2025 DeSoto County Graduation Dates -
Link to Calendar https://desotocountyms.sites.thrillshare.com/page/2025-graduation-dates
2025 - 2026 School Supply Lists are becoming available! Click for the list: https://www.desotocountyschools.org/page/25-26-school-supply-lists
Kickoff to College: 11th Grade College Fair #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
25-26 Calendar released! Link here https://www.desotocountyschools.org/o/dcs/page/school-calendar-copy
Attention All K-12 Private Schools Operating in DeSoto County
The DeSoto County Schools Office of Federal Programs invites private schools in DeSoto County to explore Federal Title services, ensuring equitable participation for K-12 students and educators. If interested, please contact Tonya Fowler, Equitable Services Coordinator, by February 21, 2025 via mail at 5 East South Street, Hernando, MS 38632, or email CS_federalprograms@dcsms.org.
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 DeSoto County Schools' Administrator of the Year, Bryon Williams! The DeSoto Central Middle School principal has been in education for 22 years, has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi., a master's degree in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi, and a master's degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. Williams has been married for 22 years to Carrie. They have two daughters. Morgyn who attends Northwest Community College and Summer who is in 7th grade. Congratulations, Mr. Williams! #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
Congratulations to the DeSoto County Schools' 2024-2025 District Teacher of the Year, Christina Morgan! The LCHS teacher dominates on the court & in the classroom. She is the head of the History Department at Lake Cormorant High School, has taught U.S. History for 17 years, the Interact Club sponsor, & has led the volleyball team to seven state championships. Morgan has been key in implementing mentor programs that enhance student leadership abilities while also promoting collaboration among peers. Morgan earned her undergraduate degree from The University of Mississippi & her graduate degree from Arkansas State University. Congratulations, Mrs. Christina Morgan, on this accomplishment! #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
DCS recently launched SchoolMessenger, a broadcast notification system. DCS will utilize SchoolMessenger to deliver text messages straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more! More info:
https://5il.co/30zu3
DCS Child Nutrition Director Alex Hallmark is named the Director of the Year for Mississippi by the School Nutrition Association. The national association "empowers and supports school nutrition professionals in advancing the accessibility, quality and integrity of school meal programs." Hallmark is pictured with Ronnie McGehee, Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators, and Supt. Cory Uselton. #BeTheStandard #TeamDCS
The Superintendent's Youth Leadership Council Junior Class of 24-25 was recognized by the School Board at Thursday's recessed board meeting. The juniors join the senior SYLC class where they will study government & entrepeneurship. #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
Excitement is in the air at Pleasant Hill Elementary School. PHES Spotlight teachers, Susan Powell & Tiffany Lyles, were announced as the MS Grammy Museum's L.U.C.Y. Award recipients for 2024. "The L.U.C.Y. Award celebrates K-12 educators from the state who embody the educational mission of Grammy Museum MS to use music as a gateway to learning: inspiring & cultivating creativity, critical thinking & self expression." #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
DCS schools earn “A” grade, highest graduation rate in history
Bob Bakken, DeSoto County News
Sep 17, 2024 – DeSoto County Schools officials are touting the district’s highest graduation rate ever in the 2023-2024 Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Accountability Report released on Tuesday.
Of the Class of 2024, 94,1 percent received high school diplomas for continuing for all four years of their high school education. The district’s dropout rate was 5.2 percent.
All of the district’s eight high schools graduated over 90 percent of the senior class last May, led by Lewisburg High School at 99.0 percent, down to Horn Lake High School at 92.1 percent
Of dropouts, percentages ranged from Lewisburg’s 1.0 percent to 7.6 percent at Horn Lake.
Supt. Cory Uselton said in prepared statements following the MDE release of the accountability report that the 94.1 percent graduation rate was the highest in the district’s history.
“I am so proud of our students, teachers, administrators, and staff,” Uselton said. “This is a total team effort and we are very fortunate to have tremendous support from our parents and the entire DeSoto County community.”
Testing and grade results are compiled each by state education officials to determine a performance grade for each school district in Mississippi that MDE oversees.
“The Mississippi Statewide Accountability System assigns a performance rating of A, B, C, D, and F for each school and district based on established criteria regarding student achievement, individual student growth, graduation rate, and participation rate, states MDE. “Statewide assessments are used to measure proficiency and growth in proficiency for students in grades 3-8 and high school students taking end-of-course subject area assessments in Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History.”
DeSoto County Schools again were graded as an “A” district under the state accountability assessment scoring with a total of 711. Of Mississippi districts, Ocean Springs scored the highest at 798 points, followed by Petal at 791 and Long Beach at 782. Clinton and Bay St. Louis Waveland completed the top five districts in Mississippi.
None of the eight DeSoto County high schools scored lower than a “B” and five of the eight schools were graded as “A” schools. Southaven, Lake Cormorant and Horn Lake were the three schools graded as a “B” school. Lewisburg earned the highest score among county high schools at 856, which was the fourth-highest score among all state high schools graded.
“Our students, teachers, administrators, and staff faced many challenges, and these accountability results show how hard everyone worked to overcome those obstacles,” Uselton said. “Our teachers, administrators, and staff went the extra mile to ensure that our students could reach their goals.”
Following are the lists of high school graduation and drop out rates for the eight DCS schools, plus a listing of schools compiled under their grades and how they scored.
