Desert Garden Elementary School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025)

1900 South Sixth St.
El Centro, CA 92243

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (760) 352-2051

www.desertgarden.org

Serving 371 students in grades Kindergarten-6, Desert Garden Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 28% (which is lower than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving is 35% (which is lower than the California state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 22:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.

Minority enrollment is 99% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025)

Grades: Kindergarten-6
Enrollment: 371 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
Minority Enrollment: 99%
: Bottom 50% in CA
: 28% (Btm 50%)
: 35% (Btm 50%)
: 20-24% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

School Overview

Desert Garden Elementary School's student population of 371 students has declined by 16% over five school years.

The teacher population of 17 teachers has grown by 30% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-6

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Desert Garden Elementary School
Kind	46
1	49
2	53
3	52
4	42
5	64
6	65

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Total Students

371 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School
2023	412
2022	521
2021	435
2020	442
2019	442
2018	358
2017	358
2016	361
2015	347
2014	347
2013	361
2012	424
2011	434
2010	434
2009	455
2008	467
2007	466
2006	463
2005	480
2004	487
2003	579
2002	566
2001	543
2000	540
1999	506
1998	485
1997	495
1996	534
1995	554
1994	591
1993	547
1992	496
1991	484
1990	507
1989	521
1988	489
1987	461

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

17 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School
2023	17
2022	20
2021	17
2018	11
2017	11
2016	13
2015	13
2014	13
2013	14
2012	16
2010	20
2009	22
2008	25
2007	21
2006	21
2005	22
2004	21
2003	20
2002	17
2001	21
2000	19
1999	18
1998	19
1997	20
1996	22
1995	21
1994	21
1993	20
1992	18
1991	18
1990	20

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Year Founded

1961

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

School Motto

Together, we will succeed!

School Rankings

Desert Garden Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Desert Garden Elementary School is 0.08, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CA)

#5453 out of 9523 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School
2023	#5453
2022	#5675
2019	#5198
2018	#5787
2017	#5024
2016	#6079
2015	#5453
2013	#5517
2012	#6632
2011	#5346
2010	#6439

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28%

34%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	28%	34%	25%
2022	25%	33%	20%
2019	33%	40%	33%
2018	26%	39%	30%
2017	31%	38%	28%
2016	25%	37%	26%
2015	22%	34%	21%
2013	56%	59%	56%
2012	52%	59%	54%
2011	60%	58%	54%
2010	47%	56%	51%

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35%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2010-2022)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2022	35%	47%	35%
2019	45%	51%	45%
2018	43%	50%	30%
2017	43%	48%	39%
2016	35%	48%	38%
2015	32%	44%	31%
2013	45%	57%	50%
2012	44%	58%	50%
2011	44%	56%	47%
2010	45%	54%	46%

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20-24%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

22:1

21:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	24:1	22:1	23:1
2022	26:1	21:1	22:1
2021	26:1	22:1	24:1
2018	33:1	23:1	25:1
2017	33:1	23:1	25:1
2016	28:1	24:1	25:1
2015	27:1	24:1	25:1
2014	27:1	24:1	26:1
2013	26:1	24:1	26:1
2012	27:1	23:1	27:1
2010	22:1	21:1	22:1
2009	21:1	20:1	22:1
2008	19:1	18:1	21:1
2007	22:1	21:1	23:1
2006	22:1	20:1	22:1
2005	22:1	21:1	22:1
2004	23:1	21:1	23:1
2003	29:1	20:1	22:1
2002	33:1	20:1	24:1
2001	26:1	20:1	21:1
2000	28:1	21:1	22:1
1999	28:1	21:1	21:1
1998	26:1	21:1	23:1
1997	25:1	23:1	23:1
1996	24:1	25:1	25:1
1995	26:1	25:1	25:1
1994	28:1	25:1	25:1
1993	27:1	25:1	25:1
1992	27:1	24:1	26:1
1991	27:1	24:1	26:1
1990	25:1	24:1	25:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

