Best Schools in Desert Hot Springs, California
8 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Desert Hot Springs?
Use this page to compare every school in Desert Hot Springs 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.
Desert Hot Springs High
High · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Painted Hills Middle
Middle · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Two Bunch Palms Elementary
Elementary · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Desert Hot Springs for 2026 are Desert Hot Springs High (7.1/10), Painted Hills Middle (6.0/10), and Two Bunch Palms Elementary (5.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$294,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$294,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +2.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Desert Hot Springs schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Desert Hot Springs
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert Hot Springs High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Painted Hills Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Two Bunch Palms Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Cabot Yerxa Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Desert Springs Middle | 4.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Bubbling Wells Elementary | 4.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Bella Vista Elementary | 3.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Julius Corsini Elementary | 3.0 / 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
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $51,284
- Median home value
- $294,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 15%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Desert Hot Springs compares
California rank
#542 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.2
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 5.0 out of 10, schools in Desert Hot Springs show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
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.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 697 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 673 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
| 3 | 637 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 |
| 4 | 756 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.7 |
| 5 | 388 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.0 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 744 students · 6th–8th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 740 students · 6th–8th | 4.8 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,718 students · 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.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
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 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 5.0 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 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 Two Bunch Palms Elementary with a composite score of 5.8/10.
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 6.0/10.
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 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.