Desert Sands Unified School District
Top Rankings
Desert Sands Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2023 school year, there are 34 public schools serving 26,980 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the California public school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 83% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
2020-2021 School Year Data
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
34 Schools
10,296 Schools
# Students
26,980 Students
5,953,047 Students
# Teachers
1,090 Teachers
264,842 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
25:1
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #882 of all 1,873 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 91% has increased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#451 out of 1200 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
49%
Graduation Rate
91%
85%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.42
0.63
# American Indian Students
52 Students
28,347 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
747 Students
702,454 Students
% Asian Students
3%
12%
# Hispanic Students
20,117 Students
3,303,290 Students
% Hispanic Students
75%
56%
# Black Students
400 Students
306,607 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
4,610 Students
1,290,657 Students
% White Students
17%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
19 Students
25,750 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,035 Students
294,072 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
-
# Students in K Grade:
1,918
458,234
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,828
423,255
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,853
429,448
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,858
436,256
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,010
444,008
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,882
446,301
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,940
437,800
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,135
457,732
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,239
465,149
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,353
499,437
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,327
493,491
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,302
477,411
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,335
484,525
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,599 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,734. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,005 is less than the state median of $19,832. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue (19-20)
$421 MM
$29 MM
Spending (19-20)
$432 MM
$29 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,599
$19,734
Spending / Student
$16,005
$19,832
Best Desert Sands Unified School District Public Schools (2023)
School (Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
George Washington Charter
Charter School
Math: 52% | Reading: 66%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
45-768 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Grades: K-5
| 721 students
Rank: #22.
Palm Desert High School
Math: 42% | Reading: 67%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
74-910 Aztec Rd.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Grades: 9-12
| 2,129 students
Rank: #33.
Desert Ridge Academy
Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
79-767 Ave. 39
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Grades: 6-8
| 1,059 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
Math: <50% | Reading: <50%
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
44-210 Warner Trail
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 772-4120
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 772-4120
Grades: K-5
| 660 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
La Quinta Middle School
Math: <50% | Reading: <50%
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
78-900 Ave. 50
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4220
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4220
Grades: 6-8
| 756 students
Rank: #66.
La Quinta High School
Math: 31% | Reading: 65%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
79-255 Blackhawk Way
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
Grades: 9-12
| 2,511 students
Rank: #77.
Horizon
Alternative School
Math: 20-29% | Reading: 70-79%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
43-330 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9720
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9720
Grades: K-12
| 259 students
Rank: #88.
Shadow Hills High School
Math: 30% | Reading: 53%
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
39-225 Jefferson St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Grades: 9-12
| 1,991 students
Rank: #99.
Indio High School
Math: 15% | Reading: 42%
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
81-750 Ave. 46
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Grades: 9-12
| 2,074 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
43-495 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9710
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9710
Grades: 6-8
| 596 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
John Glenn Middle School Of International Studies
Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
79-655 Miles Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3700
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3700
Grades: 6-8
| 1,167 students
Rank: #1212.
Summit High (Continuation)
Alternative School
Math: ≤5% | Reading: 25-29%
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
43-330 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9760
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9760
Grades: 10-12
| 211 students
Rank: #1313.
Amistad High (Continuation)
Alternative School
Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
83-501 Dillon Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Grades: 9-12
| 216 students
Rank: n/an/a
74-100 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4340
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4340
Grades: K-5
| 620 students
45-250 Dune Palms Rd.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3720
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3720
Grades: K-5
| 762 students
Rank: n/an/a
82-850 Kenner Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3830
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3830
Grades: K-5
| 668 students
Rank: n/an/a
77-800 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9424
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9424
Grades: K-5
| 571 students
Rank: n/an/a
43-775 Madison St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 238-9700
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 238-9700
Grades: K-5
| 549 students
Rank: n/an/a
47-368 Monroe St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-1544
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-1544
Grades: K-5
| 629 students
Rank: n/an/a
78-870 Ave. 50
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4230
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4230
Grades: K-5
| 664 students
Rank: n/an/a
44-300 Monroe St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3820
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3820
Grades: K-5
| 374 students
Rank: n/an/a
81-195 Miles Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Grades: 6-8
| 772 students
Rank: n/an/a
74-251 Hovley Ln. E.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4370
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4370
Grades: K-5
| 551 students
Rank: n/an/a
50-800 Desert Club Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 775-3850
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 775-3850
Grades: K-5
| 423 students
Rank: n/an/a
42-100 Yucca Ln.
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 772-4130
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 772-4130
Grades: K-5
| 635 students
Rank: n/an/a
50-800 Desert Club Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4260
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4260
Grades: K-1
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
45-100 Clinton St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3840
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3840
Grades: K-5
| 430 students
Rank: n/an/a
44-640 Clinton St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3680
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3680
Grades: K-5
| 561 students
Rank: n/an/a
47-733 Van Buren St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3870
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3870
Grades: K-5
| 570 students
Rank: n/an/a
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Charter School
74-200 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4320
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4320
Grades: 6-8
| 1,372 students
Rank: n/an/a
41-633 Gore St.
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 834-3231
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 834-3231
Grades: K-5
| 602 students
Rank: n/an/a
39-800 Liberty Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 772-0456
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 772-0456
Grades: K-5
| 823 students
Rank: n/an/a
83-200 Dr. Carreon Blvd.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3860
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3860
Grades: K-5
| 483 students
Rank: n/an/a
83-089 Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Grades: 6-8
| 571 students
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