- Enrollment
- 1,215
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Arcadia, FL
Desoto Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desoto Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120042000624
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desoto Middle School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #6 of 8
- public schools in Arcadia · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.8:1
- students per teacher
- 70.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desoto Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Middle School ranks #6 of 8 public schools in Arcadia, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-158 students YoY
Desoto Middle School shrank from 1,169 students in 2022-23 to 1,011 in 2023-24 (-13.5%).
Teacher FTE added 49.0 → 50.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-158 students YoY 120042000624 · Arcadia, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
922 enr · 18.8:1 · 70.0% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Desoto County High School (1,215 students)
Desoto Middle School shrank from 1,169 students in 2022-23 to 1,011 in 2023-24 (-13.5%). Teacher FTE added 49.0 → 50.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Desoto Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Desoto County
Desoto County High School
1,215 students
- This school
Desoto Middle School
922 students
- Memorial Eleme
Memorial Elementary School
861 students
- West Elementar
West Elementary School
622 students
- Nocatee Elemen 475
Nocatee Elementary School
475 students
- Desoto Virtual 53
Desoto Virtual Academy
53 students
What this shows Desoto Middle School reports 922 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desoto Middle School compares
Desoto Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.0% | ▲ 35% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 922 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
922
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 69% in Florida - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
42.7%
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
$12,385
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
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 922 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
154
in-school suspensions + 252 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 16.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 44.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 29 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 55.3%
White 27.2%
African American 13.4%
Two or More 3.3%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 55.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.1, Desoto Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Desoto reports $12,385 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desoto Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Memorial Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Nocatee Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desoto Virtual Academy | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desoto Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 622
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 53
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
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 (~922 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desoto Middle School
How many students attend Desoto Middle School?
Desoto Middle School has 922 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Arcadia, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,169 (2022-23) → 1,011 (2023-24), down 158.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desoto Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desoto Middle School is 18.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desoto Middle School?
70.0% of students at Desoto Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desoto Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desoto Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 55.3% of enrollment, in Arcadia, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desoto Middle School?
Desoto Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (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 Middle School rank among public schools in Arcadia?
By Resource Investment Index, Desoto Middle School ranks #6 of 8 public schools in Arcadia, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Arcadia on the city page.
What other schools are in Desoto?
Besides Desoto Middle School, Desoto also operates Desoto County High School (1,215 students), Memorial Elementary School (861 students), and West Elementary School (622 students). See the Desoto district page for the complete list.