5.2 avg / 10

Best Schools in Thermal, California

9 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 8

Private: 1

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 5.2/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Thermal?

Use this page to compare every school in Thermal by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

High · Coachella Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Elementary · Coachella Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Thermal for 2026 are Desert Mirage High (5.8/10), La Familia Continuation High (5.7/10), and Westside Elementary (5.5/10), 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.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024

Westside Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +4.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Thermal schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Thermal

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Desert Mirage High	5.8 / 10	High	—	39th
2	La Familia Continuation High	5.7 / 10	High	—	37th
3	Westside Elementary	5.5 / 10	Elementary	—	33th
4	Toro Canyon Middle	5.4 / 10	Middle	—	31th
5	Coachella Valley High	5.3 / 10	High	—	30th
6	Las Palmitas Elementary	5.1 / 10	Elementary	—	26th
7	John Kelley Elementary	4.8 / 10	Elementary	—	21th
8	Oasis Elementary	3.8 / 10	Elementary	—	8th

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: 5.2/10
Median household income: $36,087
Median home value: $139,900
Bachelor's degree or higher: 5%
Avg commute: 28 min
Owner-occupied homes: 75%

How Thermal compares

California rank

#531 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-1.1

below California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$36k

36% of California median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Thermal, California

Thermal, California is home to 9 schools, including 8 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.

With an average rating of 5.2 out of 10, schools in Thermal 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 Thermal is Desert Mirage High with a composite score of 5.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Thermal is served by 1 school district: Coachella Valley Unified. These districts collectively serve 16,046 students.

Thermal's community shows 5% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $36,087. The poverty rate in the area is 22.8%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (9) Elementary (4) Middle (1) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (9) Public (8) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (9) Academics (8) Growth (8) Diversity (8) Resources (8)

Filter by ZIP: 92274 (9)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Westside Elementary 336 students · Kindergarten–6th	336	Kindergarten–6th	5.5
2	Las Palmitas Elementary 582 students · Kindergarten–6th	582	Kindergarten–6th	5.1
3	John Kelley Elementary 496 students · Kindergarten–6th	496	Kindergarten–6th	4.8
4	Oasis Elementary 491 students · Kindergarten–6th	491	Kindergarten–6th	3.8

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Toro Canyon Middle 938 students · 7th–8th	938	7th–8th	5.4

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Desert Mirage High 1,974 students · 9th–12th	1,974	9th–12th	5.8
2	La Familia Continuation High 235 students · 10th–12th	235	10th–12th	5.7
3	Coachella Valley High 2,345 students · 9th–12th	2,345	9th–12th	5.3
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	The Kingdom of Light Homeschool Private 7 students · Kindergarten–11th	7	Kindergarten–11th	—

Schools in Thermal

Thermal, California · 9 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$36,087

Median Home Value

$139,900

Median Rent

$903/mo

Population

17,909

College Educated

5%

Homeownership

75%

Avg Commute

28 min

Poverty Rate

22.8%

Community Profile

Thermal has a median household income of $36,087. It is a community where 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $139,900, with a median rent of $903/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: California
Elementary: 4
Middle: 1
High: 4

Resources

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

School District

Coachella Valley Unified

22 schools · 16,046 students

Nearby Cities

Santa Ana (1 school)

5 mi

Coachella (9 schools)

La Quinta (9 schools)

10 mi

Indian Wells (1 school)

12 mi

Bermuda Dunes (2 schools)

13 mi

Palm Desert (19 schools)

15 mi

Thousand Palms (1 school)

20 mi

Rancho Mirage (4 schools)

20 mi

Salton City (2 schools)

24 mi

Cathedral City (9 schools)

23 mi

Borrego Springs (3 schools)

26 mi

Palm Springs (13 schools)

25 mi

Desert Hot Springs (8 schools)

31 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

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Thermal, California

How many schools are in Thermal, California?

Thermal has 9 schools, including 8 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Thermal, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Thermal is 5.2 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 Thermal, California?

The top-ranked school in Thermal on MySchoolScout is Desert Mirage High with a composite score of 5.8/10.

What is the best elementary school in Thermal, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Thermal on MySchoolScout is Westside Elementary with a composite score of 5.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Thermal, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Thermal on MySchoolScout is Toro Canyon Middle with a composite score of 5.4/10.

What is the best high school in Thermal, California?

The top-ranked high school in Thermal on MySchoolScout is Desert Mirage High with a composite score of 5.8/10.

How many school districts serve Thermal, California?

Thermal is served by 1 school district: Coachella Valley Unified.

What is the education level in Thermal, California?

According to Census data, 5% of adults in Thermal have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Thermal, California?

The median household income in Thermal is approximately $36,087 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Thermal, California?

Yes, Thermal has 1 private school alongside 8 public schools.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Thermal, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Thermal is 17.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Thermal, 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.