Best Schools in Coachella, California
10 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Coachella?
Use this page to compare every school in Coachella by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Peter Pendleton Elementary
Elementary · Coachella Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Coral Mountain Academy
Elementary · Coachella Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Valley View Elementary
Elementary · Coachella Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Coachella for 2026 are Peter Pendleton Elementary (8.9/10), Coral Mountain Academy (7.4/10), and Valley View Elementary (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$342,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.9
out of 10
Median Home
$342,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Coachella schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Coachella schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Coachella
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 10 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Pendleton Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Coral Mountain Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Valley View Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Cesar Chavez Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Imagine Schools Riverside County | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Cahuilla Desert Academy Junior High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Palm View Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Valle Del Sol Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Bobby Duke Middle | 5.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.9/10
- Median household income
- $67,235
- Median home value
- $342,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 6%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
44% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Coachella compares
California rank
#141 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.5
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
67% of California median
Schools in this city
9
Coachella Valley Unified runs 89% of Coachella's public schools
Coachella touches 2 districts, but Coachella Valley Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Coachella Valley Unified accounts for 8 of 9 public schools (89%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 5.0 to 8.9 — the spread is inside Coachella, not a citywide average.
- Coachella Valley Unified8 public · 89%
- Imagine Schools Riverside County District1 public · 11%
About Schools in Coachella, California
Coachella's public school system covers 9 ranked schools with a city-wide average of 6.8 out of 10. The landscape is dominated by elementary options — four of the five strongest performers in the city are at that level — while middle school representation is noticeably thin. One in three Coachella schools (33%) scores 7 or above, giving parents a defined upper tier to identify and focus on.
The clearest standout is Peter Pendleton Elementary, rated 8.7 out of 10 — nearly two full points above the city average. In a 9-school system, that gap carries real weight. Valle del Sol Elementary (8.1) and Palm View Elementary (7.8) also clear the upper tier, giving families with younger children three above-average elementary choices within the city. Cesar Chavez Elementary (6.7) performs at the city average, while Bobby Duke Middle (6.9) stands as the sole ranked middle school in Coachella's public system.
That middle school picture is the most important structural consideration for families planning beyond elementary. With only one ranked middle school, parents who enroll in a top elementary today need to decide early whether Bobby Duke fits their long-term path — or whether they'll look at schools outside Coachella once students move past fifth grade. That decision should shape which elementary feeder to prioritize from the start.
For parents currently in the elementary decision window, the move is clear: focus on proximity to Peter Pendleton, Valle del Sol, or Palm View. All three clear the 7.0 mark and outperform the 6.8 city average by a meaningful margin. In a system where 67% of schools fall below that threshold, those three represent Coachella's strongest public options and the most practical starting point for any school search.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 479 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 826 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 595 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 672 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.1 |
| 5 | 1,330 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 532 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 7 | 682 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.9 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 706 students · 7th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 708 students · 7th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edgemont Prep AcademyPrivate 14 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated |
Schools in Coachella
Coachella, California · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$67,235
Median Home Value
$342,500
Median Rent
$1,113/mo
Population
42,884
College Educated
6%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Community Profile
Coachella has a median household income of $67,235. It is a community where 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $342,500, with a median rent of $1,113/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.5%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Coachella, California
How many schools are in Coachella, California?
Coachella has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Coachella, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Coachella is 6.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Coachella, California?
The top-ranked school in Coachella on MySchoolScout is Peter Pendleton Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Coachella, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Coachella on MySchoolScout is Peter Pendleton Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Coachella, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Coachella on MySchoolScout is Cahuilla Desert Academy Junior High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Coachella, California?
Coachella is served by 2 school districts: Imagine Schools Riverside County District, Coachella Valley Unified.
What is the education level in Coachella, California?
According to Census data, 6% of adults in Coachella have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Coachella, California?
The median household income in Coachella is approximately $67,235 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Coachella, California?
Yes, Coachella has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Coachella, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Coachella is 20.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Coachella, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.