Top Rankings
Palm Springs 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 2026-27 school year, there are 6 public high schools serving 6,561 students in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs 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 44% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Palm Springs Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 89%, which is more than the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Palm Springs 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 92% 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
28 Schools
2,790 Schools
# Students
20,011 Students
2,122,151 Students
# Teachers
1,006 Teachers
101,015 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Palm Springs Unified School District, which is ranked #1304 of all 1,903 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 89% has decreased from 92% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1221 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
22%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
18%
29%
Graduation Rate
89%
86.2%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)40.3%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.32
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
12%
% Hispanic
82%
56%
% Black
4%
5%
% White
8%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $31,292 is higher than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 36% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $23,825 is higher than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 23% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$626 MM
$150,628 MM
Spending
$477 MM
$130,845 MM
Revenue / Student
$31,292
$26,022
Spending / Student
$23,825
$22,604
Best Palm Springs Unified School District Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Palm Springs High School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2401 East Baristo Rd.
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 778-0400
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 778-0400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,497 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #22.
Cathedral City High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
69250 Dinah Shore Dr.
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-0100
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-0100
Gr: 9-12 | 1,334 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #33.
Rancho Mirage High School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
31001 Rattler Rd.
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 202-6455
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
(760) 202-6455
Gr: 9-12 | 1,401 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #44.
Desert Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2248 East Ramon Rd.
Palm Springs, CA 92264
(760) 778-0487
Palm Springs, CA 92264
(760) 778-0487
Gr: K-12 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #55.
Desert Hot Springs High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
65850 Pierson Blvd.
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
(760) 288-7000
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
(760) 288-7000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,687 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #66.
Mt. San Jacinto High School
Alternative School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
30800 Landau Blvd.
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-8563
Cathedral City, CA 92234
(760) 770-8563
Gr: 9-12 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Recent Articles
How Much Choice Do High School Students Have?
Learn how graduation requirements, prerequisites, electives, staffing, scheduling conflicts, AP courses, dual enrollment, and career pathways determine how much control high school students have over schedules each year.
Does Your Child Need More Recess?
Explore whether your child may benefit more from recess than another academic period, including research on attention, learning, physical activity, stress, social development, and school-day balance today.
Combined Grade Classrooms, What Parents Should Know
Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.
