The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Desoto Jr. High
De Soto Junior High is a regular public school serving seventh and eighth graders in the De Soto 73 district. The school is located in De Soto, a small city in Jefferson County within the St. Louis metropolitan area, a place known historically for its artesian wells and for its working-class and railroad heritage. Major local employers include a Union Pacific Railroad car repair shop, Walmart, and the school district itself. The town is growing very slowly.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a small share of students who identify as two or more races and very small shares of Hispanic and Black students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that reflects the community's middle-to-lower-income base. The school enrolls a modest number of students for a two-grade building.
State testing results from the MAP assessments show a mixed picture. In English language arts, the school's eighth graders posted a proficiency rate above the state midpoint, while seventh graders were below it. In math, both grade levels came in lower than a typical school. Seventh graders scored above half meeting the proficiency bar, but eighth graders fell well short of that mark. Eighth graders taking the science test also showed a proficiency rate below the midpoint. When the school's performance is viewed as a whole across all tested subjects and grades, it lands below the midpoint relative to other districts in Jefferson County. A parent may want to look into how the school supports students who are not yet at grade level, particularly in math and science.
The district, which also includes an elementary and a high school, made a significant structural change that directly affects daily life for middle school families. It moved to a four-day school week starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. Students attend Monday through Thursday, with Fridays off, and the school day is extended to meet state instructional time requirements. The change was driven by teacher recruitment and retention challenges, and it means families must plan for regular childcare or other arrangements on Fridays. The district also held a tax rate hearing in 2024, proposing a property tax levy that sets the cost of living for homeowners and renters in the district.
This school is the only middle-level option within the district, so all seventh and eighth graders from the De Soto area attend here. It is a traditional public school with no charter or magnet status. Data on special education enrollment, English learner populations, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, and course access were not available. That absence of information is worth noting, as it means a family cannot assess the school's climate or the specific supports available for students with disabilities or language needs without contacting the school directly.
For a family, this is a school that sits within a small-town district that is adjusting to labor market pressures with a four-day schedule, a change that likely reshapes the family routine more than any single test score. The academic results suggest that English language arts is a relative strength, particularly by eighth grade, while math and science present a steeper climb for students. The housing market in the zip code is slightly more affordable than the state average, and home values have been rising, though at a moderate pace. The town itself is compact, with its civic life and schools integrated into the community rather than set apart on distant campuses. A proposed Amtrak stop could eventually connect De Soto to St. Louis and further points, but that remains pending construction.
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