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DeSoto County

Mississippi · Public K-12

DeSoto County hosts 43 public K-12 schools. Together they educate about 34,934 Mississippi students across 24 elementary, 8 middle, and 10 high.

7-year change in DeSoto County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
34,934
+943 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
39
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
39%
was 51%
% Hispanic
11%
was 5%
% Black
43%
was 36%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
43
1 districts
Enrollment
34,934
NCES CCD
Median income
$85,297
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.7%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
24
15,670 students
Middle
8
8,146 students
High
10
11,118 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
DeSoto County School District
34,934 students · 1 district in DeSoto County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of DeSoto County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
57%
Hispanic
6%
Black
33%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
39%
Hispanic
11%
Black
43%
Asian
2%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
29.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
37
25.0% under 18

Test scores in DeSoto County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 39 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.

See all 39 schools in DeSoto County ranked by score →

All schools (43)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
DeSoto Central High SchoolSouthavenHigh09-132,004·
Southaven High SchoolSouthavenHigh09-131,876·
Hernando High SchoolHernandoHigh09-131,529·
Southaven Middle SchoolSouthavenMiddle06-081,423·
DeSoto Central Middle SchoolSouthavenMiddle06-081,388·
Lewisburg High SchoolOlive BranchHigh09-131,330·
Horn Lake High SchoolHorn LakeHigh09-121,271·
Hernando Middle SchoolHernandoMiddle06-081,183·
Pleasant Hill Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementaryPK-051,079·
Center Hill High SchoolOlive BranchHigh09-131,059·
Olive Branch High SchoolOlive BranchHigh09-121,058·
Southaven Intermediate SchoolSouthavenElementary03-051,046·
Lewisburg Middle SchoolHernandoMiddle06-08996·
Lake Cormorant High SchoolLake CormorantHigh09-13991·
Horn Lake Middle SchoolHorn LakeMiddle06-08948·
Horn Lake Intermediate SchoolHorn LakeElementary03-05914·
DeSoto Central ElementarySouthavenElementary03-05831·
DeSoto Central Primary SchoolSouthavenElementaryPK-02792·
Center Hill Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementaryPK-05788·
Hernando Hills ElementaryHernandoElementary02-03770·
Center Hill Middle SchoolOlive BranchMiddle06-08757·
Oak Grove Central Elementary SchoolHernandoElementary04-05744·
Olive Branch Middle SchoolOlive BranchMiddle06-08744·
Walls Elementary SchoolWallsElementaryPK-05722·
Hernando Elementary SchoolHernandoElementaryPK-01707·
Lake Cormorant Middle SchoolLake CormorantMiddle06-08707·
Southaven Elementary SchoolSouthavenElementaryPK-05681·
Lake Cormorant ElementaryLake CormorantElementaryPK-05635·
Overpark Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementaryPK-05635·
Lewisburg Intermediate SchoolOlive BranchElementary04-05606·
Lewisburg Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementary02-03604·
Lewisburg Primary SchoolOlive BranchElementaryPK-01578·
Hope Sullivan Elementary SchoolSouthavenElementaryPK-02563·
Greenbrook Elementary SchoolSouthavenElementaryPK-02556·
Horn Lake Elementary SchoolHorn LakeElementaryPK-02520·
Olive Branch Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementaryPK-01504·
Chickasaw Elementary SchoolOlive BranchElementary02-03500·
Olive Branch Intermediate SchoolOlive BranchElementary04-05472·
Shadow Oaks Elementary SchoolHorn LakeElementaryPK-02423·
DESOTO COUNTY ALTERNATIVE CENTERHernandoCombinedKG-120·
DeSoto Co. Career Center EastOlive BranchHigh10-120·
DeSoto Co. Career Center WestHorn LakeHigh09-120·
Hernando Intermediate SchoolHernandoElementaryM-M··

Cities in DeSoto County

Olive Branch13 schoolsSouthaven7 schoolsHernando6 schoolsHorn Lake5 schoolsSouthaven3 schoolsHernando2 schoolsLake Cormorant2 schoolsOlive Branch2 schoolsHorn Lake1 schoolLake Cormorant1 schoolWalls1 school

About DeSoto County

DeSoto County is an average-sized Mississippi county of about 191,301 residents, home to 43 public schools and roughly 34,934 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $85,297, 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 8%. That income level is 71% above the Mississippi median.

Looking at the level breakdown, DeSoto County is made up of 24 elementary schools (15,670 students), 8 middle schools (8,146), 10 high schools (11,118), and 1 combined or other schools.

DeSoto County School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 34,934 students across DeSoto County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in DeSoto County has expanded 3% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 33,991 students to 34,934. DeSoto County now counts 39 public schools, up from 38 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment shrank from 51% to 39%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for DeSoto County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County, Mississippi has 43 public K-12 schools serving approximately 34,934 students.
How many high schools are in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County, Mississippi has 10 public high schools, serving approximately 11,118 students.
How many middle schools are in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County, Mississippi has 8 public middle schools, serving approximately 8,146 students.
How many elementary schools are in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County, Mississippi has 24 public elementary schools, serving approximately 15,670 students.
What is the largest school district in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County School District is the largest school district in DeSoto County, serving approximately 34,934 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
How many people live in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County has roughly 191,301 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in DeSoto County?
Median household income in DeSoto County is $85,297, above the Mississippi average of $49,977. About 7.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of DeSoto County?
Approximately 29.0% of adults 25 and older in DeSoto County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in DeSoto County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 48.7% of students in DeSoto County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Mississippi county average of 82.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in DeSoto County schools?
Across DeSoto County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.3 to 1.

DeSoto County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data