Elementary Schools in Desoto County School District

The DeSoto County School District in northern Mississippi operates 23 elementary schools serving roughly 15,670 students in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade across varied grade configurations, with the district itself earning a 3-star rating and ranking 45th out of 134 Mississippi districts. School sizes range dramatically, from 423 students at Shadow Oaks Elementary School to 1,079 at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, and the average campus enrolls about 681 students. Primary-only schools like Lewisburg Primary School and DeSoto Central Primary School don't have testing data since state assessments begin in 3rd grade.

The Lewisburg cluster clearly leads the district. Lewisburg Intermediate School ranks 25th in the state (93rd percentile, 5 stars), with 5th grade science proficiency at 86.9% and math above 72%. Lewisburg Elementary School, the 2nd-3rd grade feeder, records 81.7% 3rd grade math proficiency and the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 11.2%. Center Hill Elementary School is another strong option, earning 4 stars with math proficiency above 75% in grades 3-4 and low absenteeism at 12.7%. Pleasant Hill Elementary School, despite being the largest school, also earns 4 stars with strong science (79.3%) and 4th grade math (68.4%) scores. Oak Grove Central Elementary School has been a top-tier performer, ranking 18th in the state in 2022-2023, while Hernando Hills Elementary posts 3rd grade scores considerably above state averages.

At the other end, Horn Lake Intermediate School is the district's lowest-ranked elementary campus (12th percentile, 1 star), with 16.3% 3rd grade math proficiency and the highest poverty rate among tested schools at 79.9%. Walls Elementary School and Southaven Elementary School also carry 1-star ratings with math proficiency mired in the mid-20s. Chronic absenteeism exceeds 30% at Horn Lake Intermediate School, Southaven Elementary School, Shadow Oaks Elementary School, and Hope Sullivan Elementary School, representing a serious obstacle. Math is the district's biggest academic weakness, while science is a consistent bright spot, even at lower-performing campuses. Notably, DeSoto Central Elementary has declined sharply from 96th to 242nd in state ranking despite low absenteeism and moderate poverty, a pattern that may merit closer investigation.