Top Rankings
Desert Sands Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public charter schools serving 2,044 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average charter testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public charter schools in California.
Public Charter Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 44% (versus the California public charter school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 48% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public charter school average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
1,290 Schools
# Students
25,613 Students
726,781 Students
# Teachers
1,083 Teachers
32,221 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #1080 of all 1,904 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1043 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
26%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
29%
Graduation Rate
94%
87%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)37.1%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.65
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
7%
% Hispanic
77%
53%
% Black
1%
7%
% White
15%
25%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
7%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,669 in this school district is less than the state median of $20,100. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,888 is less than the state median of $18,512. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$478 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$433 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,669
$20,100
Spending / Student
$16,888
$18,512
Best Desert Sands Unified School District Public Charter Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
George Washington Charter
Charter School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
45-768 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Gr: K-5 | 746 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
74-200 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4320
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4320
Gr: 6-8 | 1,298 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
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