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Desoto County High School

Summary:

Desoto County High School is a public high school in Arcadia, Florida, serving 1,244 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Desoto District, which is ranked 67th out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Desoto County High School has a diverse student population, with 39.15% White, 9.57% African American, and 48.23% Hispanic students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is significantly lower than the state averages. For example, only 19% of students were proficient or better in Algebra 1 EOC, compared to the state average of 55%. The school has also seen a decline in its four-year graduation rates, from 88.7% in 2019-2020 to 74.8% in 2022-2023, which is lower than the state average and significantly lower than the 45.5% four-year graduation rate at the nearby Pioneer Career Academy.

Desoto County High School faces significant challenges, including high rates of chronic absenteeism (34.9%) and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (66.64%). These factors suggest that the school is serving a population with significant socioeconomic challenges, which can have a significant impact on student learning and academic achievement. While the school's diverse student population and available resources present potential opportunities for targeted interventions and support, addressing the root causes of the school's challenges will require a comprehensive approach.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1710 E Gibson St
       Arcadia, FL  34266

(863) 494-3434

District: Desoto

SchoolDigger Rank:
621st of 807 Florida High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,284 Help


Feeder schools for Desoto County High School:

Elementary:    Memorial Elementary School
    Nocatee Elementary School
    West Elementary School
Middle:    Desoto Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.1 Help
Number of students:  1,259

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
51.9%
White:
35.1%
African American:
10.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  61.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Desoto County High School ranks worse than 77% of high schools in Florida. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.69. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Desoto County High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (51.9%), White (35.1%), African American (10.3%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 61.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Desoto County High School is 18.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Desoto County High School employs 69.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Desoto County High School is $11,284.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Desoto County High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Desoto County High School 621st of 807 Florida public high schools. (See Desoto County High School in the ranking list.)

Desoto:

SchoolDigger ranks Desoto 67th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Desoto County High School?

Rank History for Desoto County High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 43.98 294th 484 39.3%
2005 45.09 304th 487 37.6%
2006 38.97 322nd 477 32.5%
2007 33.18 389th 563 30.9%
2008 37.21 380th 577 34.1%
2009 35.37 412th 587 29.8%
2010 44.65 388th 620 37.4%
2011 31.36 463rd 622 25.6%
2012 31.33 392nd 606 35.3%
2013 39.72 375th 648 42.1%
2014 41.69 391st 687 43.1%
2016 28.29 468th 693 32.5%
2017 19.83 538th 714 24.6%
2018 20.22 544th 716 24.0%
2019 23.50 538th 734 26.7%
2021 23.01 532nd 746 28.7%
2022 19.83 594th 774 23.3%
2023 25.87 544th 792 31.3%
2024 22.69 621st 807 23.0%
See the entire list of Florida High School Rankings!

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

Desoto County High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Florida Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Desoto County High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 712 212 9 32 0 n/a n/a 0 965
1989 694 226 6 31 0 n/a n/a 0 957
1990 630 174 7 34 0 n/a n/a 0 845
1991 674 175 8 47 4 n/a n/a 0 908
1992 689 197 8 52 3 n/a n/a 0 949
1993 678 217 12 62 0 n/a n/a 0 969
1994 631 236 10 77 0 n/a n/a 0 954
1995 685 245 9 112 1 n/a n/a 0 1052
1996 685 245 9 112 1 n/a n/a 0 1052
1997 688 214 8 143 0 n/a n/a 0 1053
1998 712 213 10 149 1 n/a n/a 0 1085
1999 687 200 8 178 2 n/a n/a 0 1075
2000 685 206 6 196 2 n/a n/a 0 1095
2001 665 211 7 223 3 n/a n/a 0 1109
2002 682 239 2 261 3 n/a n/a 0 1187
2003 682 239 2 261 3 n/a n/a 0 1187
2004 676 230 7 291 3 n/a n/a 0 1207
2005 681 244 7 324 2 n/a n/a 0 1258
2006 710 222 9 318 1 n/a n/a 0 1260
2007 665 204 11 320 1 n/a n/a 5 1206
2008 615 215 10 355 1 n/a n/a 8 1204
2009 590 182 9 352 1 n/a n/a 8 1142
2010 587 159 6 374 2 n/a n/a 8 1136
2011 528 153 7 407 0 0 16 0 1111
2012 500 154 9 424 1 1 17 0 1106
2013 498 142 8 498 3 2 24 0 1175
2014 488 132 6 498 2 2 21 0 1149
2015 483 146 5 522 1 1 20 0 1178
2016 478 144 5 580 0 1 25 0 1233
2017 467 134 4 568 1 0 28 0 1202
2018 465 141 4 608 2 0 28 0 1248
2019 444 138 6 671 3 1 28 0 1291
2020 467 115 5 664 3 1 24 0 1279
2021 438 117 4 583 1 2 24 0 1169
2022 468 132 6 607 2 1 28 0 1244
2023 487 119 9 600 2 1 26 0 1244
2024 442 130 10 653 3 1 20 0 1259

