Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0Palm Desert’s public schools outscore 56% of California districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Palm Desert, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Palm Desert’s districts is 25%, below the California average (33%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Palm Desert’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 536 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Palm Desert’s, its schools beat 66%, higher than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 40% of tested students were proficient in reading and 25% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $19,599 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Three elementary schools, then six middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Palm Desert Charter Middle, George Washington Charter, Sacred Heart School (private), Palm Desert Learning Tree Center (private) and Desert Adventist School (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Palm Desert’s grade
B: better than 56% of California school districts, #406 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Palm Desert, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Palm Desert · depends on your address
Ronald Reagan Elementary
Grades K–5 · 808 students · 23:1 students per teacher
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Grades K–5 · 607 students · 25:1 students per teacher
James Earl Carter Elementary
Grades K–5 · 487 students · 22:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Palm Desert
Palm Desert High
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 26:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Palm Desert
Palm Desert High
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 26:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Palm Desert
Palm Desert High
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 26:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Palm Desert
Palm Desert High
Grades 9–12 · 2,079 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Palm Desert’s public schools are run by Desert Sands Unified School District, which also serves Coachella, Indian Wells, Indio and La Quinta. Parts of Palm Desert (14% of its land) are served by Palm Springs Unified instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Palm Desert vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Palm Desert’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Desert | B | Desert Sands Unified |
| Indian Wells | B | Desert Sands Unified |
| Rancho Mirage | C+ | Palm Springs Unified |
Every school in Palm Desert
15 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Palm Desert’s schools
Are Palm Desert’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Palm Desert children attend outscore 56% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #406 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Palm Desert in?
Desert Sands Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 25,613 students in 34 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Palm Desert are served by Palm Springs Unified.
Where do Palm Desert kids go to high school?
Palm Desert High, with 2,079 students; its own test results earn an A−.
What is Palm Desert’s graduation rate?
94% of the class of 2023 in Desert Sands Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Palm Desert spend per student?
$19,599 in Desert Sands Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Palm Desert?
Yes: Sacred Heart School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 632 students), Palm Desert Learning Tree Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 113 students) and Desert Adventist School (religious, grades K–8, 45 students). Palm Desert also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Palm Desert families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Palm Desert → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.