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Watertower Horn Lake MS 02Photo: Thomas R Machnitzki · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in Horn Lake · DeSoto County School District

Horn Lake’s public schools outscore 89% of Mississippi districts

On the state math tests, 61% of Horn Lake’s students scored proficient, above the Mississippi average (47%). The grade covers the public school district serving Horn Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Mississippi, not nationally.

#16of 101 Mississippi townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Mississippi 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.

Reading proficiency
49%
▲ 7 pts vs MS 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
61%
▲ 14 pts vs MS 47%
2021–22
Graduate on time
94%
▲ 5 pts vs MS 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$9.7K
▼ 21% vs MS $12.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
16.2
MS 13.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
4,076 students on the public path
In brief

Horn Lake’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 61% in spring 2022, against 42% and 47% statewide; 94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $9,732 per student, against $12,392 across Mississippi (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 3 the district’s path is Horn Lake Intermediate School, then Horn Lake Middle School, then Horn Lake High School. 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 Horn Lake’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 89% of Mississippi school districts, #16 of 101 Mississippi towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Mississippi average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Mississippi school districts we grade (150)Better than 89%
Lower resultsHigher results
Mississippi towns with similar household incomes (164)Better than 93%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 18,572 test results and a graduating class of 2,580 could put Horn Lake anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Horn Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (18,343 in math, 18,802 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–5Horn Lake Intermediate SchoolDeSoto County School DistrictC
6–8Horn Lake Middle SchoolDeSoto County School DistrictB−
9–12Horn Lake High SchoolDeSoto County School DistrictB−

Horn Lake’s public schools are run by DeSoto County School District, which also serves Hernando, Olive Branch, Southaven and Walls. 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 · 39 schools · 34,934 students, up 3% since 2020–21 · 16.2 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$9,732MS $12,392 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading49%
State average 41.7% · 18802 students tested
Math61%
State average 47% · 18343 students tested

Horn Lake vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Mississippi towns that share Horn Lake’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Horn LakeADeSoto County
SouthavenADeSoto County

Every school in Horn Lake

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

District schools in Horn Lakeby address
Horn Lake Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
520 students17:1Rate it →
Shadow Oaks Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
423 students17:1Rate it →
Horn Lake Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
C
914 students18:1Rate it →
Horn Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
948 students15:1Rate it →
Horn Lake High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,271 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (DeSoto Co. Career Center West and Desoto County Alternative Center).

Questions about Horn Lake’s schools

Are Horn Lake’s schools good?

By Mississippi’s own tests, yes: the public schools Horn Lake children attend outscore 89% of Mississippi’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #16 of 101 Mississippi towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 93%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Horn Lake in?

DeSoto County School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 34,934 students in 39 schools (2024–25).

Where do Horn Lake kids go to high school?

Horn Lake High School, with 1,271 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Horn Lake’s graduation rate?

94% of the class of 2023 in DeSoto County School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi.

How much does Horn Lake spend per student?

$9,732 in DeSoto County School District (FY2024), against $12,392 across Mississippi. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Horn Lake families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Horn Lake → 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 Mississippi. Stars are from neighbors.