016	31%	52%
2015	34%	53%
2014	41%	58%
2013	40%	58%
2012	43%	57%
2011	50%	62%

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32%

52%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2022	32%	52%
2021	34%	51%

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75%

87%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2022	75%	87%
2021	82%	89%
2020	85%	89%
2019	71%	87%
2018	61%	86%
2017	64%	83%
2016	62%	82%
2015	62%	79%
2014	61%	78%
2013	62%	78%
2012	68%	77%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.62

0.70

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	0.63	0.70
2022	0.63	0.70
2021	0.63	0.70
2020	0.64	0.70
2019	0.64	0.70
2018	0.63	0.70
2017	0.63	0.70
2016	0.63	0.70
2015	0.62	0.70
2014	0.63	0.69
2013	0.64	0.69
2012	0.63	0.69
2011	0.64	0.69
2010	0.63	0.69
2009	0.63	0.69
2008	0.62	0.68
2007	0.62	0.67
2006	0.61	0.64
2005	0.62	0.65
2004	0.61	0.64
2003	0.61	0.63
2002	0.60	0.63
2001	0.59	0.62
2000	0.58	0.62
1999	0.57	0.61
1998	0.55	0.60
1997	0.56	0.60
1996	0.54	0.59
1995	0.57	0.58
1994	0.51	0.57
1993	0.50	0.57
1992	0.48	0.56
1991	0.47	0.55

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2023)
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	1%	3%
2021	1%	3%
2013	1%	3%
2012	1%	3%
2011	1%	3%
2010	1%	4%
2009	2%	4%
2008	2%	3%
2007	1%	3%
2006	1%	2%
2005	1%	3%
2004	1%	3%
1995	1%	2%
1993	1%	2%
1992	1%	2%
1991	1%	2%
1990	1%	1%
1989	1%	1%
1988	1%	1%

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% Hispanic

52%

38%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	47%	37%
2022	48%	36%
2021	46%	35%
2020	45%	34%
2019	45%	34%
2018	43%	32%
2017	43%	32%
2016	43%	32%
2015	43%	31%
2014	44%	30%
2013	42%	29%
2012	40%	29%
2011	38%	28%
2010	37%	27%
2009	35%	26%
2008	33%	26%
2007	33%	25%
2006	30%	24%
2005	29%	23%
2004	27%	22%
2003	26%	21%
2002	25%	20%
2001	23%	19%
2000	21%	18%
1999	20%	17%
1998	17%	16%
1997	18%	16%
1996	15%	15%
1995	16%	15%
1994	12%	14%
1993	10%	14%
1992	9%	13%
1991	8%	13%

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% Black

12%

21%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	13%	21%
2022	13%	21%
2021	12%	22%
2020	13%	22%
2019	13%	22%
2018	13%	22%
2017	13%	22%
2016	13%	23%
2015	13%	23%
2014	12%	23%
2013	13%	23%
2012	13%	23%
2011	15%	23%
2010	16%	24%
2009	16%	24%
2008	16%	24%
2007	17%	24%
2006	17%	24%
2005	19%	24%
2004	20%	24%
2003	20%	24%
2002	20%	25%
2001	20%	25%
2000	20%	25%
1999	20%	25%
1998	21%	25%
1997	21%	25%
1996	22%	25%
1995	23%	24%
1994	23%	24%
1993	22%	24%
1992	22%	24%
1991	22%	23%

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% White

32%

34%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	37%	35%
2022	37%	36%
2021	39%	36%
2020	40%	37%
2019	40%	37%
2018	42%	39%
2017	42%	39%
2016	42%	39%
2015	43%	40%
2014	42%	41%
2013	43%	42%
2012	44%	42%
2011	45%	43%
2010	46%	45%
2009	47%	46%
2008	49%	47%
2007	49%	48%
2006	52%	50%
2005	51%	50%
2004	52%	51%
2003	54%	52%
2002	55%	52%
2001	57%	54%
2000	59%	55%
1999	60%	56%
1998	62%	57%
1997	61%	57%
1996	63%	58%
1995	60%	59%
1994	65%	60%
1993	67%	60%
1992	68%	61%
1991	69%	62%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2023	2%	4%
2022	2%	4%
2021	2%	4%
2020	2%	4%
2019	2%	4%
2018	2%	3%
2017	2%	3%
2016	2%	3%
2015	1%	3%
2014	2%	3%
2013	1%	3%

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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

