Desoto Central Elementary School

Q: Is Desoto Central Elementary School a good school?

Desoto Central Elementary School ranks 96 th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Desoto Central Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in the Desoto County School District in Southaven, Mississippi, with a student population of 796. The school consistently outperforms the district and state in academic performance, with a diverse student population and a high rate of free and reduced-price lunch recipients.

Desoto Central Elementary is a standout performer in the Desoto County School District, with 67% of 3rd graders, 67.7% of 4th graders, and 61.7% of 5th graders scoring proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district scores of 62.3%, 60.4%, and 57.1% respectively, and the state scores of 57.7%, 57.1%, and 51.7%. The school's diverse student population, with 39.07% White, 40.45% African American, 2.39% Hispanic, 5.03% Asian, and 12.69% two or more races, is higher than many of the surrounding schools, such as Lewisburg Intermediate, which has a student population that is 79.93% White.

Despite the economic challenges faced by the school's community, with 99.62% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Desoto Central Elementary has maintained a strong academic performance, ranking in the top 25% of Mississippi elementary schools for the past several years and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. This success can serve as a model for other schools in the district and the state as they work to provide high-quality education to all students, regardless of their economic or social background.

Detail:

Public 3-5

2411 Central Parkway
Southaven, MS 38672

(662) 349-6234

District: Desoto County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
96^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,129

Students who attend Desoto Central Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Desoto Central Middle School
High:	Desoto Central High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.3

Number of students: 796

Racial breakdown:

African American:

40.5%

White:

39.1%

Two or more races:

12.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.6%

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Compare Desoto Central Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Desoto Central Elementary School ranks better than 75.4% of elementary schools in Mississippi. It also ranks 5^th among 12 ranked elementary schools in the Desoto County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 73.06. (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 Desoto Central Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (40.5%), White (39.1%), two or more races (12.7%). (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 Desoto Central Elementary School is 16.3. 21 elementary schools in the Desoto County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Desoto Central Elementary School employs 48.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Desoto Central Elementary School is $8,129, which is the lowest among 23 elementary schools in the Desoto County School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Desoto Central Elementary School 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:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Desoto Central Elementary School.

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Rank History for Desoto Central Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	92.75	17^th	394	95.7%
2009	93.28	13^th	392	96.7%
2010	94.13	12^th	403	97.0%
2011	93.49	14^th	418	96.7%
2012	94.24	13^th	414	96.9%
2013	94.59	7^th	408	98.3%
2014	83.38	35^th	394	91.1%
2015	87.87	35^th	402	91.3%
2016	87.17	30^th	394	92.4%
2017	88.46	32^nd	406	92.1%
2018	86.74	35^th	404	91.3%
2019	85.15	49^th	397	87.7%
2021	81.35	66^th	381	82.7%
2022	79.24	69^th	382	81.9%
2023	74.01	84^th	377	77.7%
2024	73.06	96^th	390	75.4%

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: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Friday, September 2, 2011

Awesome leadership with Ms. Wilkinson & Ms. Laster! Amazing Staff!!! The teachers are wonderful and really CARE about our kids! Candie the Counselor is priceless!!! THIS SCHOOL IS TERRIFIC!!!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Desoto Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2002	1093	142	8	15	0	n/a	n/a	1258
2003	1093	142	8	15	0	n/a	n/a	1258
2004	1066	139	16	21	4	n/a	n/a	1246
2005	780	156	19	17	3	n/a	n/a	975
2006	907	172	30	19	3	n/a	n/a	1131
2007	1008	180	44	23	2	n/a	n/a	1257
2008	1022	189	44	28	0	n/a	n/a	1283
2009	1067	214	49	35	0	0	0	1365
2010	1035	244	60	31	0	0	0	1370
2011	563	121	30	12	0	0	0	726
2012	520	124	29	16	0	0	0	689
2013	503	122	33	16	0	0	1	675
2014	467	150	30	16	1	0	2	666
2015	466	184	33	24	1	0	12	720
2016	430	195	33	25	3	0	17	703
2017	419	220	39	26	2	0	29	735
2018	420	224	34	19	1	0	47	745
2019	422	240	35	21	1	0	78	797
2020	407	266	31	21	1	0	82	808
2021	351	274	34	18	0	0	78	755
2022	321	285	38	16	0	1	104	765
2023	311	322	40	19	1	2	101	796

