Southaven Elementary

Q: Is Southaven Elementary a good school?

Southaven Elementary ranks 280 th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Southaven Elementary is a public elementary school serving 684 students in grades PK-5 in the Desoto County School District in Southaven, Mississippi. The school has a predominantly African American student population (58.63%), with significant representation from other racial groups as well.

Despite its relatively small class sizes, Southaven Elementary has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 38.7% (3rd grade) to 42.8% (4th grade), while the district and state averages were significantly higher. The school's performance in mathematics was also below the district and state levels, leading to a low 1-star rating from SchoolDigger and a statewide ranking of 280 out of 390 elementary schools. This academic underperformance is particularly concerning given that over 99% of Southaven Elementary's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

When comparing Southaven Elementary to other nearby schools in the Desoto County School District, some interesting patterns emerge. Walls Elementary School and Horn Lake Intermediate School, which are also in the bottom half of the state's elementary school rankings, have similar academic performance and demographic profiles to Southaven Elementary. In contrast, Pleasant Hill Elementary and Desoto Central Elementary School, which are ranked among the top elementary schools in the state, have significantly higher academic achievement and a more diverse student population.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

8274 Claiborne Drive
Southaven, MS 38671

(662) 342-2289

District: Desoto County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
280^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,388

Students who attend Southaven Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Southaven Middle School
High:	Southaven High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 684

Racial breakdown:

African American:

58.6%

White:

20.3%

Two or more races:

13.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Southaven Elementary ranks worse than 71.8% of elementary schools in Mississippi. It also ranks 11^th among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Desoto County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.47. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Southaven Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (58.6%), White (20.3%), two or more races (13%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southaven Elementary is 12.7, which is the 7^th best among 12 elementary schools in the Desoto County School District. (See more...)

Compare Southaven Elementary employs 53.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southaven Elementary is $9,388. 13 elementary schools in the Desoto County School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Southaven Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Desoto County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Desoto County School District 33^rd of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Southaven Elementary

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	50.43	208^th	394	47.2%
2009	56.13	182^nd	392	53.6%
2010	44.88	238^th	403	40.9%
2011	49.46	215^th	418	48.6%
2012	51.85	201^st	414	51.4%
2013	41.38	255^th	408	37.5%
2014	20.52	345^th	394	12.4%
2015	48.19	189^th	402	53.0%
2016	37.75	238^th	394	39.6%
2017	33.23	280^th	406	31.0%
2018	42.63	232^nd	404	42.6%
2019	27.36	293^rd	397	26.2%
2021	27.81	262^nd	381	31.2%
2022	37.88	238^th	382	37.7%
2023	26.30	295^th	377	21.8%
2024	29.47	280^th	390	28.2%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 2.3)

33%

67%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Southaven Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	462	128	10	0	0	n/a	n/a	600
1991	462	137	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	606
1992	505	123	7	0	3	n/a	n/a	638
1993	510	126	6	0	2	n/a	n/a	644
1994	504	136	6	9	2	n/a	n/a	657
1995	608	129	4	11	1	n/a	n/a	753
1996	608	129	4	11	1	n/a	n/a	753
1997	580	116	0	11	1	n/a	n/a	708
1998	592	134	2	18	0	n/a	n/a	746
1999	630	154	6	23	2	n/a	n/a	815
2000	557	118	4	34	1	n/a	n/a	714
2001	558	149	5	33	1	n/a	n/a	746
2002	515	179	8	42	2	n/a	n/a	746
2003	515	179	8	42	2	n/a	n/a	746
2004	504	191	12	52	3	n/a	n/a	762
2005	474	219	10	51	2	n/a	n/a	756
2006	429	225	9	59	4	n/a	n/a	726
2007	357	231	9	59	2	n/a	n/a	658
2008	345	286	9	74	1	n/a	n/a	715
2009	302	300	6	89	1	0	0	698
2010	293	336	8	92	2	0	0	731
2011	273	340	8	90	2	0	0	713
2012	302	316	7	94	1	1	0	721
2013	287	359	5	82	1	0	0	734
2014	286	365	3	87	6	0	3	750
2015	270	326	6	80	2	1	29	714
2016	265	355	7	77	1	0	63	768
2017	221	388	5	79	1	0	94	788
2018	175	386	4	72	0	0	111	748
2019	171	393	2	63	0	0	121	750
2020	161	414	4	51	0	1	128	759
2021	123	347	2	37	0	1	120	630
2022	130	410	5	56	2	1	80	684
2023	139	401	5	46	2	2	89	684

