Top 5 Best Palm Desert Public Schools (2024)

For the 2024 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 6,067 students in Palm Desert, CA (there are 10 private schools, serving 1,884 private students). 76% of all K-12 students in Palm Desert, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top ranked public schools in Palm Desert, CA are George Washington Charter, James Earl Carter Elementary School and Palm Desert High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Palm Desert, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Palm Desert have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Palm Desert, CA (2024)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
George Washington Charter
Charter School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
45-768 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Grades: K-5
| 741 students
Rank: #22.
James Earl Carter Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
74-251 Hovley Ln. E.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4370
Grades: K-5
| 528 students
Rank: #33.
Palm Desert High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
74-910 Aztec Rd.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Grades: 9-12
| 2,122 students
Rank: #44.
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
74-200 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4320
Grades: 6-8
| 1,298 students
Rank: #55.
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
39-800 Liberty Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 772-0456
Grades: K-5
| 801 students
Rank: #66.
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
74-100 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4340
Grades: K-5
| 577 students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Palm Desert, CA?
The top ranked public schools in Palm Desert, CA include George Washington Charter, James Earl Carter Elementary School and Palm Desert High School.
How many public schools are located in Palm Desert, CA?
6 public schools are located in Palm Desert, CA.
What percentage of students in Palm Desert, CA go to public school?
76% of all K-12 students in Palm Desert, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Palm Desert, CA?
Palm Desert, CA public schools minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public schools average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Recent Articles

Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
Should Teacher Salaries be Public Information?
Public school teachers are considered public servants – but does that make their salary details public information? Learn about the heated debate surrounding whether teacher salaries should be made public.
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
The Link Between Education and Incarceration: The NAACP Report
Education and the rate of incarceration have been linked in a recent NAACP report. Learn about the report and the troubling findings.
Bussing: North Carolina's New Student Assignment Plan
Bussing: North Carolina's New Student Assignment Plan
We analyze a new plan for student assignment in two North Carolina school districts and the public reaction to the idea of bussing students – as well as alternatives that have been proposed by education experts.

Quick Links