Desoto 73

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Desoto, Missouri - 5 schools

An equity score of 43/100 ranks Desoto 73 #265 of 432 districts in Missouri (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,806 per pupil, Desoto 73 ranks #382 of 549 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending (Missouri districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,543
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$10,806
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Desoto 73 operates 5 public schools serving 2,543 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Missouri. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle, 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Jefferson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,806 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 549 Missouri districts by per-pupil spending. See how Missouri compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 45.8% local, 35.8% state, and 18.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 43/100, ranked #265 of 432 in Missouri against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 296.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 19.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.9% White, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Vineland Elem., with a diversity index of 16.8/100.

Its largest campus is Desoto Sr. High, enrolling 862 students (35% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Early Childhood Ctr., at 146 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Desoto Sr. High accounts for 33.9% of all Desoto 73 student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Desoto 73-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Desoto 73 school enrollment varies 5.9× across entities

Desoto 73 school enrollment ranges from 146 students (lowest) to 862 students (highest), a spread of 716 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Desoto 73 student-counselor ratio is 296:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Desoto 73 is typically wider than the Desoto 73-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Desoto 73 chronic absenteeism rate is 19.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Desoto 73 is typically wider than the Desoto 73-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

18.4%
Federal
35.8%
State
45.8%
Local

Funding Equity

43
Equity Score
265 / 432
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Desoto 73.

White 92.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1.8%
African American 0.9%
Multiracial 3.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 13.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Desoto 73's schools, below the Missouri average of 31.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Vineland Elem. 16.8
  2. 2 Athena Elem. 15.8
  3. 3 Desoto Jr. High 14.0
  4. 4 Desoto Sr. High 13.5
  5. 5 Early Childhood Ctr. 6.6

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
296.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Desoto 73

School Enrollment
Desoto Sr. High
862
Vineland Elem.
653
Athena Elem.
465
Desoto Jr. High
338
Early Childhood Ctr.
146

How Desoto 73 Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Missouri districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
University City Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Kipp St Louis Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Center 58 Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Kirksville R-Iii Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Smithville R-Ii Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Desoto 73's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Missouri

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Springfield R-Xii
22,937 students · 57 schools · $13,404/pupil
Compare vs Desoto 73 →
Rockwood R-Vi
20,563 students · 31 schools · $11,739/pupil
Compare vs Desoto 73 →
North Kansas City 74
20,561 students · 34 schools · $13,738/pupil
Compare vs Desoto 73 →
Columbia 93
18,800 students · 36 schools · $13,719/pupil
Compare vs Desoto 73 →
St. Louis City
18,321 students · 68 schools · $17,843/pupil
Compare vs Desoto 73 →

Compare Desoto 73

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Springfield R-Xii →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Desoto 73?

Desoto 73 has 5 schools, including 1 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 2,543 students.

How much does Desoto 73 spend per student?

Desoto 73 spends $10,806 per student. The district has an equity score of 43/100, ranking #265 in Missouri.

What is the demographic composition of Desoto 73?

Desoto 73 students are 92.9% White, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Desoto 73?

Desoto 73 has an equity score of 43/100, ranking #265 out of 432 districts in Missouri.