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 28 public elementary schools serving 17,219 students in Desert Sands Unified School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Desert Sands Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 26% (versus the California public elementary school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
7,700 Schools
# Students
25,897 Students
3,822,920 Students
# Teachers
1,090 Teachers
174,000 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
0.64
# American Indian Students
84 Students
16,785 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
746 Students
454,357 Students
% Asian Students
3%
12%
# Hispanic Students
19,611 Students
2,114,366 Students
% Hispanic Students
76%
55%
# Black Students
356 Students
189,461 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
3,948 Students
787,389 Students
% White Students
15%
21%
# Hawaiian Students
27 Students
15,077 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,123 Students
240,557 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
6%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
2,022
519,574
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,723
396,601
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,834
414,466
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,820
416,628
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,856
426,360
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,809
430,582
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,908
432,936
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,049
312,207
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,978
312,649
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,115
44,929
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,222
37,487
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,243
37,249
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,318
41,169
# 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 Elementary 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.
James Monroe Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
42-100 Yucca Ln.
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 772-4130
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 772-4130
Grades: K-5
| 537 students
Rank: #33.
James Earl Carter Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
74-251 Hovley Ln. East
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4370
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4370
Grades: K-5
| 517 students
Rank: #44.
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
44-210 Warner Trail
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 772-4120
Indian Wells, CA 92210
(760) 772-4120
Grades: K-5
| 615 students
Rank: #55.
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
Rank: #66.
Amelia Earhart Elementary School Of International Studies
(Math: 43% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
45-250 Dune Palms Rd.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3720
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 200-3720
Grades: K-5
| 762 students
Rank: #77.
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
39-800 Liberty Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 772-0456
Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760) 772-0456
Grades: K-5
| 818 students
Rank: #88.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 1,065 students
Rank: #99.
Martin Van Buren Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
47-733 Van Buren St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3870
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3870
Grades: K-5
| 535 students
Rank: #1010.
Harry S. Truman Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
78-870 Avenue 50
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4230
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4230
Grades: K-5
| 644 students
Rank: #1111.
Richard R. Oliphant Elementary School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
41-633 Gore St.
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 834-3231
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 834-3231
Grades: K-5
| 606 students
Rank: #1212.
La Quinta Middle School
(Math: 24% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 688 students
Rank: #1313.
Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy
(Math: 23% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
47-368 Monroe St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-1544
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-1544
Grades: K-5
| 598 students
Rank: #1414.
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
77-800 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9424
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9424
Grades: K-5
| 622 students
Rank: #1515.
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School
(Math: 18% | 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
Grades: 6-8
| 397 students
Rank: #1616.
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
74-100 Rutledge Way
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4340
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4340
Grades: K-5
| 593 students
Rank: #1717.
Horizon
Alternative School
(Math: 18% | 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
Grades: K-12
| 356 students
Rank: #1818.
Andrew Jackson Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
82-850 Kenner Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3830
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3830
Grades: K-5
| 762 students
Rank: #1919.
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
83-200 Dr. Carreon Blvd.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3860
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3860
Grades: K-5
| 491 students
Rank: #2020.
Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
44-640 Clinton St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3680
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3680
Grades: K-5
| 567 students
Rank: #2121.
Carrillo Ranch Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
43-775 Madison St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 238-9700
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 238-9700
Grades: K-5
| 471 students
Rank: #2222.
Desert Ridge Academy
(Math: 12% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
79-767 Avenue 39
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Indio, CA 92203
(760) 393-5500
Grades: 6-8
| 1,018 students
Rank: #2323.
James Madison Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
80-845 Avenue 46
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3850
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3850
Grades: K-5
| 376 students
Rank: #2424.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
44-300 Monroe St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3820
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3820
Grades: K-5
| 335 students
Rank: #2525.
Indio Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
81-195 Miles Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3800
Grades: 6-8
| 780 students
Rank: #2626.
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
83-089 Highway 111
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 863-3660
Grades: 6-8
| 535 students
Rank: #2727.
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 11%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
45-100 Clinton St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3840
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3840
Grades: K-5
| 386 students
Rank: n/an/a
50-800 Desert Club Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4260
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 777-4260
Grades: K-1
| n/a students
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