In DeSoto County, the story of progress is one of students, educators, families, and community partners coming together around a shared vision. Nowhere is that more evident than in early literacy and after-school programming.
Just one year ago, DeSoto entered the school year with a kindergarten readiness rate of only 17%, the lowest in the state. By the end of kindergarten, our students had reached the state average, with two schools exceeding it. This remarkable growth reflects the tireless work of our educators, specialists, and administrators, along with the resilience of our youngest learners. Guided by the science of reading, we’ve refined our structured literacy program, embedded high-yield routines into small-group instruction, and launched new ways for families to be part of the journey, such as sending K–2 students home this fall with decodable texts to read with their parents.
Our early learning expansion also includes the opening of a full-day VPK program at Nocatee Elementary, made possible by a generous investment from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. That support funds extended-day opportunities, curriculum materials, excursions, and enrichment for ESE students.
At the same time, our after-school care programs (Mustang Care and Cowboy Care) are opening doors for students well beyond the classroom. With support from The Henson Fund and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, students receive academic support in reading and math, along with enrichment in science and the arts. Scholarships ensure access for families who need it most.
The results of this collective effort are visible across our district:
- Our graduation rate has reached an all-time high.
- Every school in DeSoto has improved its state rating, including DeSoto High School, which earned its first “B” grade in over a decade.
- Staff surveys show 100% of teachers and support staff feel supported by administration, and nearly all report high levels of optimism, collaboration, and communication.
None of this momentum would be possible without the community partnerships that fuel it. The Patterson Foundation continues to be at the center of this movement, connecting DeSoto with initiatives like Suncoast Remake Learning Days, the Motivating Improved Attendance Program, Aspirations to Actions, and contests that celebrate student creativity.
iTogether with local partners like the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, United Way Suncoast, and Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, we are building the conditions for students to thrive.
“The progress we are seeing is a blessing,” said Dr. Jake Reynolds, Deputy Superintendent. “Our educators, staff, families, and community partners are standing side by side to support students in ways that are both meaningful and lasting. DeSoto is proving that when a community believes in its children, anything is possible.”
Looking Ahead
We believe in our students, we believe in our staff, and we believe in our community. But sustaining this growth requires everyone. Volunteers, businesses, and neighbors all have a role to play. Together, we can keep building on this momentum, ensuring that DeSoto’s children not only dream of a brighter future, but achieve it.
