6.0 avg / 10

Best Schools in Palm Springs, California

14 schools · 8 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 9

Private: 5

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Estimated Scores: 27%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.0/10
Median household income: $72,880
Median home value: $549,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 45%
Avg commute: 24 min
Owner-occupied homes: 66%

How Palm Springs compares

California rank

#382 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.3

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$73k

73% of California median

Schools in this city

11

About Schools in Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs, California is home to 14 schools, including 9 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.0 out of 10, schools in Palm Springs show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Palm Springs is Raymond Cree Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10, 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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (14) Elementary (8) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (14) Public (9) Private (5)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (14) Academics (14) Growth (7) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 92262 (7) 92264 (7)

Elementary Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Cielo Vista Charter 850 students · Kindergarten–8th	850	Kindergarten–8th	6.4
2	Katherine Finchy Elementary 476 students · Kindergarten–5th	476	Kindergarten–5th	5.6
3	Cahuilla Elementary 413 students · Kindergarten–5th	413	Kindergarten–5th	5.5
4	Vista del Monte Elementary 471 students · Kindergarten–5th	471	Kindergarten–5th	4.3
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PALM SPRINGS Private 55 students · Pre-K–5th	55	Pre-K–5th	Not Rated
2	ST THERESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Private 161 students · Pre-K–8th	161	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
3	KING'S SCHOOLS OF THE DESERT Private 209 students · Kindergarten–8th	209	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
4	King's Schools of the Desert Private 215 students · Kindergarten–8th	215	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Raymond Cree Middle 710 students · 6th–8th	710	6th–8th	7.5

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Palm Springs High 1,508 students · 9th–12th	1,508	9th–12th	7.0
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Desert Chapel Christian Private 214 students · Kindergarten–12th	214	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Desert Learning Academy 378 students · Kindergarten–12th	378	Kindergarten–12th	5.8
2	Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy 469 students · Kindergarten–12th	469	Kindergarten–12th	3.9
3	Virtual Pre 4 students · -2–-2	4	-2–-2	—

Schools in Palm Springs

Palm Springs, California · 14 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.

Quick Facts

State: California
Total Schools: 14
Elementary: 8
Middle: 1
High: 2
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.0/10

Resources

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

School Districts (2)

Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy District

1 school · 469 students

Palm Springs Unified

28 schools · 20,416 students

Nearby Cities

Cathedral City (9 schools)

5 mi

Rancho Mirage (4 schools)

5 mi

Thousand Palms (1 school)

8 mi

Palm Desert (19 schools)

10 mi

Desert Hot Springs (8 schools)

13 mi

Indian Wells (1 school)

12 mi

Idyllwild (4 schools)

12 mi

Bermuda Dunes (2 schools)

13 mi

La Quinta (9 schools)

Coachella (9 schools)

20 mi

Santa Ana (1 school)

20 mi

Yucca Valley (3 schools)

24 mi

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 Palm Springs, California

How many schools are in Palm Springs, California?

Palm Springs has 14 schools, including 9 public and 5 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 6.0 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

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

The top-ranked school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Raymond Cree Middle with a composite score of 7.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Palm Springs, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Palm Springs on MySchoolScout is Montessori School of Palm Springs with a composite score of 7.5/10.

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 7.5/10.

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 5 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Montessori School of Palm Springs with a score of 7.5/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Palm Springs is 17.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Palm 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.