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 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public middle schools serving 8,146 students in Desoto County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public middle schools in Mississippi.
Public Middle Schools in Desoto County School District have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Mississippi public middle school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public middle school average of 54% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
43 Schools
352 Schools
# Students
34,909 Students
130,366 Students
# Teachers
2,180 Teachers
10,047 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

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%)

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

62%
52%

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

49%
42%

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

65%
55%
94%
89.4%

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

(2022-23)
30.6%
26.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.66
0.63

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
1%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
11%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 24-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
43%
40%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% White
39%
46%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $11,725 in this school district is less than the state median of $14,756. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,434 is less than the state median of $14,421. The school district spending/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MS)
Total Revenue
$409 MM
$6,387 MM

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

Spending
$399 MM
$6,242 MM

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

Revenue / Student
$11,725
$14,756

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

Spending / Student
$11,434
$14,421

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

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

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hernando Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
700 Dilworth Lane
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-4154
Gr: 6-8 | 1,183 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #22.
Lewisburg Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2605 Highway 305 S
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 892-5050
Gr: 6-8 | 996 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #33.
Desoto Central Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2611 Central Parkway
Southaven, MS 38672
(662) 349-6660
Gr: 6-8 | 1,388 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #44.
Center Hill Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8756 Forest Hill Irene
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 892-6800
Gr: 6-8 | 757 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #55.
Olive Branch Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6530 S. Blocker Street
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 895-4610
Gr: 6-8 | 744 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #66.
Lake Cormorant Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3203 Wilson Mill Road W
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641
(662) 781-0778
Gr: 6-8 | 707 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #77.
Horn Lake Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
6125 Hurt Road
Horn Lake, MS 38637
(662) 393-7443
Gr: 6-8 | 948 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #88.
Southaven Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
899 Rasco Road
Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 280-0422
Gr: 6-8 | 1,423 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: n/an/a
Desoto County Alternative Center
Alternative School
2690 Magnolia Street
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-5597
Gr: K-12

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 43 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 34,909 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 61%
  • : 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

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