Desoto School District

530 Lasolona Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266-4911
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025 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 34% (versus the Florida public elementary school average of 55%), 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

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%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Desoto  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
31%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Desoto  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Florida by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
32%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Desoto  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Florida by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
32%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Desoto  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Florida by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
75%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Desoto  School District and public school graduation rate of Florida by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.71
# American Indian Students
5 Students
5,108 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
24 Students
57,983 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%
# Hispanic Students
2,244 Students
757,879 Students
% Hispanic Students
52%
37%
# Black Students
514 Students
426,370 Students
% Black Students
12%
21%
# White Students
1,366 Students
697,092 Students
% White Students
32%
34%
# Hawaiian Students
2 Students
3,394 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
131 Students
90,203 Students
% of Two or more races Students
3%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
50
60,744
# Students in K Grade:
290
195,094
# Students in 1st Grade:
319
204,872
# Students in 2nd Grade:
317
211,537
# Students in 3rd Grade:
337
217,908
# Students in 4th Grade:
344
214,300
# Students in 5th Grade:
270
205,644
# Students in 6th Grade:
281
210,929
# Students in 7th Grade:
411
214,610
# Students in 8th Grade:
374
209,847
# Students in 9th Grade:
356
24,319
# Students in 10th Grade:
325
24,087
# Students in 11th Grade:
297
21,774
# Students in 12th Grade:
315
22,364
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

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
This chart displays total revenue of Desoto  School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Florida by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$55 MM
$33,354 MM
This chart displays total spending of Desoto  School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Florida by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$12,445
$11,962
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Desoto  School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Florida by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$12,714
$11,615
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Desoto  School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Florida by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Desoto School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Desoto Virtual Academy
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Grades: K-12
| 6 students
Rank: #22.
Memorial Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
851 E Hickory St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-0755
Grades: PK-5
| 820 students
Rank: #33.
West Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
304 W Imogene St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-3155
Grades: PK-5
| 684 students
Rank: #44.
Nocatee Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4846 Sw Shores Ave
Nocatee, FL 34268
(863) 494-4511
Grades: PK-5
| 416 students
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
Grades: K-12
| 10 students
Rank: #66.
Desoto Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
420 E Gibson St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-4133
Grades: 6-8
| 1,011 students
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
Grades: K-12
| 68 students
Rank: n/an/a
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Reduced Services
Alternative School
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

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