Desert Sands Unified
Desert Sands Unified has 33 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 36.1/100 — 7.6 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Palm Desert High at 63/100, where 23.1% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,985 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 30.0%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 36.3/100 | 20 | 15.2% | 26.1% |
| Middle | Needs Support 28.3/100 | 7 | 9.8% | 28.7% |
| High | Developing 44.9/100 | 6 | 10.3% | 44.2% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Desert Sands Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Desert Sands Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 44.9.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -0.9pp (state avg: -3.0pp), growth is essentially flat.
Consistency: Score range of 46.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 30.0%, 11.8pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.0%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Palm Desert High leads the district at 63 with 23.1% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Desert Sands Unified
Hidden gems: 6 schools in Desert Sands Unified are classified as On the Rise (4) or Growth Engine (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Desert Sands Unified spends $13,985 per student in current expenditures — $829 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (20)
Desert Sands Unified has 20 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 36.3 — 7.5 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.9pp.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Gerald R. Ford Elementary with a Scope Score of 61 and 33.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald R. Ford Elementary Desert Sands Unified Strong All-Around | 33.5% | Solid 61/100 |
| 2 | George Washington Charter Desert Sands Unified Strong All-Around | 37.9% | Solid 60/100 |
| 3 | James Monroe Elementary Desert Sands Unified Growth Engine | 26.5% | Developing 50/100 |
| 4 | James Earl Carter Elementary Desert Sands Unified On the Rise | 30.9% | Developing 48/100 |
| 5 | Martin Van Buren Elementary Desert Sands Unified Growth Engine | 16.9% | Developing 44/100 |
| 6 | Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 16.2% | Developing 41/100 |
| 7 | Ronald Reagan Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 19.9% | Developing 40/100 |
| 8 | Richard R. Oliphant Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 15.6% | Developing 38/100 |
| 9 | Benjamin Franklin Elementary Desert Sands Unified On the Rise | 11.1% | Developing 38/100 |
| 10 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 11.6% | Developing 34/100 |
| 11 | Harry S. Truman Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 15.8% | Developing 34/100 |
| 12 | Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 13.0% | Developing 34/100 |
| 13 | Carrillo Ranch Elementary Desert Sands Unified On the Rise | 12.3% | Developing 34/100 |
| 14 | Theodore Roosevelt Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 7.2% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 15 | Horizon Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 8.3% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 16 | Herbert Hoover Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 5.2% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 17 | Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 6.0% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 18 | Andrew Jackson Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 7.3% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 19 | James Madison Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 5.1% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 20 | John F. Kennedy Elementary Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 3.1% | Needs Support 18/100 |
Middle Schools (7)
Desert Sands Unified has 7 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 28.3 — 12.2 points below the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -2.9pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Palm Desert Charter Middle with a Scope Score of 44 and 22.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Desert Charter Middle Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 22.5% | Developing 44/100 |
| 2 | John Glenn Middle School of International Studies Desert Sands Unified On the Rise | 16.3% | Developing 43/100 |
| 3 | La Quinta Middle Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 10.5% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 4 | Desert Ridge Academy Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 9.6% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 5 | Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 5.4% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 6 | Indio Middle Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 2.1% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 7 | Thomas Jefferson Middle Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 2.1% | Needs Support 16/100 |
High Schools (6)
Desert Sands Unified has 6 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.9 — 2.6 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Palm Desert High with a Scope Score of 63 and 23.1% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Desert High Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 23.1% | Solid 63/100 |
| 2 | Shadow Hills High Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 9.0% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | La Quinta High Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 19.1% | Solid 51/100 |
| 4 | Indio High Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 7.6% | Developing 45/100 |
| 5 | Summit High (Continuation) Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 2.8% | Developing 36/100 |
| 6 | Amistad High (Continuation) Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 23/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Desert Sands Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology