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Public elementary school · Desoto Co School Dist · Southaven, Mississippi

Desoto Central Elementary School

Desoto Central Elementary School rates 2.8, below most Desoto Co School Dist elementary schools, whose rated median is 4.0.

Elementary schools, 1 to 10This campus against public elementary schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
2.8this school

2.8 on a one-to-ten scale; the Desoto Co School Dist median is 4.0.

#860 of 864 schools in Mississippi · Desoto Co School Dist: 15 elementary schools rated, median 4.0

The brief

A Desoto Co School Dist elementary school where students score 28 points below what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 860 of 864 schools in Mississippi and 37 of 39 in Desoto Co School Dist.

Desoto Central Elementary School is listed in Desoto Co School Dist, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math35%16 points below the Mississippi average of 51%Grades 3–5 · 816 students tested · 2026 MAAP
Reading48%5 points below the Mississippi average of 53%Grades 3–5 · 816 students tested · 2026 MAAP
Proficiency has fallen 7 points since 2021, to 42% in 2026, across a 18-year record (2009–2026).2026 MAAP; 42 test records from MS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
1.9
50% of the rating
Academics
4.1
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
3.1
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2026

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

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2026) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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 · 2026 MAAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2026 MAAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · 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 38672; 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, 2009-2026; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Desoto Central Elementary School and the 20 nearest elementary schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$110,665
Median home value
$290,600
Median rent
$2,197/mo
College educated
38.5%
Homeownership
90.5%
Poverty rate
1%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 38672; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
18
Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30
Somewhat Bikeable
City reported crime
1,922/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Southaven. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Southaven), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
38.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. 4.0Compare →
  2. 3.6Compare →
  3. 3.5Compare →
  4. Desoto Central Elementary Schoolthis school
    2.8
Three grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and three rate higher than Desoto Central Elementary School.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

Questions families ask

What grades does Desoto Central Elementary School serve?

Desoto Central Elementary School serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.

How many students attend Desoto Central Elementary School?

Desoto Central Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 820 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Elementary School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desoto Central Elementary School rank in MS?

Desoto Central Elementary School ranks #860 of 864 schools in MS.

What is Desoto Central Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Desoto Central Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.8 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 Central Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desoto Central Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

Is Desoto Central Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Desoto Central Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

38.4% of students at Desoto Central Elementary 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 facts

Grades
3rd – 5th
Enrollment
820
Student-teacher ratio
16.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
51
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Large Suburb
County
DeSoto County
Rank in district
#37 of 39
Schools in district
42
District spending per student
$9,525
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
12.3%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 38672)
15,899
Area average commute
25.6 min
Area median age
37.4

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mississippi Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.