- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Southaven, MS
Desoto Central Primary
Federal NCES profile for Desoto Central Primary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280132001369
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desoto Central Primary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Southaven · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 36.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Desoto Central Primary has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Primary ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Southaven, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132001369 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Desoto Central Primary held near 847 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-29 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 58.9 → 67.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-29 students YoY 280132001369 · Southaven, MS Elementary · MID · TRAD
792 enr · 13.7:1 · 36.2% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Desoto Central High School (2,004 students)
Desoto Central Primary held near 847 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-29 headcount). Teacher FTE added 58.9 → 67.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Desoto Central Primary 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 792
Desoto Central Primary
792 students
What this shows Desoto Central Primary reports 792 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desoto Central Primary compares
Desoto Central Primary 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 | 13.7:1 | ▲ 3% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.2% | ▼ 55% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 792 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
792
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% 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
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 59% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.5%
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 792 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
13
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 38.4%
African American 36.9%
Hispanic or Latino 11.7%
Two or More 8.5%
Asian 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 38.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.4, Desoto Central Primary 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 Primary 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southaven Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desoto Central Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desoto Central Primary'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
1 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 (~792 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desoto Central Primary
How many students attend Desoto Central Primary?
Desoto Central Primary has 792 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Southaven, MS. CCD year-over-year: 876 (2022-23) → 847 (2023-24), nearly flat (-29).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Primary?
The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Central Primary is 13.7:1, which is 3% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desoto Central Primary?
36.2% of students at Desoto Central Primary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desoto Central Primary?
The largest demographic group at Desoto Central Primary is White at 38.4% of enrollment, in Southaven, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desoto Central Primary?
Desoto Central Primary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Primary rank among public schools in Southaven?
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Central Primary ranks #2 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 Primary, 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.