51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ

Desoto School District

530 Lasolona Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266-4911
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 1,107 students in Desoto School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Florida.
Public Middle Schools in Desoto School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Florida public middle school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 30% (versus the 52% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Florida public middle school average of 66% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (FL)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,745 Schools
# Students
4,286 Students
1,042,011 Students
# Teachers
223 Teachers
54,708 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
19:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Desoto School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 73 school districts in Florida (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 75% has increased from 61% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (FL)
#69 out of 73 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
35%
52%
32%
52%
32%
52%
75%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.62
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
3%
% Hispanic
52%
38%
% Black
12%
21%
% White
32%
34%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,445 is higher than the state median of $11,962. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,714 is higher than the state median of $11,615. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (FL)
Total Revenue
$53 MM
$34,349 MM
Spending
$55 MM
$33,354 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,445
$11,962
Spending / Student
$12,714
$11,615

Best Desoto School District Public Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Desoto Virtual Academy
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 6 students Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #22.
Desoto Virtual Franchise
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 30-39% )
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #33.
Desoto Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
420 E Gibson St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-4133
Gr: 6-8 | 1,011 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #44.
Desoto Secondary School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
318 N Wilson Ave
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-9303
Gr: K-12 | 68 students Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: n/an/a
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12
Rank: n/an/a
Reduced Services
Alternative School
310 W Whidden St
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 993-1333
Gr: K-12 | 12 students Minority enrollment: 67%

Recent Articles

School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,286 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 68%
  • : 75% (Btm 50% in FL)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 35% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), FL Dept. of Education

Quick Links