Photo: CommunicationsDeSoto · CC BY-SA 4.0De Soto’s public schools outscore 94% of Kansas districts
48% of students in De Soto’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Kansas average (29%). The grade covers the public school district serving De Soto, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kansas, not nationally.
From Kansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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.
De Soto’s schools, in brief
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 50% and math 48% in spring 2022, against 32% and 29% statewide; 98% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,922 per student, against $14,966 across Kansas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
One elementary school, then one middle and one high school
From grade 6 the district’s path is Lexington Trails Middle School, then De Soto High School. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Virtual Education Program, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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.
What’s behind De Soto’s grade
A: better than 94% of Kansas school districts, #4 of 151 Kansas towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Kansas average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve De Soto, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
1st grade in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
4th grade in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
5th grade in De Soto
Starside Elem
Grades PK–5 · 428 students · 11:1 students per teacher
6th grade in De Soto
Lexington Trails Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 393 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in De Soto
Lexington Trails Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 393 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in De Soto
Lexington Trails Middle School
Grades 6–8 · 393 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in De Soto
De Soto High School
Grades 9–12 · 918 students · 13:1 students per teacher
10th grade in De Soto
De Soto High School
Grades 9–12 · 918 students · 13:1 students per teacher
11th grade in De Soto
De Soto High School
Grades 9–12 · 918 students · 13:1 students per teacher
12th grade in De Soto
De Soto High School
Grades 9–12 · 918 students · 13:1 students per teacher
De Soto’s public schools are run by De Soto Unified School District 232, which also serves Lexington and Shawnee. Parts of De Soto (5% of its land) are served by Gardner Edgerton Unified School District 231 instead. 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.
Well above the state in reading
De Soto vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Kansas towns that share De Soto’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| De Soto | A | De Soto Unified School District 232 |
| Lexington | A | De Soto Unified School District 232 |
| Lenexa | A− | Shawnee Mission Public Schools Unified PK–12 · Olathe Unified School District 233 PK–12 |
| Olathe | A− | Olathe Unified School District 233 |
| Shawnee | A | De Soto Unified School District 232 PK–12 · Shawnee Mission Public Schools Unified PK–12 |
| Sherman | A | Basehor-Linwood Unified School District 458 |
2 of the 5 neighbors share De Soto Unified School District 232 with De Soto, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in De Soto
4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about De Soto’s schools
Are De Soto’s schools good?
By Kansas’s own tests, yes: the public schools De Soto children attend outscore 94% of Kansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #4 of 151 Kansas towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 95%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is De Soto in?
De Soto Unified School District 232, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 7,067 students in 13 schools (2024–25). Small parts of De Soto are served by Gardner Edgerton Unified School District 231.
Where do De Soto kids go to high school?
De Soto High School, with 918 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is De Soto’s graduation rate?
98% of the class of 2023 in De Soto Unified School District 232 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas.
How much does De Soto spend per student?
$12,922 in De Soto Unified School District 232 (FY2024), against $14,966 across Kansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What De Soto families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near De Soto → 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 Kansas. Stars are from neighbors.