Needs Improvement
#9290 of 9,539 schools in CA
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
Middle School · Desert Sands Unified · La Quinta, CA
A Desert Sands Unified middle school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
43-495 Palm Royale Dr., La Quinta, CA 92253
- Math 11% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 28% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 20% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
79.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,130/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (La Quinta), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$97,397
Median home value
$612,800
Median rent
$1,741/mo
College educated
38.9%
Homeownership
74.8%
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92253; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HorizonEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | K–12 | 0.1 mi | 356 | Compare → |
| Desert Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | PK–12 | 1.5 mi | 534 | Compare → |
| John Glenn Middle School of International StudiesEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 6–8 | 1.8 mi | 1,065 | Compare → |
| Desert Ridge AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 1,018 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Desert Sands Unified
- Schools in district
- 35
- Rank in district
- #31 of 33
- District spending per student
- $17,070NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is listed in Desert Sands Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is a public middle school in La Quinta, CA, part of Desert Sands Unified, serving approximately 397 students in grades 6th-8th with a 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10 and ranks #9,290 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
What grades does Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle serve?
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle?
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle has an enrollment of approximately 397 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is 22.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle rank in CA?
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle ranks #9,290 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle a charter school?
No, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle a Title I school?
No, Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle?
79.6% of students at Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 397
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Riverside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 48.1%
- Phone
- (760) 238-9710
- Area population (ZIP 92253)
- 38,281
- Area average commute
- 26.3 min
- Area median age
- 52.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92253; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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