Best Schools in Palm Desert, California
13 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in Palm Desert?
Use this page to compare every school in Palm Desert 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.
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Elementary · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
George Washington Charter
Elementary · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Palm Desert High
High · Desert Sands Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Palm Desert for 2026 are Abraham Lincoln Elementary (7.0/10), George Washington Charter (6.9/10), and Palm Desert High (6.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 6 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
13
6 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$499,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
13
6 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$499,600
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +1.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Palm Desert schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Palm Desert
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (6 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 2 | George Washington Charter | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Palm Desert High | 6.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Palm Desert Charter Middle | 6.1 / 10 |
| 5 | James Earl Carter Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Ronald Reagan Elementary | 4.7 / 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
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $79,967
- Median home value
- $499,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
30% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Palm Desert compares
California rank
#362 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$80k
80% of California median
Schools in this city
10
Desert Sands Unified runs Palm Desert's public schools
6 public schools. Desert Sands Unified is the only district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Palm Desert is a Desert Sands Unified school (6 of 6).
Among 6 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.7 to 7.0 — the spread is inside Palm Desert, not a citywide average.
About Schools in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California is home to 13 schools, including 6 public schools and 7 private schools. The city's schools span 9 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert is Palm Desert Learning Tree Center with a composite score of 7.4/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Palm Desert is served by 1 school district: Desert Sands Unified. These districts collectively serve 25,898 students.
Palm Desert's community shows 41% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $79,967. The poverty rate in the area is 10.9%.
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
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 593 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 2 | 756 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 3 | 517 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 4 | 818 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 | ||
Private Schools5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 103 students · Pre-K–5th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Desert Adventist SchoolPrivate 45 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Sacred Heart SchoolPrivate 562 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 12 students · Kindergarten–4th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Aleph SchoolhousePrivate 29 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,389 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,039 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 538 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Carson AcademyPrivate 36 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$79,967
Median Home Value
$499,600
Median Rent
$1,779/mo
Population
58,126
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Community Profile
Palm Desert has a median household income of $79,967. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $499,600, with a median rent of $1,779/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
Resources
School District
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 Palm Desert, California
How many schools are in Palm Desert, California?
Palm Desert has 13 schools, including 6 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Palm Desert, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Palm Desert is 6.2 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 Palm Desert, California?
The top-ranked school in Palm Desert on MySchoolScout is Abraham Lincoln Elementary with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Palm Desert, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Palm Desert on MySchoolScout is Abraham Lincoln Elementary with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Palm Desert, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Palm Desert on MySchoolScout is Palm Desert Charter Middle with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Palm Desert, California?
The top-ranked high school in Palm Desert on MySchoolScout is Palm Desert High with a composite score of 6.2/10.
How many school districts serve Palm Desert, California?
Palm Desert is served by 1 school district: Desert Sands Unified.
What is the education level in Palm Desert, California?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Palm Desert have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Palm Desert, California?
The median household income in Palm Desert is approximately $79,967 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Palm Desert, California?
Yes, Palm Desert has 7 private schools alongside 6 public schools. The top-rated private school is Palm Desert Learning Tree Center with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Palm Desert, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Palm Desert is 19.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Palm Desert, 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.