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Desoto Central High School

Q: Is Desoto Central High School a good school?

Desoto Central High School ranks 44 th of 224 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

44^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 224 Mississippi High Schools

Better than 80% of Mississippi high schools

Summary

DeSoto Central High School is a large public high school in Southaven, Mississippi, serving 2,004 students in grades 9–12 as part of the DeSoto County School District. It currently ranks 44th out of 224 Mississippi high schools (80th percentile, 4 stars) and posts a strong 96.1% graduation rate, well above the state average of 89.2%. It is the largest high school in the area, with a student-teacher ratio of 17.8-to-1 — the highest among nearby schools. While the school serves a relatively advantaged student body — 32.6% qualify for free/reduced lunch, compared to 51.6% at Olive Branch High School and 55.5% at Southaven High School — its poverty rate is higher than Lewisburg High School (18.3%) and Hernando High School (23.0%).

Academically, DeSoto Central's results are mixed. English II is a genuine strength, with 63.1% proficiency in SY 2025-26 versus 49.3% statewide. U.S. History is also solid, and Algebra I has generally been strong, though it fell sharply from 84.7% to 74.2% in the latest year. Biology, however, has lagged the district average for four straight years, and the gap versus top nearby schools is stark: in SY 2024-25, Hernando High School posted 84.3% and Lewisburg High School 83.1% in Biology, while DeSoto Central managed just 65.9%. Overall, the school sits behind Lewisburg (#5), Hernando (#12), and Center Hill High School (#39) in statewide rankings, with Olive Branch High School (#47) just behind.

The most concerning trend is chronic absenteeism. DeSoto Central's rate jumped from 7.0% in 2018-19 to 57.6% in 2021-22, and while it has improved to 29.4%, it remains above district (26.4%) and state (23.9%) averages. A decade ago, this was the #2 high school in Mississippi; it is now competing for fourth place in its own district. The school remains above average overall, with good graduation rates and strong English outcomes, but its slide from elite status — combined with elevated absenteeism and weak STEM performance — means it is no longer the flagship it once was.

2,004

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,647

Per pupil spending ?

32.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2911 Central Parkway
Southaven, MS 38672

(662) 536-3612

District: Desoto County School District

Feeder schools for Desoto Central High School:

Elementary:	DeSoto Central Elementary
	DeSoto Central Primary School
	Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Middle:	Desoto Central Middle School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.6%

White:

34.6%

Hispanic:

7.7%

See top rated Mississippi high schools

Compare Desoto Central High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 99th percentile in 2016 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Mississippi average (69% vs 60% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 20% of Mississippi high schools

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Mississippi average (89%)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 19 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school69%

District avg66%

Mississippi avg60%

44^th of 224

Mississippi public high schools ?

Top 20%▼ down 19 pts since 2016

From top 1% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8High Schools in the Desoto County School District

45^th of 134Desoto County School District among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	74.0	44 of 224	80.4%	★★★★☆
2025	74.9	60 of 232	74.1%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	47 of 228	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	71.2	53 of 226	76.5%	★★★★☆
2022	77.2	41 of 228	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	74.2	50 of 231	78.4%	★★★★☆
2019	83.5	21 of 233	91.0%	★★★★★
2018	88.2	7 of 233	97.0%	★★★★★
2017	89.2	7 of 237	97.0%	★★★★★
2016	92.2	2 of 231	99.1%	★★★★★
2015	94.4	2 of 226	99.1%	★★★★★
2014	84.7	10 of 236	95.8%	★★★★★
2013	82.1	20 of 238	91.6%	★★★★★
2012	85.9	6 of 241	97.5%	★★★★★
2011	84.1	5 of 244	98.0%	★★★★★
2010	82.7	7 of 235	97.0%	★★★★★
2009	80.7	14 of 235	94.0%	★★★★★
2008	79.1	22 of 235	90.6%	★★★★★
2007	77.7	24 of 232	89.7%	★★★★★
2006	76.3	18 of 232	92.2%	★★★★★
2005	81.4	6 of 232	97.4%	★★★★★
2004	83.9	1 of 232	99.6%	★★★★★

