Below Average
#8552 of 9,539 schools in CA
Desert Ridge Academy
Middle School · Desert Sands Unified · Indio, CA
A Desert Sands Unified middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
79-767 Avenue 39, Indio, CA 92203
- Math 14% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 25% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 23.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Desert Ridge Academy score 19% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 28%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 30 points since 2020, to 19% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 30% (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 36 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.4%
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 Desert Ridge Academy 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 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average286/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$97,969
Median home value
$496,600
Median rent
$1,990/mo
College educated
34%
Homeownership
80.3%
Poverty rate
8.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92203; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | PK–12 | 1.6 mi | 534 | Compare → |
| HorizonEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | K–12 | 2.6 mi | 356 | Compare → |
| Colonel Mitchell Paige MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| John Glenn Middle School of International StudiesEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 6–8 | 3.1 mi | 1,065 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
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
- #24 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
Desert Ridge Academy is listed in Desert Sands Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Desert Ridge Academy
Desert Ridge Academy is a public middle school in Indio, CA, part of Desert Sands Unified, serving approximately 1,018 students in grades 6th-8th with a 23.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #8,552 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Desert Ridge Academy
What grades does Desert Ridge Academy serve?
Desert Ridge Academy serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Desert Ridge Academy?
Desert Ridge Academy has an enrollment of approximately 1,018 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Ridge Academy is 23.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Desert Ridge Academy rank in CA?
Desert Ridge Academy ranks #8,552 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Desert Ridge Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Desert Ridge Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 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 Desert Ridge Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Desert Ridge Academy has 30% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Desert Ridge Academy a charter school?
No, Desert Ridge Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Desert Ridge Academy a Title I school?
No, Desert Ridge Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Desert Ridge Academy?
81.4% of students at Desert Ridge Academy 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
- 1,018
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 44
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Riverside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.5%
- Phone
- (760) 393-5500
- Area population (ZIP 92203)
- 33,381
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 41.7
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 92203; 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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