School District of DeSoto County had a decrease in student enrollment during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Overall, there was a total of one students enrolled in the district in the academic year.
Data reveals that the majority of students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year were Hispanic, representing 51% of the School District of DeSoto County total enrollment.
Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 43.8% of the total enrollment.
School District of DeSoto County covers 10 schools within DeSoto County, with its main office in Arcadia.
Among the 10 schools in School District of DeSoto County, Desoto County High School recorded the highest enrollment of 1,259 students in the 2023-24 school year.
Meanwhile, Florida continues to face a teacher shortage in the 2023-24 school year. Despite some improvements, the state reported nearly 4,800 instructional vacancies at the beginning of the year. According to the Florida Department of Education, core subjects such as English, reading, and math among the areas with the highest demand for teachers.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), Florida ranked 50th in the U.S. for teacher pay in the 2022-23 school year, with salaries lower than they were a decade ago when adjusted for inflation.
Governor DeSantis’s budget for the 2024-25 school year allocates nearly $38 billion for education, with $1.25 billion dedicated to teachers’ salaries and other instructional personnel.
| School | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Desoto County High School | 1,259 |
| Desoto Middle School | 1,011 |
| Memorial Elementary School | 820 |
| West Elementary School | 684 |
| Nocatee Elementary School | 416 |
| Hospital and Homebound | 88 |
| Desoto Secondary School | 68 |
| Reduced Services | 12 |
| Desoto Virtual Franchise | 10 |
| Desoto Virtual Academy | 0 |
