- Enrollment
- 1,876
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Southaven, MS
Desoto Central High School
Federal NCES profile for Desoto Central High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 280132001569
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desoto Central High School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Southaven · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.1:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 31.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Desoto Central High School has class sizes larger than 97% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central High School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Southaven, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132001569 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+16 students YoY
Desoto Central High School held near 2,011 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 105.1 → 106.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+16 students YoY 280132001569 · Southaven, MS High · LARGE · TRAD
2,004 enr · 19.1:1 · 31.3% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Southaven High School (1,876 students)
Desoto Central High School held near 2,011 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+16 headcount). Teacher FTE added 105.1 → 106.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Desoto Central High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Lewisburg High
Lewisburg High School
1,330 students
What this shows Desoto Central High School reports 2,004 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desoto Central High School compares
Desoto Central High 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 | 19.1:1 | ▲ 44% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.3% | ▼ 61% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,004 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,004
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
31.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% 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
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 97% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 501 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
332
in-school suspensions + 97 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 48.6%
White 34.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Two or More 5.0%
Asian 3.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 48.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.4, Desoto Central High School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southaven High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southaven Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Desoto Central Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lewisburg High School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desoto Central High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 1,330
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide high 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 (~2,004 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desoto Central High School
How many students attend Desoto Central High School?
Desoto Central High School has 2,004 students enrolled. It is a high school in Southaven, MS. CCD year-over-year: 1,995 (2022-23) → 2,011 (2023-24), nearly flat (+16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central High School is 19.1:1, which is 44% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desoto Central High School?
31.3% of students at Desoto Central High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desoto Central High School?
The largest demographic group at Desoto Central High School is African American at 48.6% of enrollment, in Southaven, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desoto Central High School?
Desoto Central High School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desoto Central High School rank among public schools in Southaven?
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central High School ranks #1 of 3 public 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 public schools in Southaven on the city page.
What other schools are in Desoto Co School Dist?
Besides Desoto Central High School, Desoto Co School Dist also operates Southaven High School (1,876 students), Hernando High School (1,529 students), and Southaven Middle School (1,423 students). See the Desoto Co School Dist district page for the complete list.