- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Southaven, MS
Desoto Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Desoto Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280132000998
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desoto Central Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Mississippi schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Southaven · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 39.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Desoto Central Elementary School has class sizes larger than 94% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Southaven, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132000998 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+24 students YoY
Desoto Central Elementary School held near 820 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 48.7 → 51.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+24 students YoY 280132000998 · Southaven, MS Elementary · MID · TRAD
831 enr · 17.3:1 · 39.9% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Desoto Central High School (2,004 students)
Desoto Central Elementary School held near 820 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount). Teacher FTE added 48.7 → 51.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Desoto Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Desoto Central
Desoto Central High School
2,004 students
- Southaven High
Southaven High School
1,876 students
- Hernando High
Hernando High School
1,529 students
- Southaven Midd
Southaven Middle School
1,423 students
- Desoto Central
Desoto Central Middle School
1,388 students
- This school
Desoto Central Elementary School
831 students
What this shows Desoto Central Elementary School reports 831 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desoto Central Elementary School compares
Desoto Central Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 30% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.9% | ▼ 50% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 831 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
831
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 94% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$9,525
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 831 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 43.9%
White 31.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
Two or More 8.2%
Asian 5.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 43.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.6, Desoto Central Elementary School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Desoto Co School Dist reports $9,525 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desoto Central Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southaven High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southaven Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desoto Central Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desoto Central Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,876
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,529
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,423
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,388
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar elementary schools in Southaven
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~831 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desoto Central Elementary School
How many students attend Desoto Central Elementary School?
Desoto Central Elementary School has 831 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Southaven, MS. CCD year-over-year: 796 (2022-23) → 820 (2023-24), nearly flat (+24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Elementary School is 17.3:1, which is 30% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desoto Central Elementary School?
39.9% of students at Desoto Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desoto Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Desoto Central Elementary School is African American at 43.9% of enrollment, in Southaven, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desoto Central Elementary School?
Desoto Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desoto Central Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Southaven?
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Southaven, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Southaven on the city page.
What other schools are in Desoto Co School Dist?
Besides Desoto Central Elementary School, Desoto Co School Dist also operates Desoto Central High School (2,004 students), Southaven High School (1,876 students), and Hernando High School (1,529 students). See the Desoto Co School Dist district page for the complete list.