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 8 public high schools serving 9,034 students in Desert Sands 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 Desert Sands 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 42% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Desert Sands Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 95%, which is more than the California average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is La Quinta High School, with 97% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 84% 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
35 Schools
2,817 Schools
# Students
25,897 Students
2,139,525 Students
# Teachers
1,090 Teachers
100,737 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
0.63
# American Indian Students
84 Students
10,468 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
746 Students
244,247 Students
% Asian Students
3%
11%
# Hispanic Students
19,611 Students
1,190,384 Students
% Hispanic Students
76%
56%
# Black Students
356 Students
110,575 Students
% Black Students
2%
5%
# White Students
3,948 Students
458,887 Students
% White Students
15%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
27 Students
9,060 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,123 Students
108,483 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
18
# Students in K Grade:
2,022
25,126
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,723
19,346
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,834
19,826
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,820
19,554
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,856
19,798
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,809
20,237
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,908
29,089
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,049
39,371
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,978
41,955
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,115
466,491
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,222
476,582
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,243
469,509
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,318
492,623
# 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 High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Palm Desert High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
74-910 Aztec Rd.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 862-4300
Grades: 9-12
| 2,039 students
Rank: #22.
La Quinta High School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
79-255 Blackhawk Way
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 772-4150
Grades: 9-12
| 2,488 students
Rank: #33.
Shadow Hills High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
39-225 Jefferson St.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 393-5400
Grades: 9-12
| 1,702 students
Rank: #44.
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: #55.
Indio High School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
81-750 Avenue 46
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Grades: 9-12
| 2,027 students
Rank: #66.
Summit High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
43-330 Palm Royale Dr.
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9760
La Quinta, CA 92253
(760) 238-9760
Grades: 10-12
| 167 students
Rank: #77.
Amistad High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
83-501 Dillon Ave.
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3570
Grades: 9-12
| 196 students
Rank: n/an/a
Desert Sands A.t.l.a.s.
Special Education School
83-391 Dillon Ave
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Grades: 12
| 59 students
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