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southaven Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	600	32.0	18.7	n/a
1991	606	34.4	17.6	n/a
1992	638	33.9	18.8	24.3
1993	644	34.5	18.7	25.2
1994	657	36.4	18.0	23.4
1995	753	41.0	18.4	21.1
1996	753	41.0	18.4	21.1
1997	708	37.0	19.1	21.5
1998	746	40.9	18.2	20.8
1999	815	42.7	19.1	26
2000	714	43.7	16.3	27
2001	746	44.3	16.8	28
2002	746	42.1	17.7	28.7
2003	746	42.1	17.7	28.7
2004	762	40.7	18.7	53.7
2005	756	43.6	17.3	61.5
2006	726	41.5	17.5	16.8
2007	658	39.3	16.7	69.8
2008	715	38.1	18.8	70.1
2009	698	37.7	18.5	76.6
2010	731	43.6	16.7	82.6
2011	713	41.5	17.1	82.9
2012	721	36.1	19.9	73.5
2013	734	39.6	18.5	87.3
2014	750	40.9	18.3	83.3
2015	714	43.0	16.6	86.4
2016	768	44.0	17.4	87.5
2017	788	46.8	16.8	87.6
2018	748	47.8	15.6	88.8
2019	750	46.7	16.0	85.9
2020	759	46.3	16.3	86.2
2021	630	44.0	14.2	99.5
2022	684	43.7	15.6	99.6
2023	684	53.7	12.7	99.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southaven Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	600	32.0	18.7	n/a
1991	606	34.4	17.6	n/a
1992	638	33.9	18.8	24.3
1993	644	34.5	18.7	25.2
1994	657	36.4	18.0	23.4
1995	753	41.0	18.4	21.1
1996	753	41.0	18.4	21.1
1997	708	37.0	19.1	21.5
1998	746	40.9	18.2	20.8
1999	815	42.7	19.1	26
2000	714	43.7	16.3	27
2001	746	44.3	16.8	28
2002	746	42.1	17.7	28.7
2003	746	42.1	17.7	28.7
2004	762	40.7	18.7	53.7
2005	756	43.6	17.3	61.5
2006	726	41.5	17.5	16.8
2007	658	39.3	16.7	69.8
2008	715	38.1	18.8	70.1
2009	698	37.7	18.5	76.6
2010	731	43.6	16.7	82.6
2011	713	41.5	17.1	82.9
2012	721	36.1	19.9	73.5
2013	734	39.6	18.5	87.3
2014	750	40.9	18.3	83.3
2015	714	43.0	16.6	86.4
2016	768	44.0	17.4	87.5
2017	788	46.8	16.8	87.6
2018	748	47.8	15.6	88.8
2019	750	46.7	16.0	85.9
2020	759	46.3	16.3	86.2
2021	630	44.0	14.2	99.5
2022	684	43.7	15.6	99.6
2023	684	53.7	12.7	99.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southaven Elementary

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,504
2018	$7,592
2019	$7,984
2020	$9,881
2021	$8,335
2022	$9,388

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southaven Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 293^rd of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 295^th of 377 Elementary schools	4.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southaven Elementary)	30.4	28.6	1.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Desoto County School District)	53.2	56.2	3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.3	51.6	3.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southaven Elementary)	33.6	34.3	0.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Desoto County School District)	60.5	61.7	1.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.4	54.8	3.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southaven Elementary)	31.4	46.2	14.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto County School District)	53.1	58.4	5.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southaven Elementary)	41.1	48.5	7.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Desoto County School District)	58.9	62	3.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southaven Elementary)	25.6	42.9	17.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto County School District)	50.3	59.7	9.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southaven Elementary)	17.7	21.4	3.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Desoto County School District)	47.7	51.3	3.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Southaven Elementary)	46.9	38.8	8.1%
5th Grade Science (Desoto County School District)	57.6	67.2	9.6%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	750	684	8.8%
African American	393	401	2%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	2	5	150%
Hispanic	63	46	27%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	171	139	18.7%
Two or More Races	121	89	26.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	85.9%	99.6%	13.7%

