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Schools in Southeast Arcadia · DeSoto County School District

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

31% of students in Southeast Arcadia’s public schools are proficient in math, below the Florida average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Southeast 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
0
4,095 students on the public path
In brief

Southeast 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 ↓

Three 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 ↓

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 Southeast 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 (431)Better than 1%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,700 test results and a graduating class of 339 could put Southeast Arcadia anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Southeast 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 Southeast Arcadia, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
6–8Desoto Middle Schoolin ArcadiaC−
9–12Desoto County High Schoolin ArcadiaC−

Southeast Arcadia’s public schools are run by DeSoto County School District, which also serves Arcadia. 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.

Southeast Arcadia vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Southeast ArcadiaD−DeSoto County
ArcadiaD−DeSoto County

Every school in Southeast Arcadia

5 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).

Also serving Southeast Arcadiain other towns
Memorial Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Arcadia
C+
861 students20:1Rate it →
West Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Arcadia
C
622 students17:1Rate it →
Nocatee Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Nocatee
D
475 students18:1Rate it →
Desoto Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Arcadia
C−
922 students16:1Rate it →
Desoto County High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Arcadia
C−
1,215 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Southeast Arcadia’s schools

Are Southeast Arcadia’s schools good?

On Florida’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Southeast 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 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Southeast Arcadia in?

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

Where do Southeast Arcadia kids go to high school?

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

What is Southeast 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 Southeast Arcadia spend per student?

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

Parents talk

What Southeast Arcadia families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Southeast 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.