Desert Sands Unified School District
School District · La Quinta, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
34
19 elem, 7 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
25,898
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
34
19 elem, 7 mid, 7 high
Enrollment
25,898
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
How this district compares
California rank
#537 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,070
$577 vs California median
District size
25,898 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Desert Sands Unified ranks #537 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Desert Sands Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 33 schools. Its top-rated schools are Gerald R. Ford Elementary (7.4/10), Martin Van Buren Elementary (7.3/10), and Horizon (7.3/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.3/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 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 Desert Sands Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Desert Sands Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Desert Sands Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (33 of 34). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald R. Ford Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Martin Van Buren Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Horizon | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Richard R. Oliphant Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Carrillo Ranch Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | George Washington Charter | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Harry S. Truman Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | La Quinta High | 6.7 / 10 |
See all 34 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Desert Sands Unified
Desert Sands Unified is a La Quinta, California school district serving 34 schools.The district educates 25,898 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.8:1. District-level spending was $17,070 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Desert Sands Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Gerald R. Ford Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.4/10.
In standardized testing, Desert Sands Unified students show an average math proficiency of 35.9% and ELA proficiency of 44.7%.
The district includes 19 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 7 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Desert Sands Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Desert Sands Unified with test data.
Schools in Desert Sands Unified
34 schoolsElementary Schools19
Middle Schools7
High Schools7
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- La Quinta
- Total Enrollment
- 25,898
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,088
- District spending per student
- $17,070NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Desert Sands Unified?
Desert Sands Unified has 34 schools in total — 19 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Desert Sands Unified?
The average composite rating for Desert Sands 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 Desert Sands Unified?
Desert Sands Unified's district-level spending was $17,070 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 Desert Sands Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Desert Sands Unified is 23.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Desert Sands Unified?
Gerald R. Ford Elementary is the highest-rated school in Desert Sands Unified with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What are the test scores in Desert Sands Unified?
Across schools in Desert Sands Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 35.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 44.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Desert Sands Unified compare to other districts in California?
Desert Sands Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 34 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
- 35.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 44.7%
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 Desert Sands 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.
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