- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Southaven, MS
Desoto Central Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desoto Central Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280132000979
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desoto Central Middle School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 95% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #7 of 7
- public schools in Southaven · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 37.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Desoto Central Middle School has class sizes larger than 95% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Middle School ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Southaven, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132000979 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-61 students YoY
Desoto Central Middle School held near 1,407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-61 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 77.1 → 80.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-61 students YoY 280132000979 · Southaven, MS Middle · MID · TRAD
1,388 enr · 18:1 · 37.5% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Desoto Central High School (2,004 students)
Desoto Central Middle School held near 1,407 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-61 headcount). Teacher FTE added 77.1 → 80.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Desoto Central Middle 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
- This school
Desoto Central Middle School
1,388 students
- Lewisburg High
Lewisburg High School
1,330 students
What this shows Desoto Central Middle School reports 1,388 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desoto Central Middle School compares
Desoto Central Middle 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 | 18:1 | ▲ 35% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.5% | ▼ 53% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,388 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,388
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% 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
18:1
students per teacher
- 35% above state mean
Top 95% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 5% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
49.6%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 463 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
275
in-school suspensions + 152 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 30.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 47.9%
White 31.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.8%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 4.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 47.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.8, Desoto Central Middle 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 Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southaven High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southaven Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lewisburg High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desoto Central Middle 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
- 1,330
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~1,388 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desoto Central Middle School
How many students attend Desoto Central Middle School?
Desoto Central Middle School has 1,388 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Southaven, MS. CCD year-over-year: 1,468 (2022-23) → 1,407 (2023-24), nearly flat (-61).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Middle School is 18:1, which is 35% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desoto Central Middle School?
37.5% of students at Desoto Central Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desoto Central Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desoto Central Middle School is African American at 47.9% of enrollment, in Southaven, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desoto Central Middle School?
Desoto Central Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Middle School rank among public schools in Southaven?
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Middle School ranks #7 of 7 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 Middle 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.