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I74%+8 vs state

Biology69%+6 vs state

English II63%+14 vs state

5.0

3 ratings · 1 written review

5★3

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Monday, January 1, 2024

It’s probably better than Southaven High. Close Quote

Schools Near Desoto Central High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MAAP Algebra I (2026)	MAAP English II (2026)	MAAP Biology (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP Algebra I End of Course	MAAP English II End of Course	MAAP Biology End of Course	Total
Desoto Central High School	Public	9-12	2911 Central Parkway	Southaven	38672	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 536-3612	2,004	112	17.8	32.6%	693 (34.6%)	974 (48.6%)	155 (7.7%)	79 (3.9%)	3 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (5.0%)	74	44^th of 224 public high schools	80.4%		74.9	60^th of 232 public high schools	74.1%	16	74.2	63.1	68.8	$8,647
DeSoto County Career Center West	Public	8-12	1005 Kuykendall Lane	Horn Lake	38637	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 393-6211	0	13	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Southaven High School	Public	9-12	735 Rasco Road W	Southaven	38671	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 393-9300	1,876	114	16.5	55.5%	329 (17.5%)	1,146 (61.1%)	289 (15.4%)	23 (1.2%)	5 (0.3%)	4 (0.2%)	80 (4.3%)	38.6	138^th of 224 public high schools	38.4%		30.6	156^th of 232 public high schools	32.8%	18	60.5	41.2	56.1	$9,681
Lewisburg High School	Public	9-12	1755 Craft Road	Olive Branch	38654	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 890-6708	1,330	82	16.2	18.3%	1,006 (75.6%)	155 (11.7%)	84 (6.3%)	36 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	46 (3.5%)	90.4	5^th of 224 public high schools	97.8%		90.8	10^th of 232 public high schools	95.7%	5	90.7	70.6	82.1	$10,033
Horn Lake High School	Public	9-12	3360 Church Road	Horn Lake	38637	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 393-5273	1,271	90	14.1	66.6%	130 (10.2%)	945 (74.4%)	148 (11.6%)	7 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (3.1%)	32.2	152^nd of 224 public high schools	32.1%		39.3	147^th of 232 public high schools	36.6%	5	67.2	35.3	46.8	$10,824
Olive Branch High School	Public	9-12	9366 Sandidge Road	Olive Branch	38654	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 893-3344	1,058	76	13.8	51.6%	300 (28.4%)	559 (52.8%)	127 (12.0%)	13 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	58 (5.5%)	72.9	47^th of 224 public high schools	79.0%		71	70^th of 232 public high schools	69.8%	23	83.6	47.0	81.9	$10,774
Hernando High School	Public	9-12	1200 McIngvale Road	Nesbit	38632	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 429-4170	1,529	89	17.1	23.0%	1,127 (73.7%)	173 (11.3%)	149 (9.7%)	17 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	60 (3.9%)	87.5	12^th of 224 public high schools	94.6%		90.6	12^th of 232 public high schools	94.8%		88.5	69.9	78.1	$9,559
Desoto County Career Center East	Public	8-12	8890 Deerfield Dr.	Olive Branch	38654	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 893-0855	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Center Hill High School	Public	9-12	13250 Kirk Road	Olive Branch	38654	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 890-2490	1,059	70	15.2	39.3%	335 (31.6%)	571 (53.9%)	105 (9.9%)	13 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (3.3%)	76.6	39^th of 224 public high schools	82.6%		82.1	34^th of 232 public high schools	85.3%	5	83.8	62.2	67.6	$10,069
Lake Cormorant High School	Public	9-12	10201 Starlanding Rd	Lake Cormorant	38641	DeSoto County	Desoto County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 996-3060	991	64	15.3	61.0%	319 (32.2%)	481 (48.5%)	147 (14.8%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	37 (3.7%)	51.5	111^th of 224 public high schools	50.4%		39.8	146^th of 232 public high schools	37.1%	35	64.3	43.3	69.8	$10,567

Frequently Asked Questions about Desoto Central High School

How many students attend Desoto Central High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,004 students attended Desoto Central High School.

What schools feed into Desoto Central High School?

Desoto Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : DeSoto Central Elementary
Elementary : DeSoto Central Primary School
Elementary : Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Middle : Desoto Central Middle School

Is Desoto Central High School a good school?

Desoto Central High School ranks 44^th of 224 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Desoto Central High School in?

Desoto County School District

What is the racial makeup of Desoto Central High School?

Students at Desoto Central High School are 49% African American, 35% White, 8% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

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Schools in Southaven, MS

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Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2025–26 MAAP test scoresNewAug 21, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataSep 26, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 26, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesSep 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.