Summary:
In zip code 34266, there is one middle school, Desoto Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Arcadia, Florida, as part of the Desoto School District.
Desoto Middle School has a total enrollment of 922 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16.4:1. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools over the last three years, with its state ranking fluctuating between the 19th and 24th percentile. A significant concern is the high chronic absenteeism rate of 37.7%, which is above both the district and state averages. The school also has a high poverty indicator, with 57.48% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Despite spending $12,333 per student—likely above the state average—academic outcomes remain low, with proficiency rates below the state average in 8 out of 9 tested categories for the 2025-2026 school year.
One notable bright spot is the school's performance in Algebra 1, where 63% of students were proficient in the 2024-2025 school year, outperforming the state average of 60%. However, this was followed by a drop to 55% the next year, suggesting volatility that may depend on specific cohorts or teachers. Overall, the school shows inconsistent grade-level performance, with proficiency rates varying significantly from year to year. While there has been a slight, non-linear improvement in state ranking, the combination of high chronic absenteeism and inconsistent academic results indicates that Desoto Middle School faces substantial challenges in translating its higher spending into stable, school-wide academic gains.
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