Desoto County School District

Five East South Street
Hernando, MS 38632
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Desoto County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Mississippi for:

Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 11 public high schools serving 11,000 students in Desoto County School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in Mississippi.
Public High Schools in Desoto County School District have an average math proficiency score of 77% (versus the Mississippi public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Public High School in Desoto County School District have a Graduation Rate of 94%, which is more than the Mississippi average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lewisburg High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Mississippi or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public high school average of 55% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
42 Schools
396 Schools
# Students
34,819 Students
156,115 Students
# Teachers
2,395 Teachers
11,969 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Desoto County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 147 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 88% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MS)
#30 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
62%
52%
49%
42%
65%
55%
94%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.65
0.60
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
6%
5%
% Black
42%
45%
% White
41%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
3%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $9,911 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,205. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,915 is less than the state median of $12,074. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (MS)
Total Revenue
$345 MM
$5,371 MM
Spending
$345 MM
$5,314 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,911
$12,205
Spending / Student
$9,915
$12,074

Best Desoto County School District Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lewisburg High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1755 Craft Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 890-6708
Gr: 9-12 | 1,286 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #22.
Hernando High School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
805 Dilworth Lane
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-4170
Gr: 9-12 | 1,482 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #33.
Center Hill High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
13250 Kirk Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 890-2490
Gr: 9-12 | 1,054 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #44.
Desoto Central High School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2911 Central Parkway
Southaven, MS 38672
(662) 536-3612
Gr: 9-12 | 2,011 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #55.
Olive Branch High School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
9366 E Sandidge Road
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 893-3344
Gr: 9-12 | 1,077 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #66.
Lake Cormorant High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
10201 Star Landing Rd.
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641
(662) 996-3060
Gr: 9-12 | 974 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #77.
Southaven High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
735 Rasco Road
Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 393-9300
Gr: 9-12 | 1,825 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #88.
Horn Lake High School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3360 Church Road
Horn Lake, MS 38637
(662) 393-5273
Gr: 9-12 | 1,291 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: n/an/a
Desoto Co Career Center East
Vocational School
8890 Deerfield Dr
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 893-0855
Gr: 10-12
Rank: n/an/a
Desoto Co Voc Complex
Vocational School
847 Rasco Road
Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 393-6211
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Desoto County Alternative Center
Alternative School
2690 Magnolia Street
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-5597
Gr: K-12

Recent Articles

How Public Schools Support Students on Free / Reduced-Lunch Programs
How Public Schools Support Students on Free / Reduced-Lunch Programs
Explore how U.S. public schools support students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch through nutrition, academic, and wraparound services in 2025.
Hidden Costs of Public Schools: Fees, Supplies & Extras
Hidden Costs of Public Schools: Fees, Supplies & Extras
Explore the hidden costs in public schools—fees, supplies, extracurriculars—and how parents can plan for them in 2025.
Public School Funding 2025: What Families Should Know
Public School Funding 2025: What Families Should Know
Essential insights on public school funding in 2025—how it works, what’s changing, and what families should know to stay ahead.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 42 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 34,819 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 59%
  • : 94% (Top 5% in MS)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 62% (Top 20%)
  • : 49% (Top 20%)
  • : 65% (Top 20%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MS Dept. of Education

Quick Links