Public schools in Arcadia, FL
8 open public schools with an address in Arcadia, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,680
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.7:1
Florida median 16.8:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Arcadia public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Arcadia, FL: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,680 students, an average of 526 per school. The largest campus is Desoto County High School (1,215 students), and the largest elementary school is Memorial Elementary School (861).
Every listed school belongs to Desoto. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.7:1, higher than the statewide school median of 16.8:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 58% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Arcadia
Elementary schools in Arcadia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Virtual Instruction Program Desoto | KG–06 | — | — | |
| Memorial Elementary School Desoto | PK–05 | 861 | 19.6:1 | |
| West Elementary School Desoto | PK–05 | 622 | 16.8:1 |
Middle schools in Arcadia
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Middle School Desoto | 06–08 | 922 | 16.5:1 |
High schools in Arcadia
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto County High School Desoto | 09–12 | 1,215 | 17.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Arcadia
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Secondary School Desoto · Alternative School | KG–12 | 51 | 51:1 | |
| Reduced Services Desoto · Alternative School | KG–12 | 9 | — | |
| Teen Parent PK Child Care Program Desoto | PK–PK | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White29.1%
- Hispanic53.4%
- Black13.6%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Arcadia schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,680 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Arcadia
How many public schools are in Arcadia, FL?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Arcadia: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 3,680 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Arcadia?
All listed public schools with an address in Arcadia belong to Desoto. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Arcadia?
Desoto County High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Arcadia, with 1,215 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Arcadia?
No school with an address in Arcadia is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Florida.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Arcadia schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Arcadia public schools is 17.7:1, higher than the Florida school median of 16.8:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Arcadia guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Florida cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Florida cities