Average
#3671 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 39% in state
Palm Desert High
High School · Desert Sands Unified · Palm Desert, CA
A Desert Sands Unified high school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
43-570 Phyllis Jackson Ln., Palm Desert, CA 92260
- Math 40% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 72% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 97.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Palm Desert High score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 5 points since 2019, reaching 56% in 2024.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 72% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
59.4%
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 Palm Desert 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 32Car-Dependent
- Bike 45Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coachella Valley Arts InstitutePrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–12 | 0.9 mi | 30 | Compare → |
| HorizonEnrollment path unverified | 6.6 | K–12 | 3.3 mi | 356 | Compare → |
| Summit High (continuation)Enrollment path unverified | 5.7 | 10–12 | 3.3 mi | 167 | Compare → |
| Desert Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | PK–12 | 3.7 mi | 534 | 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
- #3 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 High is listed in Desert Sands Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Palm Desert High
Palm Desert High is a public high school in Palm Desert, CA, part of Desert Sands Unified, serving approximately 2,039 students in grades 9th-12th with a 26.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #3,671 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Palm Desert High
What grades does Palm Desert High serve?
Palm Desert High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Palm Desert High?
Palm Desert High has an enrollment of approximately 2,039 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palm Desert High?
The student-teacher ratio at Palm Desert High is 26.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palm Desert High rank in CA?
Palm Desert High ranks #3,671 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Palm Desert High's MySchoolScout rating?
Palm Desert High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Palm Desert High has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Palm Desert High a charter school?
No, Palm Desert High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palm Desert High a Title I school?
No, Palm Desert High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palm Desert High?
59.4% of students at Palm Desert 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
- 2,039
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 26.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 78
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Riverside County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 32.2%
- Phone
- (760) 862-4300
- 4-Year Graduation
- 97.0%
- 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
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