n/a

12%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1990-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	1%	12%
2022	1%	12%
2021	1%	12%
2020	1%	12%
2019	1%	12%
2018	1%	11%
2017	1%	11%
2016	1%	11%
2014	1%	11%	1%
2007	1%	12%	2%
2005	1%	12%	3%
2003	3%	11%	3%
2002	4%	11%	3%
2001	2%	11%	3%
2000	2%	11%	2%
1999	1%	11%	2%
1998	2%	11%	2%
1997	3%	11%	2%
1996	2%	11%	3%
1995	2%	11%	2%
1994	2%	11%	1%
1993	3%	11%	2%
1992	2%	11%	1%
1991	3%	11%	2%
1990	3%	10%	2%

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Hispanic

96%

56%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	94%	55%	96%
2022	94%	56%	96%
2021	94%	56%	96%
2020	91%	55%	96%
2019	91%	55%	96%
2018	91%	54%	95%
2017	91%	54%	95%
2016	92%	54%	94%
2015	95%	54%	82%
2014	94%	53%	94%
2013	95%	53%	92%
2012	95%	52%	92%
2011	92%	51%	91%
2010	92%	50%	91%
2009	91%	49%	91%
2008	90%	50%	90%
2007	92%	49%	89%
2006	93%	48%	90%
2005	91%	47%	89%
2004	90%	46%	88%
2003	85%	45%	87%
2002	82%	44%	86%
2001	82%	43%	86%
2000	81%	42%	85%
1999	84%	41%	85%
1998	83%	40%	84%
1997	79%	40%	84%
1996	79%	39%	82%
1995	75%	38%	81%
1994	79%	37%	81%
1993	75%	36%	80%
1992	72%	35%	79%
1991	70%	34%	77%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	2%	5%	1%
2022	2%	5%	1%
2021	1%	5%	1%
2020	2%	5%	1%
2019	2%	5%	1%
2018	1%	6%	1%
2017	1%	6%	1%
2016	1%	6%	1%
2014	1%	6%	1%
2013	1%	6%	1%
2012	1%	6%	1%
2011	2%	7%	2%
2010	2%	7%	2%
2009	3%	7%	2%
2008	3%	8%	2%
2007	2%	8%	3%
2006	2%	8%	3%
2005	2%	8%	2%
2004	2%	8%	3%
2003	4%	8%	3%
2002	4%	8%	3%
2001	5%	8%	3%
2000	7%	9%	3%
1999	6%	9%	3%
1998	5%	9%	3%
1997	4%	9%	3%
1996	4%	9%	3%
1995	4%	9%	3%
1994	6%	9%	4%
1993	6%	9%	3%
1992	5%	9%	3%

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White

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	2%	21%	2%
2022	1%	21%	2%
2021	1%	22%	2%
2020	1%	23%	2%
2019	1%	23%	2%
2018	2%	24%	3%
2017	2%	24%	3%
2016	2%	24%	4%
2015	3%	24%	5%
2014	2%	25%	3%
2013	3%	25%	4%
2012	3%	26%	5%
2011	5%	27%	5%
2010	5%	27%	6%
2009	6%	28%	5%
2008	7%	29%	6%
2007	5%	29%	6%
2006	5%	31%	5%
2005	6%	31%	6%
2004	8%	32%	6%
2003	8%	34%	7%
2002	10%	35%	8%
2001	11%	36%	8%
2000	10%	37%	10%
1999	9%	38%	10%
1998	10%	39%	11%
1997	14%	39%	11%
1996	15%	40%	12%
1995	19%	41%	14%
1994	13%	42%	14%
1993	16%	43%	15%
1992	21%	44%	17%
1991	22%	45%	17%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	1%	6%	1%
2022	2%	5%	1%
2021	3%	5%	1%
2020	5%	4%	1%
2019	5%	4%	1%
2018	5%	4%	1%
2017	5%	4%	1%
2016	4%	4%	1%
2015	2%	3%
2014	2%	3%	1%
2013	1%	3%	2%
2012	1%	3%	1%
2011	1%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.08

