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Below Average

#3204 of 3,778 schools in FL

Desoto Secondary School

School · Desoto · Arcadia, FL

A school in Arcadia, FL where students score 21 points below what's typical for similar communities.

318 N WILSON AVE, Arcadia, FL 34266

  • Math 16% vs FL 51% (2024)
  • Reading 19% vs FL 51% (2024)
  • 49.5% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-0.79 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.3Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency15.5% (2024 FAST)
Reading/ELA Proficiency18.7% (2024 FAST)
Math vs. State Avg-31.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-31.6 pts
Overall Proficiency17% (2024 FAST, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)38% (model expectation from 2024 FAST)
vs. Expected-21.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile6th
College Readiness5.1Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate49.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.1Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
District spending per student$12,385

Students at Desoto Secondary School score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 FAST proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. FL average.

Math Proficiency16%(2024 FAST)
School
State
51%(2024 FAST)
ELA Proficiency19%(2024 FAST)
School
State
51%(2024 FAST)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 17% in 2024.

Show all 12 years
2009
ELA
25%
2013
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2014
ELA
25%
2015
ELA
25%
2016
ELA
25%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2018
Math
10%
ELA
25%
2019
Math
10%
ELA
25%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
5%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
5%
2022
Math
17%
ELA
25%
2024
Math
16%
ELA
19%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 14% (multi-year average, 2013-2024) · reading/ELA 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 23 test records from FL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

80.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Desoto Secondary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 16Car-Dependent
  • Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,878/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Arcadia), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$47,414

Median home value

$144,600

Median rent

$907/mo

College educated

9.7%

Homeownership

66.2%

Poverty rate

25.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 34266; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Advanced STEM Courses1of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Desoto Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverifiedNot ratedK–120.5 mi6Compare →
Desoto Virtual FranchiseEnrollment path unverifiedNot ratedK–120.5 mi10Compare →
Reduced ServicesEnrollment path unverifiedNot ratedK–120.5 mi12Compare →
Desoto Christian SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–120.7 mi11Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Desoto

Schools in district
10
Rank in district
#5 of 6
District spending per student
$12,385NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
31.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Desoto Secondary School is listed in DESOTO; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Desoto Secondary School

Desoto Secondary School is a public school in Arcadia, FL, part of Desoto, serving approximately 68 students in grades Kindergarten-12th. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10 and ranks #3,204 of 3,778 schools in FL. State assessment records show 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Desoto Secondary School

What grades does Desoto Secondary School serve?

Desoto Secondary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Desoto Secondary School?

Desoto Secondary School has an enrollment of approximately 68 students.

How does Desoto Secondary School rank in FL?

Desoto Secondary School ranks #3,204 of 3,778 schools in FL.

What is Desoto Secondary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desoto Secondary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Desoto Secondary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desoto Secondary School has 14% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Desoto Secondary School a charter school?

No, Desoto Secondary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desoto Secondary School a Title I school?

No, Desoto Secondary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desoto Secondary School?

80.9% of students at Desoto Secondary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
68
0
Type
alternative
Setting
Distant Town
County
DeSoto County
4-Year Graduation
49.5%
Area population (ZIP 34266)
29,065
Area average commute
30.2 min
Area median age
39.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 FAST · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 FAST. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 34266; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2013-2024, multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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