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Very Good

#2033 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 21% in state

La Quinta High

High School · Desert Sands Unified

79-255 Blackhawk Way, La Quinta, CA 92253

Enrollment

2,488

Student-Teacher

25.6:1

Score

7.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In La Quinta

#1 of 7

public schools

California high schools

#353 of 1,892

In district

#2 of 33

Desert Sands Unified

Academic growth

8.3 / 10

Very strong

About La Quinta High

La Quinta High serves 2,488 students in grades 9-12 in the affluent desert community of La Quinta, California. With 97 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 25.6:1, which is fairly typical for a large public high school. Academically, La Quinta High earns a 6.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks in the 58th percentile among California high schools at #3997 out of 9566 schools statewide.

The school shows solid performance in English Language Arts, with 65% of students scoring proficient or above across grade levels. However, mathematics presents an area with significant room for growth, as only 24% of students achieve proficiency or above in math assessments. The school draws from a well-established community where the median household income reaches $92,744 and 38% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The neighborhood maintains a low poverty rate of 9.5%, with median home values around $560,500, reflecting the area's desirability. Located on Blackhawk Way in Riverside County, La Quinta High sits in the heart of the Coachella Valley's large suburban landscape, surrounded by the natural beauty of the California desert and the Santa Rosa Mountains.

What's said publicly about La Quinta High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

La Quinta High School (LQHS) is a public high school located in Westminster, Orange County, California 2 . It is one of seven high schools within the Garden Grove Unified School District 2 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

La Quinta High is a large school with 2,488 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at La Quinta High is 25.6:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.1 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.1Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.7%
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.9%
Math vs. State Avg-4.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+9 pts
Overall Proficiency44%
Expected (poverty-adj.)33%
vs. Expected+11.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
College Readiness9.2Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation8.5%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment3.8Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio25.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,696

La Quinta High — Students at La Quinta High score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

73.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 27.1%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 63.0%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
30%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
31%
ELA
65%
2024
Math
23.7%
ELA
64.9%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.3/10.

How La Quinta High Compares

See how La Quinta High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.6/10
79th percentile in CA
Academic
8.1/10
8.1/10
Growth
8.3/10
Above average
Environment
3.8/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
73%
Teaching Staff
26:1 student-teacher ratio
97 teachers

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
8.5% participation·494 IB enrolled·CRDC 2020-21

Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

79-255 Blackhawk Way, La Quinta, CA 92253

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering La Quinta High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Gerald R. Ford Elementary (rated 7.3/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby Indian Wells), with a very similar rating. Another option is Summit High (Continuation) (rated 5.9/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, La Quinta Middle (rated 5.7/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in La Quinta, see our La Quinta schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Studies Indio 0.5 mi 3.8
John Glenn Middle School of International Studies Indio 0.6 mi 5.4
James Madison Elementary Indio 1.5 mi 4.3
La Quinta Middle La Quinta 1.8 mi 5.7
Brilliant Microschool Indio 1.7 mi
Harry S. Truman Elementary La Quinta 1.9 mi 4.2
Horizon La Quinta 1.8 mi 3.8
Summit High (Continuation) La Quinta 1.8 mi 5.9
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle La Quinta 1.8 mi 3.9
Indio Middle Indio 1.8 mi 4.0
Carrillo Ranch Elementary Indio 2.0 mi 4.6
TOT STOP PRESCHOOL Palm Desert 2.2 mi
James Monroe Elementary Bermuda Dunes 2.3 mi 4.6
Gerald R. Ford Elementary Indian Wells 2.1 mi 7.3
Palm Desert Learning Tree Center Palm Desert 2.3 mi
PALM DESERT LEARNING TREE CENTER Palm Desert 2.3 mi 5.4
LA QUINTA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP La Quinta 2.5 mi
La Quinta Christian Fellowship School La Quinta 2.6 mi
John F. Kennedy Elementary Indio 2.2 mi 3.1
Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary Indio 2.3 mi 2.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92253 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$97,397

Median Home Value

$612,800

Median Rent

$1,741/mo

Population

38,281

College Educated

38.9%

Homeownership

74.8%

Avg Commute

26.3 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

52.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding La Quinta High has a median household income of $97,397. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $612,800, with a median rent of $1,741/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Brea Olinda High Brea, CA 7.6
Buchanan High Clovis, CA 7.6
Cypress High Cypress, CA 7.6
Del Norte High San Diego, CA 7.6
Eastlake High Chula Vista, CA 7.6
Foothill High Tustin, CA 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about La Quinta High

What grades does La Quinta High serve?

La Quinta High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend La Quinta High?

La Quinta High has an enrollment of approximately 2,488 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at La Quinta High?

The student-teacher ratio at La Quinta High is 25.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does La Quinta High rank in CA?

La Quinta High is ranked #2033 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is La Quinta High's MySchoolScout rating?

La Quinta High has a composite rating of 7.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at La Quinta High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, La Quinta High has 27.1% math proficiency and 63.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is La Quinta High a charter school?

No, La Quinta High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is La Quinta High a Title I school?

No, La Quinta High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for La Quinta High?

73.4% of students at La Quinta 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
42 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,130/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (La Quinta). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,488
Student-Teacher Ratio
25.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
97
Free/Reduced Lunch
73.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Riverside County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Desert Sands Unified
District Enrollment
25,898
Schools in District
35
Per-Pupil Spending
$17,070
District Rank
#2 of 33

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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