Best Schools in Desoto, Texas
15 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Desoto?
Use this page to compare every school in Desoto by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy
Elementary · Desoto ISD. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Golden Rule Grand Prairie
Elementary · Golden Rule Charter School. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Desoto Private School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Desoto for 2026 are Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy (8.9/10), Golden Rule Grand Prairie (8.1/10), and Desoto Private School (6.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$282,900
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
15
13 public · 2 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$282,900
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 58% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Desoto schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Desoto schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Desoto
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (13 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Golden Rule Grand Prairie | 8.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Desoto Private School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Faith Family Master Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Desoto H S | 5.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy | 4.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Desoto Alternative Education Center (daep) | 4.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Ruby Young Personalized Steam Academy | 4.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Iltexas Lancaster Desoto H S | 3.9 / 10 |
| 10 | The Meadows EL | 3.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.8/10
- Median household income
- $83,386
- Median home value
- $282,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 30%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
15% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Desoto compares
Texas rank
#617 of 654
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.4
below Texas avg (6.3)
Median household income
$83k
112% of Texas median
Schools in this city
13
About Schools in Desoto, Texas
DeSoto's public school landscape spans 12 ranked schools with an average score of 5.4 out of 10 — a picture of wide performance variance where a handful of standout options sit well above the city mean. Three schools, 25% of the ranked total, clear the 7-point threshold, giving families real choices if they're willing to pursue them actively.
The clear headliner is Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy, an elementary school scoring 8.8 out of 10 — the highest-rated school in the city and a significant jump above the district average. Its magnet designation means admission is intentional rather than automatic; parents researching elementary options should put Katherine Johnson at the top of their inquiry list early. Two other elementary programs — Golden Rule Grand Prairie (7.1) and Faith Family Master Academy (7.0) — round out the city's upper tier, both clearing the 7-point mark and offering solid alternatives at the grade school level.
The secondary picture is more mixed. DeSoto H.S. scores 5.2 out of 10, landing just below the city average. The DeSoto Alternative Education Center scores 6.7, but its DAEP designation signals a specialized student population rather than a traditional high school path. Parents planning ahead for secondary school should weigh those numbers alongside factors the ratings don't capture — dual-credit access, extracurricular depth, and post-secondary placement data — before drawing firm conclusions.
The practical takeaway for DeSoto families: the city's strongest academic options cluster at the elementary level. Katherine Johnson's 8.8 rating stands more than three points above the city average, which makes a magnet application worth pursuing early if it's geographically feasible. Parents with children approaching middle or high school face a narrower set of high-performing options within city limits, making it worth cross-shopping neighboring districts as part of the search. Start with the magnets, verify current enrollment windows, and use the secondary data as a starting point for deeper district-level research rather than a final verdict.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 510 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.9 | ||
| 2 | 84 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 3 | 414 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 243 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.3 | ||
| 5 | 289 students · 2nd–5th | 3.6 | ||
| 6 | 379 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 2.3 | ||
| 7 | 468 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 1.8 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Desoto Private School
Private
135 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | Turning Point Christian Academy
Private
8 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 399 students · 6th–8th | 3.3 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,045 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 2 | 38 students · 6th–12th | 4.5 |
| 3 | 167 students · 9th–12th | 3.9 |
| 4 | 26 students · 8th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,468 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.5 |
Schools in Desoto
Desoto, Texas · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$83,386
Median Home Value
$282,900
Median Rent
$1,478/mo
Population
55,997
College Educated
30%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Community Profile
Desoto has a median household income of $83,386. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $282,900, with a median rent of $1,478/month. The local poverty rate of 7.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Texas
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Texas
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Desoto, Texas
How many schools are in Desoto, Texas?
Desoto has 15 schools, including 13 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Desoto, Texas?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Desoto is 4.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Desoto, Texas?
The top-ranked school in Desoto on MySchoolScout is Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Desoto, Texas?
The top-ranked elementary school in Desoto on MySchoolScout is Katherine Johnson Technology Magnet Academy with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Desoto, Texas?
The top-ranked middle school in Desoto on MySchoolScout is Desoto West Middle with a composite score of 3.3/10.
What is the best high school in Desoto, Texas?
The top-ranked high school in Desoto on MySchoolScout is Desoto H S with a composite score of 5.4/10.
How many school districts serve Desoto, Texas?
Desoto is served by 5 school districts: Faith Family Academy, Golden Rule Charter School, International Leadership of Texas (iltexas), Ki Charter, Desoto ISD.
What is the education level in Desoto, Texas?
According to Census data, 30% of adults in Desoto have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Desoto, Texas?
The median household income in Desoto is approximately $83,386 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Desoto, Texas?
Yes, Desoto has 2 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Desoto Private School with a score of 6.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Desoto, Texas?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Desoto is 13.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Desoto, Texas?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Texas Education Agency, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.