Desoto School District

530 Lasolona Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266-4911
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public middle schools serving 982 students in Desoto School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Florida.
Public Middle Schools in Desoto School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 30% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 74% 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
8 Schools
1,698 Schools
# Students
4,155 Students
1,049,098 Students
# Teachers
232 Teachers
55,746 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
18:1

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%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

35%
52%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

32%
52%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

32%
52%
75%
88%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
37.2%
33.8%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.61
0.70

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%

Showing 2006–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
54%
39%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
13%
20%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
29%
34%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $14,991 is higher than the state median of $14,419. The school district revenue/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,859 is higher than the state median of $13,816. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
This School District
This State (FL)
Total Revenue
$62 MM
$41,097 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$62 MM
$39,380 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$14,991
$14,419

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$14,859
$13,816

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Desoto School District Public Middle Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 922 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #22.
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 | 51 students Student-teacher ratio: 51:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: n/an/a
Reduced Services
Alternative School
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 9 students

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,155 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 71%
  • : 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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