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 County High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 965 65.0 14.8 23.1
1989 957 59.0 16.2 23.2
1990 845 58.0 14.5 21.4
1991 908 60.0 15.1 21
1992 949 53.0 17.9 27.8
1993 969 55.0 17.6 28.6
1994 954 56.0 17.0 29.6
1995 1052 56.0 18.8 35.8
1996 1052 56.0 18.8 35.8
1997 1053 58.0 18.2 38.7
1998 1085 63.0 17.2 36.7
1999 1075 64.0 16.8 43.7
2000 1095 61.0 18.0 42.6
2001 1109 65.0 17.1 43.2
2002 1187 67.0 17.7 47.3
2003 1187 67.0 17.7 47.3
2004 1207 68.0 17.8 51.5
2005 1258 65.0 19.4 47.3
2006 1260 67.0 18.8 48.7
2007 1206 66.0 18.3 51.3
2008 1204 67.0 18.0 60.4
2009 1142 73.6 17.3 60.5
2010 1136 63.5 17.8 65.2
2011 1111 68.0 16.3 68.3
2012 1106 67.3 16.4 69
2013 1175 69.0 17.0 73.6
2014 1149 71.0 16.1 69.7
2015 1178 67.0 17.5 52
2016 1233 69.0 17.8 52.9
2017 1202 68.0 17.6 54
2018 1248 66.0 18.9 8.2
2019 1291 66.0 19.5 55.5
2020 1279 68.0 18.8 50.4
2021 1169 66.9 17.4 55.1
2022 1244 68.5 18.1 57.1
2023 1244 70.3 17.6 66.6
2024 1259 69.5 18.1 61.5

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 County High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 965 65.0 14.8 23.1
1989 957 59.0 16.2 23.2
1990 845 58.0 14.5 21.4
1991 908 60.0 15.1 21
1992 949 53.0 17.9 27.8
1993 969 55.0 17.6 28.6
1994 954 56.0 17.0 29.6
1995 1052 56.0 18.8 35.8
1996 1052 56.0 18.8 35.8
1997 1053 58.0 18.2 38.7
1998 1085 63.0 17.2 36.7
1999 1075 64.0 16.8 43.7
2000 1095 61.0 18.0 42.6
2001 1109 65.0 17.1 43.2
2002 1187 67.0 17.7 47.3
2003 1187 67.0 17.7 47.3
2004 1207 68.0 17.8 51.5
2005 1258 65.0 19.4 47.3
2006 1260 67.0 18.8 48.7
2007 1206 66.0 18.3 51.3
2008 1204 67.0 18.0 60.4
2009 1142 73.6 17.3 60.5
2010 1136 63.5 17.8 65.2
2011 1111 68.0 16.3 68.3
2012 1106 67.3 16.4 69
2013 1175 69.0 17.0 73.6
2014 1149 71.0 16.1 69.7
2015 1178 67.0 17.5 52
2016 1233 69.0 17.8 52.9
2017 1202 68.0 17.6 54
2018 1248 66.0 18.9 8.2
2019 1291 66.0 19.5 55.5
2020 1279 68.0 18.8 50.4
2021 1169 66.9 17.4 55.1
2022 1244 68.5 18.1 57.1
2023 1244 70.3 17.6 66.6
2024 1259 69.5 18.1 61.5

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 County High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $924 (10.7%) $7,723 (89.3%) $8,647
2019 $808 (9.3%) $7,882 (90.7%) $8,689
2020 $959 (10.4%) $8,285 (89.6%) $9,245
2021 $1,164 (11.7%) $8,798 (88.3%) $9,962
2022 $2,196 (19.7%) $8,939 (80.3%) $11,135
2023 $2,726 (24.2%) $8,558 (75.8%) $11,284

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Desoto County High 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 538th of 734 High schoolsRanks 544th of 792 High schools
 4.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto County High School)3832
 6%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto)3730
 7%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5551
 4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto County High School)1730
 13%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Desoto)1731
 14%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5349
 4%
End of Course Biology 1 (Desoto County High School)5045
 5%
   End of Course Biology 1 (Desoto)4945
 4%
   End of Course Biology 1 (Florida)6763
 4%
End of Course US History (Desoto County High School)6057
 3%
   End of Course US History (Desoto)5854
 4%
   End of Course US History (Florida)7063
 7%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Desoto County High School)2510
 15%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Desoto)4926
 23%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%
End of Course Geometry (Desoto County High School)4026
 14%
   End of Course Geometry (Desoto)4026
 14%
   End of Course Geometry (Florida)5750
 7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students12911244
 3.6%
African American138119
 13.8%
American Indian32
 33.3%
Asian69
 50%
Hispanic671600
 10.6%
Pacific Islander11
White444487
 9.7%
Two or More Races2826
 7.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients55.5%66.6%
 11.1%

Schools Near Desoto County High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Desoto County High School

Students at Desoto County High School are 52% Hispanic, 35% White, 10% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Desoto County High School ranks in the bottom 23.0% of Florida high schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,259 students attended Desoto County High School.

Desoto County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Memorial Elementary School
Elementary : Nocatee Elementary School
Elementary : West Elementary School
Middle : Desoto Middle School


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




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