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 2025 school year, there are 2 public charter schools serving 2,145 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average charter testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public charter schools in California.
Public Charter Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the California public charter school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 48% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public charter school average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
1,300 Schools
# Students
25,897 Students
711,386 Students
# Teachers
1,090 Teachers
31,388 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #1079 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1068 out of 1941 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
25%
33%
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
0.65
# American Indian Students
84 Students
3,137 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
746 Students
49,250 Students
% Asian Students
3%
7%
# Hispanic Students
19,611 Students
378,755 Students
% Hispanic Students
76%
53%
# Black Students
356 Students
48,500 Students
% Black Students
2%
7%
# White Students
3,948 Students
176,738 Students
% White Students
15%
25%
# Hawaiian Students
27 Students
2,385 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,123 Students
48,230 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
7%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
2,022
60,517
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,723
46,070
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,834
47,155
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,820
46,520
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,856
46,583
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,809
46,919
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,908
54,274
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,049
57,837
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,978
57,970
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,115
70,272
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,222
64,790
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,243
57,670
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,318
54,726
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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 Charter Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
George Washington Charter
Charter School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
45-768 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4350
Grades: K-5
| 756 students
Rank: #22.
Palm Desert Charter Middle School
Charter School
(Math: 37% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 1,389 students
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