Very Good
#1559 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 16% in state
Sunny Sands Elementary
Elementary School · Palm Springs Unified
69-310 McCallum Way, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Enrollment
684
Student-Teacher
20.7:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
684
Student-Teacher
20.7:1
Score
7.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Cathedral City
#2 of 9
public schools
California elementary schools
#1,095 of 5,817
In district
#2 of 27
Palm Springs Unified
Equity
8.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Sunny Sands Elementary
Sunny Sands Elementary serves 684 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Cathedral City, California. With 33 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 20.7:1, providing a manageable classroom environment for elementary learners. The school has earned a solid 7.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks in the 72nd percentile among California elementary schools, placing it at #2682 out of 9,566 schools statewide.
Academically, Sunny Sands shows steady performance with 47% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 40% meeting standards in mathematics. These results reflect the school's ongoing efforts to support student achievement across core subjects. The school draws from a diverse suburban community where the median household income is $63,209 and median home values reach $381,800.
About 26% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while 17.3% of families experience poverty, creating a varied socioeconomic landscape that brings different perspectives to the classroom. Sunny Sands Elementary operates as a regular public school in Cathedral City's large suburban setting in Riverside County, serving families throughout the 92234 ZIP code area with a population of nearly 52,000 residents.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Sunny Sands Elementary is 20.7:1, 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 · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
View breakdown
Sunny Sands Elementary — Students at Sunny Sands Elementary score 43% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
95%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.
How Sunny Sands Elementary Compares
See how Sunny Sands Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 43% (2019) to 39.94% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 46.86% (2024).
Location
69-310 McCallum Way, Cathedral City, CA 92234
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Sunny Sands Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PALM SPRINGS (rated 7.5/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Palm Springs), with a comparable rating. Another option is ST THERESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 3.6 miles away, in nearby Palm Springs), a more accessible option. Additionally, Agua Caliente Elementary (rated 6.6/10, 2.1 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Cathedral City, see our Cathedral City schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| James Workman Middle Cathedral City | 0.5 mi | 6.0 |
| Rancho Mirage High Rancho Mirage | 1.1 mi | 6.6 |
| Cathedral City High Cathedral City | 1.4 mi | 8.8 |
| Mt. San Jacinto High Cathedral City | 1.2 mi | 5.9 |
| Landau Elementary Cathedral City | 1.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Nellie N. Coffman Middle Cathedral City | 1.9 mi | 6.2 |
| Palm Valley School Rancho Mirage | 1.9 mi | — |
| Cathedral City Elementary Cathedral City | 2.3 mi | 5.3 |
| PALM VALLEY SCHOOL Rancho Mirage | 2.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Agua Caliente Elementary Cathedral City | 2.1 mi | 6.6 |
| Rio Vista Elementary Cathedral City | 2.5 mi | 5.4 |
| Virtual Pre Palm Springs | 2.3 mi | — |
| King's Schools of the Desert Palm Springs | 2.6 mi | — |
| KING'S SCHOOLS OF THE DESERT Palm Springs | 2.6 mi | 5.6 |
| Cielo Vista Charter Palm Springs | 2.8 mi | 6.4 |
| Della S. Lindley Elementary Thousand Palms | 3.2 mi | 4.9 |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PALM SPRINGS Palm Springs | 3.3 mi | 7.5 |
| ST THERESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Palm Springs | 3.6 mi | 6.7 |
| Palm Springs High Palm Springs | 3.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Desert Learning Academy Palm Springs | 4.0 mi | 5.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92234 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$67,031
Median Home Value
$420,700
Median Rent
$1,554/mo
Population
52,047
College Educated
25.8%
Homeownership
65.3%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
15.3%
Median Age
40.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Sunny Sands Elementary has a median household income of $67,031. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $420,700, with a median rent of $1,554/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.3%. The average commute for residents is 20 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 |
|---|---|
| Ayer Elementary Fresno, CA | 7.9 |
| Birney Elementary Redondo Beach, CA | 7.9 |
| Boulder Creek Elementary Redding, CA | 7.9 |
| Captain Leland Norton Elementary San Bernardino, CA | 7.9 |
| Carroll Elementary Elk Grove, CA | 7.9 |
| Carver (Charles J.) Elementary Cerritos, CA | 7.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sunny Sands Elementary
What grades does Sunny Sands Elementary serve?
Sunny Sands Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Sunny Sands Elementary?
Sunny Sands Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 684 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunny Sands Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunny Sands Elementary is 20.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sunny Sands Elementary rank in CA?
Sunny Sands Elementary is ranked #1559 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Sunny Sands Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sunny Sands Elementary has a composite rating of 7.9 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 Sunny Sands Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Sunny Sands Elementary has 40.5% math proficiency and 46.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Sunny Sands Elementary a charter school?
No, Sunny Sands Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sunny Sands Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sunny Sands Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sunny Sands Elementary?
95.0% of students at Sunny Sands Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 684
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 95.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Riverside County
- Phone
- (760) 770-8635
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Palm Springs Unified- District Enrollment
- 20,416
- Schools in District
- 28
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,811
- District Rank
- #2 of 27
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated 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.