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 8 public high schools serving 8,858 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 18% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Desert Sands Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 94%, which is more than the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Palm Desert High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
2,795 Schools
# Students
25,613 Students
2,122,733 Students
# Teachers
1,083 Teachers
101,050 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
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
12%
% Hispanic
77%
56%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
15%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
5%
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 High Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Palm Desert High School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
74-910 Aztec Rd.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Gr: 9-12 | 2,079 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #22.
La Quinta High School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
79-255 Blackhawk Way
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
Gr: 9-12 | 2,425 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #33.
Horizon
Alternative School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
43-330 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9720
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9720
Gr: K-12 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #44.
Shadow Hills High School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
39-225 Jefferson St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,650 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #55.
Indio High School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
81-750 Avenue 46
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Gr: 9-12 | 1,962 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #66.
Summit High (Continuation School)
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
Gr: 10-12 | 195 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #77.
Amistad High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
83-501 Dillon Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Gr: 9-12 | 192 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: n/an/a
Desert Sands A.t.l.a.s.
Special Education School
83-391 Dillon Ave
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Gr: 12 | 69 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
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