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 2024 school year, there are 7 public high schools serving 9,866 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 29% (versus the California public high school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 56% statewide average).
Public High School in Desert Sands Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the California average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is La Quinta High School, with 97% 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 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
34 Schools
2,819 Schools
# Students
26,695 Students
2,202,926 Students
# Teachers
1,103 Teachers
101,134 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #424 of all 1,167 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 93% has increased from 91% 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
93%
84%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.41
0.64
# American Indian Students
53 Students
11,449 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
753 Students
253,504 Students
% Asian Students
3%
12%
# Hispanic Students
20,001 Students
1,210,360 Students
% Hispanic Students
75%
55%
# Black Students
399 Students
118,808 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
4,355 Students
492,258 Students
% White Students
16%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
17 Students
9,615 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,117 Students
103,544 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
-
# Students in K Grade:
2,037
24,268
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,794
22,398
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,833
23,183
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,816
23,195
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,857
23,339
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,974
23,640
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,911
31,567
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,003
40,814
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,133
43,546
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,342
484,001
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,350
494,744
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,305
478,449
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,340
489,782
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $17,913 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,806. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,204 is less than the state median of $18,241. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$478 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$433 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,913
$19,806
Spending / Student
$16,204
$18,241
Best Desert Sands Unified School District Public High Schools (2024)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
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
| 2,122 students
Rank: #22.
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
| 2,582 students
Rank: #33.
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
| 780 students
Rank: #44.
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
| 1,952 students
Rank: #55.
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
| 2,016 students
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
Grades: 10-12
| 159 students
Rank: #77.
Amistad High (Continuation School)
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
| 255 students
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