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Arcadia Hist Dist downtown Oak Street west01Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY-SA 3.0
D−
Schools in Arcadia · DeSoto County School District

Arcadia’s public schools score below 96% of Florida districts on tests and graduation

31% of students in Arcadia’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Arcadia, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Florida, not nationally.

#633of 638 Florida townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Florida state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
32%
▼ 20 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 21 pts vs FL 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
73%
▼ 15 pts vs FL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.6K
▲ 5% vs FL $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.7
FL 18.0
Schools in town
8
3,620 students on the public path
In brief

Arcadia’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 32% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 52% and 52% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

73% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida. Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $13,593 per student in FY2024, against $13,006 across Florida. 31% of its revenue that year was federal (Florida 15%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Desoto Middle School, then Desoto County High School. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Arcadia Christian Academy (private), Faith Community Christian Academy (private) and Desoto Christian School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Arcadia’s grade

D Test scoresD− Graduation

D−: better than 4% of Florida school districts, #633 of 638 Florida towns. Both inputs trail the Florida average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Florida school districts we grade (76)Better than 4%
Lower resultsHigher results
Florida towns with similar household incomes (122)Better than 3%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,700 test results and a graduating class of 339 could put Arcadia anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Arcadia’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,688 in math, 2,711 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Arcadia, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to C+
6–8Desoto Middle SchoolDeSoto County School DistrictC−
9–12Desoto County High SchoolDeSoto County School DistrictC−

Arcadia’s public schools are run by DeSoto County School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

DeSoto County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 4,155 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (FL 18.0)
$13,593FL $13,006 · FY2024
D−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading32%
State average 52.1% · 2711 students tested
Math31%
State average 52.2% · 2688 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 31% of the DeSoto County district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 15% across Florida, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Arcadia vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Florida towns that share Arcadia’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ArcadiaD−DeSoto County

Every school in Arcadia

8 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Florida’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Arcadiaby address
Memorial Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
861 students20:1Rate it →
West Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C
622 students17:1Rate it →
Desoto Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
922 students16:1Rate it →
Desoto County High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
1,215 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Desoto Secondary School
Grades K–12
D−
Alternative Education
51 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Arcadia Christian Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
191 students12:1Rate it →
Faith Community Christian Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Religious
157 students12:1Rate it →
Desoto Christian School
Grades 3–9
Private · Religious
4 students1:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Reduced Services and Teen Parent PK Child Care Program).

Questions about Arcadia’s schools

Are Arcadia’s schools good?

On Florida’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Arcadia children attend score below 96% of Florida’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade, #633 of 638 Florida towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Arcadia in?

DeSoto County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,155 students in 7 schools (2024–25).

Where do Arcadia kids go to high school?

Desoto County High School, with 1,215 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Arcadia’s graduation rate?

73% of the class of 2023 in DeSoto County School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Florida.

How much does Arcadia spend per student?

$13,593 in DeSoto County School District (FY2024), against $13,006 across Florida. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Arcadia?

Yes: Arcadia Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 191 students), Faith Community Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 157 students) and Desoto Christian School (religious, grades 3–9, 4 students).

Parents talk

What Arcadia families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Arcadia → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Florida. Stars are from neighbors.