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 2024-25 school year, there are 8 public high schools serving 9,330 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 77% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
35 Schools
2,826 Schools
# Students
26,379 Students
2,020,187 Students
# Teachers
1,103 Teachers
101,258 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
District Rank
Desert Sands Unified School District, which is ranked #1080 of all 1,931 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
0.41
0.65
# American Indian Students
67 Students
10,744 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
749 Students
238,325 Students
% Asian Students
3%
12%
# Hispanic Students
19,912 Students
1,088,027 Students
% Hispanic Students
76%
54%
# Black Students
377 Students
102,494 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
4,118 Students
460,449 Students
% White Students
16%
23%
# Hawaiian Students
22 Students
9,014 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
1,129 Students
103,001 Students
% of Two or more races Students
4%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
-
18
# Students in K Grade:
2,105
22,406
# Students in 1st Grade:
1,817
18,976
# Students in 2nd Grade:
1,772
18,670
# Students in 3rd Grade:
1,853
18,995
# Students in 4th Grade:
1,813
19,014
# Students in 5th Grade:
1,868
19,370
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,031
26,291
# Students in 7th Grade:
1,983
36,245
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,011
38,229
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,241
447,954
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,304
448,650
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,292
451,877
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,289
453,492
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,127 in this school district is less than the state median of $21,485. The school district revenue/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,398 is less than the state median of $19,787. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$478 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$433 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,127
$21,485
Spending / Student
$16,398
$19,787
Best Desert Sands Unified School District Public High Schools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Palm Desert High School
Magnet 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
| 2,050 students
Rank: #22.
La Quinta High School
Magnet 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
| 2,500 students
Rank: #33.
Shadow Hills High School
Magnet 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
| 1,751 students
Rank: #44.
Horizon
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 414 students
Rank: #55.
Indio High School
Magnet School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
81-750 Ave. 46
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3550
Grades: 9-12
| 2,143 students
Rank: #66.
Summit High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 199 students
Rank: #77.
Amistad High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet 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
| 209 students
Rank: n/an/a
Desert Sands A.t.l.a.s.
Special Education School
Magnet School
Magnet School
83-391 Dillon Ave
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 775-3810
Grades: 12
| 64 students
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