Schools in Zip Code 38672

ZIP code 38672 in Southaven, Mississippi, is home to four schools serving approximately 5,015 students in grades PK–12, all part of the DeSoto County School District, which ranks 45th out of 134 districts statewide (66th percentile, three stars). The feeder pattern runs from DeSoto Central Primary School (PK–2) to DeSoto Central Elementary (3–5), then DeSoto Central Middle School (6–8), and finally DeSoto Central High School (9–12).

The secondary schools are the clear standouts. DeSoto Central Middle School ranks in the 80th percentile (52nd of 260) with exceptional math performance — 71.8% of 7th graders and 71.2% of 8th graders are proficient, compared to state averages of 57.7% and 51.4%. Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 18.0%, the lowest of the upper-grade schools. DeSoto Central High School also ranks in the 80th percentile (44th of 224) with a 96.1% graduation rate and proficiency above state averages in Algebra I (74.2%), English II (63.1%), and Biology (68.8%). The one concern at the high school is chronic absenteeism at 29.4% — the highest in the cluster — suggesting outcomes could improve further if attendance improved.

The weak link is DeSoto Central Elementary, whose state ranking has fallen sharply from 96th to 242nd over two years. Math proficiency dropped a dramatic 14.5 points in one year, from 49.7% to 35.2%, while the state average is about 50%. ELA and science also trail the state. Notably, the middle school has a similar free/reduced lunch rate (41.9% versus 45.4%) yet performs far above state averages, suggesting school-level factors matter more than demographics alone. Families should watch this elementary trend closely, as the strong secondary results may not be sustainable if the decline continues.