The majority of students in DeSoto County schools were Hispanic in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Of the 4,582 students attending DeSoto County schools, 50.2% were Hispanic. White students were the second largest ethnicity, making up 34.9% of DeSoto County students.
In the previous school year, Hispanic students were also the most common ethnicity in DeSoto County, representing 50.3% of the student body.
Desoto Secondary School had the most even distribution of races among the county schools, including 46.4% Hispanic students, 29% white students, and 23.2% Black students.
In the 2022-23 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county increased by 0.3% when compared to the previous year.
Florida’s choice to stick with in-person classes during the pandemic may have shielded students from significant learning setbacks. A recent Harvard study highlighted that districts heavily reliant on remote learning saw the most significant declines in student achievement amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Interestingly, gaps in math achievement by race and school poverty did not widen in school districts in states such as Texas and Florida and elsewhere that remained largely in-person, said Thomas Kane, professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
| School Name | Most Prevalent Ethnicity | Percent of Total Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto County High School | Hispanic | 48.2% | 1,244 |
| Desoto Middle School | Hispanic | 52.3% | 1,169 |
| Desoto Secondary School | Hispanic | 46.4% | 69 |
| Desoto Virtual Academy | White | 49.1% | 53 |
| Memorial Elementary School | Hispanic | 56.2% | 793 |
| Nocatee Elementary School | Hispanic | 57.2% | 446 |
| Reduced Services | Black | < 10% | 10 |
| Teen Paren PK Child Care Program | Hispanic | < 10% | < 10 |
| West Elementary School | White | 45.8% | 795 |