Schools Near Southaven Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)			MAAP Mathematics (2024)			MAAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Southaven Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8274 Claiborne Drive	Southaven	38671	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 342-2289	684	54	12.7	99.6%	139 (20.3%)	401 (58.6%)	46 (6.7%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	89 (13.0%)	29.5	280^th of 390 public elementary schools	28.2%		26.3	295^th of 377 public elementary schools	21.8%	15	38.7	42.8	41.7	27.8	61.1	35.2	50.0	$9,388
Hope Sullivan Elementary School	Public	K-2	7985 Southaven Circle W	Southaven	38671	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 393-2919	548	48	11.4	99.5%	125 (22.8%)	288 (52.6%)	64 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	69 (12.6%)								(n/a)								$10,040
Southaven Intermediate School	Public	3-5	175 Rasco Road W	Southaven	38671	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 253-0123	990	73	13.6	99.7%	227 (22.9%)	535 (54.0%)	101 (10.2%)	13 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	112 (11.3%)	51.4	197^th of 390 public elementary schools	49.5%		46.4	201^st of 377 public elementary schools	46.7%	4	49.9	49.0	50.2	51.2	52.7	54.4	71.0	$8,868
Greenbrook Elementary School	Public	K-2	730 S. Rasco Road	Southaven	38671	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 342-2330	502	40	12.5	99.4%	142 (28.3%)	249 (49.6%)	24 (4.8%)	11 (2.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	72 (14.3%)								(n/a)								$10,380
Horn Lake Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	6341 Ridgewood Rd.	Horn Lake	38637	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 393-4608	451	42	10.6	99.3%	74 (16.4%)	295 (65.4%)	24 (5.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	56 (12.4%)								(n/a)								$11,895
Shadow Oaks Elementary School	Public	K-2	3780 Shadow Oaks Parkway	Horn Lake	38637	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 393-4585	459	38	12.1	99.3%	55 (12.0%)	316 (68.8%)	34 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	53 (11.5%)								(n/a)								$9,843
Horn Lake Intermediate School	Public	3-5	6585 Horn Lake Road	Horn Lake	38637	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 280-7075	921	66	13.9	99.7%	130 (14.1%)	628 (68.2%)	70 (7.6%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	86 (9.3%)	28	291^st of 390 public elementary schools	25.4%		29.5	283^rd of 377 public elementary schools	24.9%	8	46.5	42.3	39.7	37.8	39.6	34.6	54.5	$9,613
Desoto Central Elementary School	Public	3-5	2411 Central Parkway	Southaven	38672	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 349-6234	796	49	16.3	99.6%	311 (39.1%)	322 (40.5%)	19 (2.4%)	40 (5.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.3%)	101 (12.7%)	73.1	96^th of 390 public elementary schools	75.4%		74	84^th of 377 public elementary schools	77.7%	12	67.0	67.7	61.7	55.4	62.0	56.4	83.7	$8,129
Pleasant Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	7686 Pleasant Hill Road	Olive Branch	38654	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 890-9654	1,110	78	14.1	99.7%	463 (41.7%)	444 (40.0%)	24 (2.2%)	20 (1.8%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	156 (14.1%)	79.5	63^rd of 390 public elementary schools	83.8%		83.5	46^th of 377 public elementary schools	87.8%	17	65.3	64.9	65.5	64.8	76.4	70.1	80.2	$8,896
Desoto Central Primary	Public	K-2	3210 Getwell Road	Southaven	38672	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 912-1300	876	59	14.8	99.7%	360 (41.1%)	320 (36.5%)	19 (2.2%)	43 (4.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	132 (15.1%)								(n/a)								$8,664

Frequently Asked Questions about Southaven Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Southaven Elementary?

Students at Southaven Elementary are 59% African American, 20% White, 13% Two or more races, 7% Hispanic.

How many students attend Southaven Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 684 students attended Southaven Elementary.

What district is Southaven Elementary in?

Desoto County School District

What schools do graduates of Southaven Elementary attend?

Students who attend Southaven Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southaven Middle School
High : Southaven High School

Is Southaven Elementary a good school?

Southaven Elementary ranks 280^th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Rate Southaven Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.