Enrollment
1,423
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Southaven, MS
Southaven Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Southaven Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280132000933
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 3
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southaven Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #2 of 7
- public schools in Southaven · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 74.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southaven Middle School has class sizes larger than 88% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southaven Middle School ranks #2 of 7 public schools in Southaven, MS.
School address
District: Desoto Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280132000933 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
89.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
+20% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
74.0%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-8% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southaven Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southaven Middle School
Southaven Middle School is a higher-need, large middle school in Southaven, Mississippi, enrolling 1,423 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16:1 is larger than about 88% of Mississippi schools and 20% above the 13.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 74.0% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Mississippi, bigger than 98% of state schools at 1,423 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 42 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #21.
Its student body is led by African American (61%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%) (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 356 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Desoto Co School Dist spends $8,778 per pupil, 27% below the Mississippi average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 659 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,423 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Desoto Co School Dist also operates Desoto Central High School (2,004 students) and Southaven High School (1,876 students) alongside Southaven Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Southaven Middle School compares
Southaven Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16:1 | ▲ 20% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.0% | ▼ 8% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,423 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,423
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
74.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 88% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.9%
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
$8,778
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
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 356 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
375
in-school suspensions + 284 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 46.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 61.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.8%
White 15.2%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 61.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.0, Southaven Middle School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Desoto Co School Dist, which includes Southaven Middle School.
$8,778
Per student
-27%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-47%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.8%
State 51.9%
Federal 14.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Southaven Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southaven High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hernando High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desoto Central Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lewisburg High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southaven Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,004
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- 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
- 1,388
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,330
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,423 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southaven Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Southaven Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Desoto Co School Dist's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Southaven Middle School
How many students attend Southaven Middle School?
Southaven Middle School has 1,423 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Southaven, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southaven Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southaven Middle School is 16:1, which is 20% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southaven Middle School?
74.0% of students at Southaven Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southaven Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Southaven Middle School is African American at 61.3% of enrollment, in Southaven, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southaven Middle School?
Southaven Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southaven Middle School rank among public schools in Southaven?
By Resource Investment Index, Southaven Middle School ranks #2 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.
Is Southaven Middle School a good school?
Southaven Middle School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Desoto Co School Dist?
Besides Southaven 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.