Average
#5616 of 9,539 schools in CA
Palm Desert Charter Middle
Middle School · Desert Sands Unified · Palm Desert, CA
A Desert Sands Unified charter middle school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
74-200 Rutledge Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260
- Math 40% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 54% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 28.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Palm Desert Charter Middle score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2018, to 47% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
62.8%
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 Palm Desert Charter 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 26Car-Dependent
- Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,159/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Palm Desert), 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
$72,252
Median home value
$463,500
Median rent
$1,654/mo
College educated
38.1%
Homeownership
62.9%
Poverty rate
13.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92260; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Mitchell Paige MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.0 | 6–8 | 3.9 mi | 397 | Compare → |
| HorizonEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | K–12 | 4.0 mi | 356 | Compare → |
| Desert Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | PK–12 | 4.4 mi | 534 | Compare → |
| Desert Ridge AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | 6–8 | Not available | 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
- #9 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
Palm Desert Charter Middle is listed in Desert Sands Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Palm Desert Charter Middle
Palm Desert Charter Middle is a public middle school in Palm Desert, CA, part of Desert Sands Unified, serving approximately 1,389 students in grades 6th-8th with a 28.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 out of 10 and ranks #5,616 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Palm Desert Charter Middle
What grades does Palm Desert Charter Middle serve?
Palm Desert Charter Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Palm Desert Charter Middle?
Palm Desert Charter Middle has an enrollment of approximately 1,389 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palm Desert Charter Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Palm Desert Charter Middle is 28.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palm Desert Charter Middle rank in CA?
Palm Desert Charter Middle ranks #5,616 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Palm Desert Charter Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Palm Desert Charter Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.9 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 Palm Desert Charter Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Palm Desert Charter Middle has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Palm Desert Charter Middle a charter school?
Yes, Palm Desert Charter Middle is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Palm Desert Charter Middle a Title I school?
No, Palm Desert Charter Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palm Desert Charter Middle?
62.8% of students at Palm Desert Charter 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
- 1,389
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 28.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 49
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Riverside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.9%
- Phone
- (760) 862-4320
- Area population (ZIP 92260)
- 30,751
- Area average commute
- 20.8 min
- Area median age
- 58
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 92260; 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
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.