DeSoto Parish School System

DeSoto School System Achieves Continued Growth
in Student Performance

This week the Louisiana Department of Education publicly released the results of the 2018-2019 School and District Performance Scores.  Schools in Desoto Parish continue to show growth in student performance.  In fact, the latest release of accountability results show that Desoto Parish leads Northwest Louisiana with District Performance Scores and is an “A” district in K-8 and High School Student Achievement Progress for a second consecutive year. 

The district grew their DPS to a score of 88.3, which is 1.4 overall points above the 2017-2018 school year.  This overall growth is above the state average.   

“We are excited to celebrate the growth of our students and the continued success of our school system,” remarked Superintendent Clay Corley. “This is the result of the hard work of our teachers, administrators and support staff. We are fortunate to have a shared commitment from our school board and community. The resources they provide and expectations for our performance are the catalyst that helps bring out the best in each of us every day.”  

DeSoto students showed overall performance growth in several areas including: grades 3-12 assessments, grades 9-12 student progress and dropout credit accumulation.  The largest area of growth was noted in the scores of ACT and Workkeys assessments.  

Mansfield Elementary had the largest school performance growth in the district of 13.5 points.  The school’s performance score grew from 59.3 to 72.8, and is now given a letter grade of “C”.  “We are extremely proud of our Wolverines!  Our entire faculty and staff are deeply committed to our vision of building a strong foundation at Mansfield Elementary School, and our recent academic gains show that we are serving our vision,” stated Brittany Anderson, Mansfield Elementary Principal.  “Thank you students, parents, faculty, and staff.  Our remarkable academic gains are a result of your hard work and dedication.”

Two-thirds of the DeSoto Schools have been given the title of “Top Gains” schools which means they received an “A” in the area of student achievement progress.  Those schools are:  Logansport High, Mansfield Elementary, Mansfield High, North Desoto Lower Elementary, North Desoto Upper Elementary, North Desoto Middle and Stanley High.  

DeSoto Parish School Earns Spot on
State Early Childhood Honor Roll

The Louisiana Department of Education today announced nearly 400 publicly funded early childhood education programs have earned a spot on the state’s “Honor Roll” as a result of their performance in 2018-2019.  The announcement comes the day before the state will release annual early childhood performance profiles.

Stanley High School, located in DeSoto Parish, was named on this Honor Roll as an early childhood program receiving an “excellent” rating.  This rating is the highest possible rating on the annual performance evaluation.  The evaluation tool that informs this rating is used nationally and internationally, meaning the sites on this list are among some of the best across all settings.

“Louisiana took a great step forward when it began publicly reporting the performance of early childhood centers alongside their counterparts in K-12 systems,” said State Superintendent John White.  “The Honor Roll released today complements that effort by recognizing and rewarding the sites that achieved remarkable success this past year.  We applaud these sites for providing families, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, with access to high-quality care and for acting as models for excellence and growth.”

DeSoto Parish School System offers universal Pre-Kindergarten classes at each of their elementary school sites.  The local school board members have been long time supporters of early childhood education.  The district recognizes that the early childhood experience provides children with a foundation of better performance in grade school.  Children who receive early education are known to have a greater success in elementary school and beyond.  Also, these students have improved social skills to engage with other students and adults.

The recognition of Stanley High School’s Early Education Program as one of the best in the world is another example of DeSoto’s commitment to providing the highest level of student learning experiences possible.  “We are excited about the growth and improvement we are seeing in our Early Childhood programs across the district, said Superintendent Clay Corley. We are especially proud to celebrate the success at Stanley and the great work of their teachers and support team.  We are thankful for a School Board and community that supports our efforts in providing a first class Pre-K opportunity to every child in DeSoto Parish.  We realize that through this commitment, our students will continue to reap the benefits for years to come.”