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 2025 school year, there are 8 public middle schools serving 6,228 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 23% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 84% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
3,501 Schools
# Students
25,897 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
1,090 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #1080 of all 1,910 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%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.40
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
11%
% Hispanic
76%
55%
% Black
2%
5%
% White
15%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,465 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,703 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$478 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$433 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,465
$19,974
Spending / Student
$16,703
$18,396
Best Desert Sands Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 1,389 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #22.
John Glenn Middle School Of International Studies
(Math: 33% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
79-655 Miles Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3700
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3700
Gr: 6-8 | 1,065 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #33.
La Quinta Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
78-900 Avenue 50
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4220
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4220
Gr: 6-8 | 688 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #44.
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 | 356 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #55.
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
43-495 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9710
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9710
Gr: 6-8 | 397 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #66.
Desert Ridge Academy
(Math: 14% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
79-767 Avenue 39
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Gr: 6-8 | 1,018 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #77.
Indio Middle School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
81-195 Miles Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Gr: 6-8 | 780 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #88.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
83-089 Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Gr: 6-8 | 535 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Recent Articles
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
When Field Trips Turn Deadly: Who is Responsible?
Recent deaths during field trips have parents and school officials questioning the safety of these excursions. Learn about these tragedies and what parameters should be in place to ensure a safe field trip.
