Top Rankings
Desoto County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Mississippi for:
Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 9 public middle schools serving 8,197 students in Desoto County School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public middle schools in Mississippi.
Public Middle Schools in Desoto County School District have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Mississippi public middle school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 39% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public middle school average of 53% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
42 Schools
357 Schools
# Students
34,819 Students
134,558 Students
# Teachers
2,395 Teachers
10,731 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Desoto County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 147 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#30 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
42%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
55%
Graduation Rate
94%
89%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.65
0.60
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
1%
% Hispanic
6%
5%
% Black
42%
42%
% White
41%
47%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $9,911 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,205. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,915 is less than the state median of $12,074. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$345 MM
$5,371 MM
Spending
$345 MM
$5,314 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,911
$12,205
Spending / Student
$9,915
$12,074
Best Desoto County School District Public Middle Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hernando Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
700 Dilworth Lane
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-4154
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-4154
Gr: 6-8 | 1,147 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Lewisburg Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2605 Hwy. 305 South
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 892-5050
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 892-5050
Gr: 6-8 | 1,005 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #33.
Desoto Central Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2611 Central Parkway
Southaven, MS 38672
(662) 349-6660
Southaven, MS 38672
(662) 349-6660
Gr: 6-8 | 1,407 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #44.
Center Hill Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8756 Forest Hill Irene
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 892-6800
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 892-6800
Gr: 6-8 | 768 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #55.
Olive Branch Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6530 S. Blocker Street
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 895-4610
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662) 895-4610
Gr: 6-8 | 714 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #66.
Lake Cormorant Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3203 Wilson Mill Road
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641
(662) 781-0778
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641
(662) 781-0778
Gr: 6-8 | 712 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #77.
Horn Lake Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
6125 Hurt Road
Horn Lake, MS 38637
(662) 393-7443
Horn Lake, MS 38637
(662) 393-7443
Gr: 6-8 | 993 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #88.
Southaven Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
899 Rasco Road
Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 280-0422
Southaven, MS 38671
(662) 280-0422
Gr: 6-8 | 1,451 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: n/an/a
Desoto County Alternative Center
Alternative School
2690 Magnolia Street
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-5597
Hernando, MS 38632
(662) 429-5597
Gr: K-12
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