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Olive Branch MS 037 Historic DowntownPhoto: Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) · CC BY 3.0
A
Schools in Olive Branch · DeSoto County School District

Olive Branch’s public schools outscore 89% of Mississippi districts

On the state math tests, 61% of Olive Branch’s students scored proficient, above the Mississippi average (47%). The grade covers the public school district serving Olive Branch, 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
12
6,808 students on the public path
In brief

Olive Branch’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 44 Mississippi towns with household incomes within a quarter of Olive Branch’s, its schools beat 68%, lower than their 89% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

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 ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Desoto Christian Academy (private), Cross Creek Christian Academy (private) and Park Academy School-Parkwood Behavioral Health (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 Olive Branch’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 (44)Better than 68%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 18,572 test results and a graduating class of 2,580 could put Olive Branch anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Olive Branch’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 Olive Branch, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA

Olive Branch’s public schools are run by DeSoto County School District, which also serves Hernando, Horn Lake, 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

Olive Branch vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Mississippi towns that share Olive Branch’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Olive BranchADeSoto County
SouthavenADeSoto County

Collierville, TN and Memphis, TN border Olive Branch but are graded on their own state’s tests, so they’re left out.

Every school in Olive Branch

12 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 Olive Branchby address
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A+
1,079 students17:1Rate it →
Overpark Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
635 students15:1Rate it →
Olive Branch Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
504 students17:1Rate it →
Chickasaw Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 2–3
B−
500 students15:1Rate it →
Olive Branch Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 4–5
B−
472 students16:1Rate it →
Center Hill Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
757 students16:1Rate it →
Olive Branch Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
744 students17:1Rate it →
Center Hill High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,059 students15:1Rate it →
Olive Branch High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,058 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Desoto Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
564 students14:1Rate it →
Cross Creek Christian Academy
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
123 students8:1Rate it →
Park Academy School-Parkwood Behavioral Health
Grades 6–12
Private · Nonsectarian
40 students12:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (DeSoto Co. Career Center East).

Questions about Olive Branch’s schools

Are Olive Branch’s schools good?

By Mississippi’s own tests, yes: the public schools Olive Branch 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 68%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Olive Branch in?

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

Where do Olive Branch kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Center Hill High School and Olive Branch High School.

What is Olive Branch’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 Olive Branch spend per student?

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

Are there private schools in Olive Branch?

Yes: Desoto Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 564 students), Cross Creek Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 123 students) and Park Academy School-Parkwood Behavioral Health (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 40 students).

Parents talk

What Olive Branch families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Olive Branch → 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.