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 Desoto Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	1258	54.7	23.0	28.7
2003	1258	54.7	23.0	28.7
2004	1246	59.2	21.0	12.8
2005	975	51.5	18.9	16.5
2006	1131	54.7	20.7	11.2
2007	1257	57.9	21.7	18.1
2008	1283	63.3	20.3	19.1
2009	1365	68.1	20.0	21
2010	1370	66.0	20.7	23.8
2011	726	36.5	19.8	25.1
2012	689	37.1	18.5	31.6
2013	675	38.2	17.6	27.1
2014	666	36.6	18.1	29.6
2015	720	39.0	18.4	31.7
2016	703	37.0	19.0	34.1
2017	735	38.1	19.2	37.7
2018	745	39.1	19.0	36.1
2019	797	42.4	18.7	35.8
2020	808	44.6	18.1	36.9
2021	755	46.5	16.2	99.6
2022	765	46.6	16.4	99.6
2023	796	48.7	16.3	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 Desoto Central Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	1258	54.7	23.0	28.7
2003	1258	54.7	23.0	28.7
2004	1246	59.2	21.0	12.8
2005	975	51.5	18.9	16.5
2006	1131	54.7	20.7	11.2
2007	1257	57.9	21.7	18.1
2008	1283	63.3	20.3	19.1
2009	1365	68.1	20.0	21
2010	1370	66.0	20.7	23.8
2011	726	36.5	19.8	25.1
2012	689	37.1	18.5	31.6
2013	675	38.2	17.6	27.1
2014	666	36.6	18.1	29.6
2015	720	39.0	18.4	31.7
2016	703	37.0	19.0	34.1
2017	735	38.1	19.2	37.7
2018	745	39.1	19.0	36.1
2019	797	42.4	18.7	35.8
2020	808	44.6	18.1	36.9
2021	755	46.5	16.2	99.6
2022	765	46.6	16.4	99.6
2023	796	48.7	16.3	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 Desoto Central Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$6,303
2018	$6,378
2019	$6,739
2020	$8,041
2021	$7,368
2022	$8,129

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Desoto Central Elementary School

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 49^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 84^th of 377 Elementary schools	9.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Desoto Central Elementary School)	63	65.9	2.9%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	75.6	63.1	12.5%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	61.5	64.1	2.6%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	59.6	57.5	2.1%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	59	60.5	1.5%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	58.3	53.4	4.9%
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 (Desoto Central Elementary School)	78.6	72.2	6.4%
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	797	796	0.1%
African American	240	322	34.2%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	35	40	14.3%
Hispanic	21	19	9.5%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	422	311	26.3%
Two or More Races	78	101	29.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	35.8%	99.6%	63.9%

Schools Near Desoto Central Elementary School

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Hernando Hills Elementary	Public	2-3	570 McIngvale Road	Hernando	38632	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 429-9117	692	47	14.8	99.6%	528 (76.3%)	70 (10.1%)	30 (4.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	60 (8.7%)								(n/a)	81.7			78.6				$9,644
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Desoto Central Elementary School

How many students attend Desoto Central Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 796 students attended Desoto Central Elementary School.

Is Desoto Central Elementary School a good school?

Desoto Central Elementary School ranks 96^th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Desoto Central Elementary School?

Students at Desoto Central Elementary School are 40% African American, 39% White, 13% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 2% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Desoto Central Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Desoto Central Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Desoto Central Middle School
High : Desoto Central High School

What district is Desoto Central Elementary School in?

Desoto County School District

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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.