Premier H S - Desoto

Premier H S - Desoto is a small public charter high school in Desoto, TX, serving just 72 students in grades 9 through 12, and it is part of the Premier High Schools district, which ranks in the bottom 10% of all Texas districts.

This school faces significant challenges, with academic performance that is critically low across all subjects. On the most recent STAAR exams, 0% of students were proficient in Biology, and only 12.5% were proficient in Algebra I—rates far below state averages. The school’s dropout rate is also a major concern at 6.4%, nearly three times higher than the state average and much higher than the nearby Desoto High School (2.2%). In fact, Desoto High School, located less than a mile away, outperforms Premier H S - Desoto in every measurable category, including graduation rates (86.1% vs. lower rates at Premier) and STAAR proficiency in English and History, which are 2-3 times higher. Another interesting comparison is with Uplift Hampton Prep High School, another charter school in the area that achieves much better results, with a 97.6% graduation rate and performance in the top 51% of schools statewide. This shows that the charter label itself doesn’t guarantee success—it depends on the school’s specific model and resources.

Adding to the complexity, Premier H S - Desoto shares an address with Texasworks - Desoto, an even smaller school with only 11 students, which may indicate a co-located program for credit recovery or alternative education. The school’s performance has also been declining over time, with effectiveness for all student groups dropping sharply in recent years. For families in the area, the local comprehensive Desoto High School offers a much stronger option, with higher test scores, a lower dropout rate, and a wider range of courses and activities.