Best Schools in Indio, California
25 schools · 14 Elementary · 4 Middle · 7 High
Choosing a school in Indio?
Use this page to compare every school in Indio 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.
Martin Van Buren Elementary
Elementary · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Richard R. Oliphant Elementary
Elementary · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies
Elementary · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Indio for 2026 are Martin Van Buren Elementary (7.3/10), Richard R. Oliphant Elementary (7.2/10), and Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
25
20 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$434,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
25
20 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$434,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.3/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Indio schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Indio schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Indio
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 19 rated schools; 25 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Van Buren Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Richard R. Oliphant Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Carrillo Ranch Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | John Glenn Middle School of International Studies | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Mountain Vista Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Desert Ridge Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy | 6.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Amistad High (continuation) | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Indio High | 5.7 / 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
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $82,316
- Median home value
- $434,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 25%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Indio compares
California rank
#525 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$82k
83% of California median
Schools in this city
20
Desert Sands Unified runs Indio's public schools
20 public schools. Desert Sands Unified is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Indio is a Desert Sands Unified school (19 of 20).
Among 19 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.9 to 7.3 — the spread is inside Indio, not a citywide average.
- Desert Sands Unified19 public · 95%
- Coachella Valley Unified1 public · 5%
About Schools in Indio, California
Indio, California is home to 25 schools, including 20 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.5 out of 10, schools in Indio show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Indio is Martin Van Buren Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Indio is served by 2 school districts: Coachella Valley Unified, Desert Sands Unified. These districts collectively serve 41,944 students.
Indio's community shows 25% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $82,316. The poverty rate in the area is 10.8%.
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
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 535 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 2 | 606 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.2 |
| 3 | 762 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 471 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 580 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 598 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 |
| 7 | 491 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.7 |
| 8 | 567 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 9 | 762 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 |
| 10 | 386 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.5 |
Show all 14 elementary schools in Indio
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,065 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 1,018 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 780 students · 6th–8th | 3.9 |
| 4 | 535 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 196 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 2,027 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 1,702 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 59 students · 12th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | López AcademyPrivate 16 students · 10th–10th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Castleberry Home SchoolPrivate 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Al Vasquez Learning CenterPrivate 24 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Indio
Indio, California · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$82,316
Median Home Value
$434,700
Median Rent
$1,670/mo
Population
99,745
College Educated
25%
Homeownership
70%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Community Profile
Indio has a median household income of $82,316. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $434,700, with a median rent of $1,670/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.8%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 7
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 Indio, California
How many schools are in Indio, California?
Indio has 25 schools, including 20 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Indio, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Indio is 5.5 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 Indio, California?
The top-ranked school in Indio on MySchoolScout is Martin Van Buren Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Indio, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Indio on MySchoolScout is Martin Van Buren Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Indio, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Indio on MySchoolScout is John Glenn Middle School of International Studies with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Indio, California?
The top-ranked high school in Indio on MySchoolScout is Amistad High (continuation) with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Indio, California?
Indio is served by 2 school districts: Coachella Valley Unified, Desert Sands Unified.
What is the education level in Indio, California?
According to Census data, 25% of adults in Indio have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Indio, California?
The median household income in Indio is approximately $82,316 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Indio, California?
Yes, Indio has 5 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady of Perpetual Help School with a score of 5.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Indio, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Indio is 20.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Indio, 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
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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.