Coachella Valley Unified School District
School District · Thermal, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
21
14 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
16,046
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
21
14 elem, 3 mid, 4 high
Enrollment
16,046
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
Evaluating Coachella Valley Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Coachella Valley Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Peter Pendleton Elementary
Coachella · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Valle Del Sol Elementary
Coachella · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Coachella · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#473 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$21,412
+$3,765 vs California median
District size
16,046 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Coachella Valley Unified ranks #473 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Coachella Valley Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 21 schools. Its top-rated schools are Peter Pendleton Elementary (8.3/10), Valle Del Sol Elementary (8.0/10), and Cesar Chavez Elementary (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.3/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 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 Coachella Valley Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +17.3 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Coachella Valley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Coachella Valley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (21 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Pendleton Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Valle Del Sol Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Cesar Chavez Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Palm View Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Valley View Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Coral Mountain Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Saul Martinez Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Bobby Duke Middle | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Cahuilla Desert Academy Junior High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Desert Mirage High | 5.8 / 10 |
See all 21 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Coachella Valley Unified
Coachella Valley Unified is a Thermal, California school district serving 21 schools.The district educates 16,046 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.9:1. District-level spending was $21,412 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Coachella Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Peter Pendleton Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.3/10.
In standardized testing, Coachella Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 23.3% and ELA proficiency of 27.4%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Coachella Valley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Coachella Valley Unified with test data.
Schools in Coachella Valley Unified
21 schoolsElementary Schools14
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Thermal
- Total Enrollment
- 16,046
- Teachers (FTE)
- 807
- District spending per student
- $21,412NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Coachella Valley Unified?
Coachella Valley Unified has 21 schools in total — 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Coachella Valley Unified?
The average composite rating for Coachella Valley Unified is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Coachella Valley Unified?
Coachella Valley Unified's district-level spending was $21,412 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Coachella Valley Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Coachella Valley Unified is 19.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Coachella Valley Unified?
Peter Pendleton Elementary is the highest-rated school in Coachella Valley Unified with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What are the test scores in Coachella Valley Unified?
Across schools in Coachella Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 23.3% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 27.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Coachella Valley Unified compare to other districts in California?
Coachella Valley Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 21 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 23.3%
- ELA Proficiency
- 27.4%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Coachella Valley Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.