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	0.12	0.64	0.08
2022	0.12	0.63	0.08
2021	0.12	0.62	0.08
2020	0.17	0.63	0.09
2019	0.17	0.63	0.09
2018	0.17	0.64	0.10
2017	0.17	0.64	0.10
2016	0.15	0.64	0.11
2015	0.10	0.64	0.21
2014	0.12	0.65	0.11
2013	0.10	0.65	0.15
2012	0.10	0.65	0.15
2011	0.16	0.67	0.17
2010	0.17	0.67	0.17
2009	0.19	0.71	0.18
2008	0.19	0.65	0.19
2007	0.16	0.67	0.20
2006	0.15	0.66	0.19
2005	0.17	0.67	0.21
2004	0.19	0.67	0.22
2003	0.27	0.67	0.23
2002	0.32	0.67	0.25
2001	0.32	0.67	0.26
2000	0.34	0.67	0.27
1999	0.29	0.67	0.27
1998	0.31	0.67	0.28
1997	0.36	0.67	0.29
1996	0.35	0.67	0.31
1995	0.40	0.67	0.32
1994	0.37	0.67	0.33
1993	0.41	0.67	0.34
1992	0.44	0.67	0.36
1991	0.46	0.67	0.37

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Eligible for

71%

54%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	73%	51%	72%
2022	72%	51%	71%
2021	80%	53%	75%
2020	74%	52%	73%
2019	74%	52%	73%
2018	76%	49%	71%
2017	76%	49%	71%
2016	75%	50%	71%
2015	75%	50%	67%
2014	68%	49%	64%
2013	68%	48%	67%
2011	69%	46%	70%
2010	61%	46%	67%
2009	58%	43%	67%
2008	55%	41%	62%
2007	55%	40%	60%
2006	11%	40%	12%
2005	62%	40%	62%
2004	62%	40%	62%
2003	62%	39%	61%
2002	62%	39%	62%
2001	62%	39%	62%
2000	62%	40%	64%
1999	62%	40%	66%
1998	72%	47%	75%
1997	65%	47%	71%
1996	67%	46%	70%
1995	68%	45%	72%
1994	84%	43%	83%
1993	69%	41%	74%
1992	60%	38%	64%

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Eligible for

10%

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Desert Garden Elementary School	California	El Centro Elementary School District
2023	8%	8%	8%
2022	9%	7%	10%
2021	8%	6%	9%
2020	7%	7%	8%
2019	7%	7%	8%
2018	9%	9%	10%
2017	9%	9%	10%
2016	8%	9%	8%
2015	8%	9%	9%
2014	12%	9%	11%
2013	13%	7%	11%
2011	11%	8%	10%
2010	17%	9%	12%
2009	14%	10%	11%
2008	19%	10%	12%
2007	18%	10%	12%
2006	63%	9%	62%
2005	10%	9%	12%
2004	10%	9%	11%
2003	10%	9%	12%
2002	10%	8%	9%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

El Centro Elementary School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Desert Garden Elementary School's ranking?

Desert Garden Elementary School is ranked #5453 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in California.

What schools are Desert Garden Elementary School often compared to?

Desert Garden Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Harding Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

28% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 35% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).

How many students attend Desert Garden Elementary School?

371 students attend Desert Garden Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

96% of Desert Garden Elementary School students are Hispanic, 2% of students are Black, 1% of students are White, and 1% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Desert Garden Elementary School?

Desert Garden Elementary School has a student ration of 22:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.

What grades does Desert Garden Elementary School offer ?

Desert Garden Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-6

What school district is Desert Garden Elementary School part of?

Desert Garden Elementary School is part of El Centro Elementary School District.

School Reviews

5 3/16/2020

It's a really nice school you should enroll your children here.

- Posted by Parent - Maria

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