Best Schools in Palm Springs, California
13 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Palm Springs?
Use this page to compare every school in Palm 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.
Cielo Vista Charter
Elementary · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Katherine Finchy Elementary
Elementary · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Palm Springs High
High · Palm Springs Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Palm Springs for 2026 are Cielo Vista Charter (8.6/10), Katherine Finchy Elementary (7.0/10), and Palm Springs High (7.0/10), 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
13
9 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$549,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
13
9 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$549,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.6/10 despite 92% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 Palm Springs schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Palm Springs schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Palm Springs
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cielo Vista Charter | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Katherine Finchy Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Palm Springs High | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Raymond Cree Middle | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Desert Learning Academy | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy | 5.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Cahuilla Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Vista Del Monte Elementary | 4.0 / 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
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $72,880
- Median home value
- $549,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 45%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
27% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Palm Springs compares
California rank
#389 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$73k
73% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Palm Springs Unified runs 89% of Palm Springs's public schools
Palm Springs touches 2 districts, but Palm Springs Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Palm Springs Unified accounts for 8 of 9 public schools (89%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 8 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.0 to 8.6 — the spread is inside Palm Springs, not a citywide average.
- Palm Springs Unified8 public · 89%
- Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy District1 public · 11%
About Schools in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California is home to 13 schools, including 9 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Palm Springs 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 Springs is Cielo Vista Charter with a composite score of 8.6/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Palm Springs is served by 2 school districts: Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy District, Palm Springs Unified. These districts collectively serve 20,885 students.
Palm Springs's community shows 45% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $72,880. The poverty rate in the area is 12.9%.
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
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 850 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 476 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 3 | 413 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 4 | 471 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Theresa Elementary SchoolPrivate 154 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | King's Schools of the DesertPrivate 209 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 14 students · Pre-K–1st | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 710 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,508 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 378 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 469 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 3 | 4 students · -2–-2 | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 226 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$72,880
Median Home Value
$549,400
Median Rent
$1,501/mo
Population
46,314
College Educated
45%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Community Profile
Palm Springs has a median household income of $72,880. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $549,400, with a median rent of $1,501/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.9%. 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
- 1
- High
- 1
- Other
- 4
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 Palm Springs, California
How many schools are in Palm Springs, California?
Palm Springs has 13 schools, including 9 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Palm Springs, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Palm Springs is 6.1 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 Springs, California?
The top-ranked school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Cielo Vista Charter with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Palm Springs, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Cielo Vista Charter with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Palm Springs, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Raymond Cree Middle with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Palm Springs, California?
The top-ranked high school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Palm Springs High with a composite score of 7.0/10.
How many school districts serve Palm Springs, California?
Palm Springs is served by 2 school districts: Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy District, Palm Springs Unified.
What is the education level in Palm Springs, California?
According to Census data, 45% of adults in Palm Springs have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Palm Springs, California?
The median household income in Palm Springs is approximately $72,880 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Palm Springs, California?
Yes, Palm Springs has 4 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Desert Chapel Christian School with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Palm Springs, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Palm Springs is 18.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Palm 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 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.