5.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Desert Hot Springs, California

8 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 8

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.5/10

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 5.5/10
Median household income: $51,284
Median home value: $294,200
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15%
Avg commute: 29 min
Owner-occupied homes: 56%

How Desert Hot Springs compares

California rank

#495 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.8

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$51k

51% of California median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Desert Hot Springs, California

Desert Hot Springs, California is home to 8 schools, including 8 public schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school.

With an average rating of 5.5 out of 10, schools in Desert Hot Springs show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Desert Hot Springs is Desert Hot Springs High with a composite score of 7.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Desert Hot Springs is served by 1 school district: Palm Springs Unified. These districts collectively serve 20,416 students.

Desert Hot Springs's community shows 15% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $51,284. The poverty rate in the area is 18.9%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (8) Elementary (5) Middle (2) High (1)

Filter by Type: All Types (8) Public (8)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (8) Academics (8) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 92240 (8)

Elementary Schools

5 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Bella Vista Elementary 756 students · Kindergarten–5th	756	Kindergarten–5th	5.9
2	Two Bunch Palms Elementary 697 students · Kindergarten–5th	697	Kindergarten–5th	5.9
3	Bubbling Wells Elementary 637 students · Kindergarten–5th	637	Kindergarten–5th	5.2
4	Cabot Yerxa Elementary 673 students · Kindergarten–5th	673	Kindergarten–5th	4.2
5	Julius Corsini Elementary 388 students · Kindergarten–5th	388	Kindergarten–5th	4.0

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Painted Hills Middle 744 students · 6th–8th	744	6th–8th	6.5
2	Desert Springs Middle 740 students · 6th–8th	740	6th–8th	5.1

High Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Desert Hot Springs High 1,718 students · 9th–12th	1,718	9th–12th	7.1

Schools in Desert Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs, California · 8 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$51,284

Median Home Value

$294,200

Median Rent

$1,367/mo

Population

40,918

College Educated

15%

Homeownership

56%

Avg Commute

29 min

Poverty Rate

18.9%

Community Profile

Desert Hot Springs has a median household income of $51,284. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $294,200, with a median rent of $1,367/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.9%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: California
Total Schools: 8
Elementary: 5
Middle: 2
High: 1
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 5.5/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Desert Hot Springs schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Desert Hot Springs 📊 Niche Desert Hot Springs Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Palm Springs Unified

28 schools · 20,416 students

Nearby Cities

Palm Springs (13 schools)

9 mi

Cathedral City (9 schools)

10 mi

Thousand Palms (1 school)

11 mi

Yucca Valley (3 schools)

12 mi

Rancho Mirage (4 schools)

12 mi

Twenty Nine Palms (1 school)

14 mi

Palm Desert (19 schools)

17 mi

Cabazon (1 school)

16 mi

Bermuda Dunes (2 schools)

18 mi

Indian Wells (1 school)

19 mi

Twentynine Palms (16 schools)

19 mi

Idyllwild (4 schools)

20 mi

La Quinta (9 schools)

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Diego 412 schools San Jose 335 schools San Francisco 297 schools Sacramento 273 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Desert Hot Springs, California

How many schools are in Desert Hot Springs, California?

Desert Hot Springs has 8 schools, including 8 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Desert Hot Springs is 5.5 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The top-ranked school in Desert Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Desert Hot Springs High with a composite score of 7.1/10.

What is the best elementary school in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Desert Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Bella Vista Elementary with a composite score of 5.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Desert Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Painted Hills Middle with a composite score of 6.5/10.

What is the best high school in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The top-ranked high school in Desert Hot Springs on MySchoolScout is Desert Hot Springs High with a composite score of 7.1/10.

How many school districts serve Desert Hot Springs, California?

Desert Hot Springs is served by 1 school district: Palm Springs Unified.

What is the education level in Desert Hot Springs, California?

According to Census data, 15% of adults in Desert Hot Springs have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The median household income in Desert Hot Springs is approximately $51,284 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Desert Hot Springs is 20.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Desert Hot Springs, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.