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DeSoto Education

Cultivating Minds

With a current enrollment of just under 8,900 students, the DeSoto Independent School District is a small, suburban district 15 miles south of Dallas.

The 23 square mile district serves students in the communities of DeSoto, Glenn Heights and Ovilla with twelve campuses. The district enjoys small town support of academics and athletics, along with taxpayer support for upgraded facilities, technology and instructional support.

Mission Statement

“We provide experiences for young men and women so they learn and practice the values of high academic and professional achievement as well as wholesome individual and civic character.”

The district mission, values, goals and objectives are clearly defined. The district and community have bonded to develop a system of schooling where all students are expected to graduate with character, intellectual preparedness and personal leadership as outlined in the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.

To that end, all campus, department and district improvement plans provide opportunities for students to achieve for academic excellence. Every school provides outstanding academic instruction supported by pyramids of instructional intervention, enrichment, behavior intervention and privileges.

Facilities and Growth

2007-08 DeSoto Schools
• 7 Elementary Schools (PreK-5) – Amber Terrace, Cockrell Hill, The Meadows, Frank D. Moates, Northside, Woodridge, Ruby Young
• 3 Middle Schools (6-8) – East, Curtistene S. McCowan, West
• 1 Freshman Campus – DHS Freshman Campus
• 1 High School (Alternative Education Program within High School) – DeSoto High School

Campuses are maintained at the highest standard for learning to be the “main thing.” While we continue to grow and build new campuses, we also enhance existing schools with current technology and facility improvements for security and energy efficiency.

DeSoto ISD continues to grow at a steady pace - adding approximately 300-500 students per year. Enrollment is expected to reach 10,000 students by 2010. The district structure was modified during the summer of 2007 to transition the previous two intermediate campuses into elementary campuses, expanding the number to seven elementary schools with grades PreK-5. Both current junior high schools were reconfigured to include sixth graders, and with the addition of McCowan Middle School, the district has three middle schools serving students in grades 6-8. Two new elementary schools and additional space for grades 9-12 will follow.

State and Federal Ratings

Based on the 2006-07 school year, DeSoto ISD is rated Acceptable by the Texas Education Agency.
• 2 elementary campuses are rated Recognized by the TEA
• 9 schools received the Acceptable rating
• District and 10 schools met Federal Adequate Yearly Progress as outlined by No Child Left Behind
• 8 schools received one or more Gold Performance Acknowledgements for improvement in math and/or reading through the TEA

Excellence Achieved

• One of seventeen fully accredited SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) Districts in Texas
• Freshman Campus one of twelve Top Transitional Texas High Schools and Top 500 Schools in Texas
• Six prestigious military appointments in past two years
• Six students recognized in National Merit Scholarship Program – 2007 Commended Achievement Scholar; 2006 National Merit Scholar graduate
• Nineteen National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars
• Above state average Advanced Placement Student Participation, Student Graduation Rate, Attendance Rate and SAT/ACT Participation
• Several organization awards including Peacemakers, Business Professionals of America, Eagle Eye Newspaper Staff, ROTC, Eagle Marching Band, Choir and Eaglettes Drill Team
• Basketball and football advanced into the playoffs
• State Champions in Girls Track and Field and Boys 4x400

Private Schools

DeSoto also offers a wide selection of private schools for children in preschool through 12th grade. These educational options generally provide specialized or religious environments for students.

Private schools available in DeSoto include: Brook Hollow Christian Academy, Cambridge Square Private School, Canterbury Episcopal School, Cross of Christ Lutheran School, DeSoto Private School, Ashbury Academy Montessori School and nearby Trinity Christian School (Cedar Hill).