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2021	$53MM	$166MM
2020	$53MM	$154MM
2019	$52MM	$151MM
2018	$51MM	$143MM
2017	$48MM	$136MM
2016	$46MM	$130MM
2015	$50MM	$132MM
2014	$44MM	$122MM
2012	$44MM	$118MM
2011	$49MM	$128MM
2010	$50MM	$132MM
2009	$48MM	$138MM
2008	$52MM	$179MM
2007	$49MM	$165MM
2006	$45MM	$125MM
2005	$43MM	$111MM
2004	$40MM	$105MM
2003	$37MM	$95MM
2002	$35MM	$96MM
2001	$42MM	$96MM
2000	$42MM	$91MM
1999	$31MM	$89MM
1998	$31MM	$81MM
1997	$28MM	$79MM
1996	$27MM	$73MM
1995	$26MM	$70MM
1992	$24MM	$63MM
1990	$20MM	$57MM

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Spending

$55 MM

$33,354 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2021	$54MM	$163MM
2020	$53MM	$164MM
2019	$51MM	$155MM
2018	$50MM	$153MM
2017	$49MM	$132MM
2016	$47MM	$123MM
2015	$49MM	$140MM
2014	$48MM	$125MM
2012	$45MM	$121MM
2011	$49MM	$128MM
2010	$49MM	$140MM
2009	$48MM	$159MM
2008	$51MM	$169MM
2007	$48MM	$162MM
2006	$49MM	$146MM
2005	$49MM	$112MM
2004	$40MM	$112MM
2003	$37MM	$106MM
2002	$35MM	$102MM
2001	$42MM	$91MM
2000	$44MM	$88MM
1999	$29MM	$84MM
1998	$29MM	$79MM
1997	$27MM	$72MM
1996	$26MM	$72MM
1995	$27MM	$66MM
1992	$22MM	$59MM
1990	$20MM	$56MM

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Revenue / Student

$12,445

$11,962

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2021	$11,560	$13,731
2020	$10,688	$14,203
2019	$10,624	$13,737
2018	$10,545	$14,011
2017	$9,821	$14,826
2016	$9,547	$12,788
2015	$10,512	$11,888
2014	$9,335	$12,077
2012	$9,286	$12,051
2011	$9,891	$13,076
2010	$10,004	$11,888
2009	$9,652	$13,793
2008	$10,412	$17,784
2007	$9,703	$16,236
2006	$9,003	$12,292
2005	$8,761	$11,428
2004	$8,052	$11,474
2003	$7,598	$10,268
2002	$7,410	$10,355
2001	$9,101	$10,248
2000	$9,083	$9,668
1999	$6,760	$9,409
1998	$6,860	$7,880
1997	$6,042	$8,424
1995	$6,025	$6,715

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Spending / Student

$12,714

$11,615

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Desoto School District	Florida
2021	$11,810	$13,486
2020	$10,703	$15,154
2019	$10,434	$14,111
2018	$10,343	$14,989
2017	$9,905	$14,369
2016	$9,751	$12,045
2015	$10,279	$12,571
2014	$10,270	$12,287
2012	$9,599	$12,385
2011	$9,864	$13,005
2010	$9,782	$12,571
2009	$9,659	$15,882
2008	$10,283	$16,773
2007	$9,690	$15,907
2006	$9,763	$14,358
2005	$9,875	$11,593
2004	$8,084	$12,298
2003	$7,588	$11,532
2002	$7,380	$11,007
2001	$9,010	$9,672
2000	$9,331	$9,341
1999	$6,318	$8,851
1998	$6,238	$7,639
1997	$5,838	$7,635
1995	$6,122	$6,277

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Best Desoto School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Grades

Students

Rank: #11.

Desoto Virtual Academy

(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333

Grades: K-12

| 6 students

Rank: #22.

Desoto Virtual Franchise

(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39% )
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333

Grades: K-12

| 10 students

Rank: #33.

Desoto Middle School

(Math: 30% | Reading: 30%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

420 E Gibson St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-4133

Grades: 6-8

| 1,011 students

Rank: #44.

Desoto Secondary School

Alternative School

(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
:

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

318 N Wilson Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-9303

Grades: K-12

| 68 students

Rank: n/an/a

Desoto Virtual Instruction Program

Add to Compare

310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333

Grades: K-12

| n/a students

Rank: n/an/a

Reduced Services

Alternative School

Add to Compare

310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333

Grades: K-12

| 12 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

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%
: 31% (Btm 50%)
: 32% (Btm 50%)
: 32% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education