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Very Good

#3324 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 35% in state

Desert Hot Springs High

High School · Palm Springs Unified · Desert Hot Springs, CA

A Palm Springs Unified high school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.

65850 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240

  • Math 19% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 55% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.8Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency18.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency54.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-9.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-1.1 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+17.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile68th
College Readiness5.2Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation12.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.7:1
District spending per student$20,811
Chronic Absenteeism51.5%

Students at Desert Hot Springs High score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency19%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency55%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 12 points since 2019, reaching 37% in 2024.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
32%
ELA
36%
2010
Math
32%
ELA
41%
2011
Math
39%
ELA
34%
2012
Math
41%
ELA
40%
2013
Math
36%
ELA
34%
2014
Math
11%
ELA
43%
2015
Math
18%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
15%
ELA
53%
2017
Math
13%
ELA
46%
2018
Math
14%
ELA
36%
2019
Math
14%
ELA
36%
2020*
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
52%
2024
Math
19%
ELA
55%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 44% (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 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

96.9%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Desert Hot Springs High 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 16Car-Dependent
  • Transit 33Some Transit
  • Bike 40Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,698/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Desert Hot Springs), 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

$51,284

Median home value

$294,200

Median rent

$1,367/mo

College educated

15.3%

Homeownership

55.7%

Poverty rate

18.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92240; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
12.5% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics16sports offered
8 boys'·8 girls'·26 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 in Palm Springs Unified

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Cathedral City HighEnrollment path unverified8.29–12Not available1,370Compare →
Desert Learning AcademyEnrollment path unverified7.1K–12Not available378Compare →
Mt. San Jacinto HighEnrollment path unverified7.09–12Not available357Compare →
Palm Springs HighEnrollment path unverified7.29–12Not available1,508Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Palm Springs Unified

Schools in district
28
Rank in district
#5 of 27
District spending per student
$20,811NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
13.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Desert Hot Springs High is listed in Palm Springs Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Desert Hot Springs High

Desert Hot Springs High is a public high school in Desert Hot Springs, CA, part of Palm Springs Unified, serving approximately 1,718 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #3,324 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Desert Hot Springs High

What grades does Desert Hot Springs High serve?

Desert Hot Springs High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Desert Hot Springs High?

Desert Hot Springs High has an enrollment of approximately 1,718 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Hot Springs High?

The student-teacher ratio at Desert Hot Springs High is 19.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Desert Hot Springs High rank in CA?

Desert Hot Springs High ranks #3,324 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Desert Hot Springs High's MySchoolScout rating?

Desert Hot Springs High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Desert Hot Springs High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Hot Springs High has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Desert Hot Springs High a charter school?

No, Desert Hot Springs High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Desert Hot Springs High a Title I school?

No, Desert Hot Springs High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Hot Springs High?

96.9% of students at Desert Hot Springs High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,718
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
87
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Riverside County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
51.5%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
Area population (ZIP 92240)
40,918
Area average commute
29.1 min
Area median age
35.6
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 92240; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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