Desoto School District
School District · Arcadia, Florida
Avg Rating
4.7
out of 10
Schools
9
3 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,385
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Avg Rating
4.7
out of 10
Schools
9
3 elem, 1 mid, 1 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,385
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
Evaluating Desoto?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Desoto as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Nocatee Elementary School
Nocatee · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
West Elementary School
Arcadia · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Memorial Elementary School
Arcadia · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Florida rank
#70 of 71
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.6
below Florida avg
Per-pupil spending
$12,385
+$624 vs Florida median
District size
4,286 students
Smaller than Florida median
The short answer
Desoto ranks #70 of 71 Florida districts by overall school rating. Desoto's schools with real test data average 4.7/10 across 6 schools. Its top-rated schools are Nocatee Elementary School (5.4/10), West Elementary School (5.1/10), and Memorial Elementary School (5.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Top-Rated Schools in Desoto
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (6 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nocatee Elementary School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 2 | West Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Memorial Elementary School | 5.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Desoto County High School | 4.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Desoto Secondary School | 4.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Desoto Middle School | 3.8 / 10 |
See all 9 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Desoto
Desoto is a Arcadia, Florida school district serving 9 schools. The district educates 4,286 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.1:1. The district invests $12,385 per student annually.
With an average rating of 4.7/10, Desoto demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Nocatee Elementary School, which has a composite score of 5.4/10.
In standardized testing, Desoto students show an average math proficiency of 39.3% and ELA proficiency of 34.9%.
The district includes 3 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 1 high school.
District Map
Schools in Desoto, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Desoto with test data.
Schools in Desoto
9 schools Elementary Schools 3
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
District Details
- State
- Florida
- City
- Arcadia
- Total Enrollment
- 4,286
- Teachers (FTE)
- 224
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Desoto?
Desoto has 9 schools in total — 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Desoto?
The average composite rating for Desoto is 4.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Desoto?
Desoto spends $12,385 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Desoto?
The average student-teacher ratio in Desoto is 19.1:1.
What is the top-rated school in Desoto?
Nocatee Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Desoto with a composite score of 5.4/10.
What are the test scores in Desoto?
Across schools in Desoto with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 34.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Desoto compare to other districts in Florida?
Desoto has an average school rating of 4.7/10 across 9 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Florida by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 4.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 34.9%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in FL
Compare Desoto with neighboring districts in the state.
- Miami-dade (536)
- Broward (325)
- Hillsborough (305)
- Orange (275)
- Palm Beach (235)
- Duval (208)
- Polk (167)
- Pinellas (153)
- Lee (120)
- Brevard (109)
- Pasco (106)
- Volusia (89)
- Osceola (86)
- Manatee (82)
- Seminole (76)
- Collier (74)
- Escambia (70)
- Alachua (68)
- Marion (64)
- Sarasota (63)
- Lake (61)
- Leon (56)
- St. Johns (55)
- Clay (54)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Florida Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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