High schools were scored on a 1,000 point scale, while the other schools were on a 700 point scale.
In addition, links are provided here for the MDE report on graduation and dropout rates, and a spreadsheet with the scoring of each school’s accountability assessments.
Graduation and dropout rates
School accountability assessments
Graduation-dropout rates
Center Hill: 94.6-5.0
DeSoto Central: 94.6-4.9
Hernando: 93.9-4.5
Horn Lake: 92.1-7.6
Lake Cormorant: 93.0-5.7
Lewisburg: 99.0-1.0
Olive Branch: 95.5-4.1
Southaven: 92.2-6.8
Grade A schools
Lewisburg Primary (583)
Lewisburg Elementary (580)
Lewisburg Intermediate (574)
Hernando Hills Elementary (517)
Pleasant Hill Elementary (513)
Lewisburg Middle (506)
Hernando Elementary (504)
Hernando Middle (502)
Oak Grove Central Elementary (498)
DeSoto Central Middle (482)
Center Hill Middle (480)
Greenbrook Elementary (472)
Lake Cormorant Elementary (471)
Center Hill Elementary (468)
DeSoto Central Elementary (459)
Southaven Intermediate (449)
Olive Branch Elementary (447)
DeSoto Central Primary (447)
Grade B schools
Hope Sullivan Elementary (431)
Shadow Oaks Elementary (415)
Walls Elementary (410)
Chickasaw Elementary (410)
Overpark Elementary (403)
Horn Lake Intermediate (395)
Horn Lake Elementary (394)
Olive Branch Middle (393)
Southaven Elementary (392)
Olive Branch Intermediate (385)
Grade C Schools
Horn Lake Middle (360)
Grade A high schools
Lewisburg (856)
Olive Branch (808)
Hernando (772)
DeSoto Central (758)
Center Hill (757)
Grade B high schools
Southaven (751)
Lake Cormorant (743)
Horn Lake (690)
Thank you to Horn Lake Mayor Allen Latimer and the Board of Aldermen for inviting Supt. Cory Uselton and Horn Lake area School Board Members Shelia Riley and Jerald Wheeler to Monday night's meeting. A swearing-in ceremony was held for the Mayor’s Youth Council students from Horn Lake High School. It is always great to see DCS students learn more about government. #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
Congratulations, Lewisburg Elementary School Principal Lindsey Millbrooks for being named the 2024 National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year for your contribution to DeSoto Central Elementary School where you served as Assistant Principal. Millbrooks was chosen for this award by the MS Association of School Administrators. The program promotes excellence in educational leadership and calls attention to the fundamental importance of the assistant principal. #TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
The School Board recognized Hernando High School's Boys' Soccer Coach at the recessed board meeting for being named the MS Association of Coaches Boys Soccer Coach of the Year. Congratulations, Coach Mark Hogan!
#TeamDCS #BeTheStandard
2024-2025 DCS Dietary Needs and Alerts Form:
Scan QR code or use this link https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=4PrgwCLoSkibGvvVcj4kCuLRgjuWfNNFt37Ig40N9SBUMkkzU0pTTUJEU1VFR05TQkpaWkJROTQyRC4u&origin=QRC
July 31 – Lake Cormorant Class of 2024 graduate Tyrone Chatman Jr. has been awarded the prestigious Walter S. Bounds Scholarship of Excellence. He was selected from more than 116 applicants. Scholarship requirements are outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service.
Chatman finished second in his class and was the 2024 LCHS salutatorian. He graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was in the high school marching band.
The scholarship is in honor of the late educator, Walter S. Bounds, and is awarded by the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents along with the Alliance of Educational Leaders in Mississippi.
“To ensure that Mississippi has strong, capable leaders to guide us into the future, we must encourage and train those leaders today,” said Dr. Phil Burchfield, MASS executive director. “The Bounds Scholarship program celebrates students who not only demonstrate a clear commitment to excellence but also seek to be responsible leaders in their careers and communities.”
Chatman will attend Tuskegee University in Alabama. His parents are Jlahna Timberson Chatman and Tyrone Chatman.
The Bounds Scholarship for Excellence rewards top-performing students who excel in leadership, community service and extracurricular activities. Recipients also must meet academic requirements and be recommended by their superintendents.
This year’s scholarship winners are Nathan Andrews, Hancock High School; Caroline Batson, Stone High School; Jalynn Black, Ethel High School; Lillie Bradshaw, Morton High School; Katie Burge, Madison Central High School; Breelyn Cain, West Lauderdale High School; Tyrone Chatman, Lake Cormorant High School; Isabella Morlier, Pearl River Central High School; Lily Moss, Booneville High School; and Joy Roland, Natchez Early College.
Kristen Fisher, Director of Business Development at Parkwood Behavioral Health System, presents a check for DeSoto County Foundation for Excellence in Education. The $5,900 donation will benefit students by supplying mental health resources. Fisher is pictured with Supt. Cory Uselton & Tajuana Williams, DCS Mental Health Director. #TeamDCS
The DeSoto County School Board recognized Lake Cormorant High School's Girls' Powerlifting Coach, SgtMaj Tom Herman, for being named the MAC Girls' Powerlifting Coach of the Year. Congratulations, Coach! @LCHSGators #TeamDCS
County impacts All-Star volleyball, soccer outcomes #TeamDCS
https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-county-sports/county-impacts-all-star-volleyball-soccer-outcomes/
