Palm Springs Unified
Palm Springs Unified has 27 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 34.0/100 — 9.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Palm Springs High at 55/100, where 12.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,422 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 28.1%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 33.3/100 | 17 | 11.9% | 23.4% |
| Middle | Needs Support 24.3/100 | 5 | 8.2% | 33.5% |
| High | Developing 45.8/100 | 5 | 10.2% | 38.7% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Palm Springs Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Palm Springs Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 45.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -3.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 40.2 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 28.1%, 10.0pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.6%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Palm Springs High leads the district at 55 with 12.9% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Palm Springs Unified
Hidden gems: 4 schools in Palm Springs Unified are classified as On the Rise (4) — 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
Palm Springs Unified spends $16,422 per student in current expenditures — $1,607 above 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 (17)
Palm Springs Unified has 17 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 33.3 — 10.5 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -3.6pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Cielo Vista Charter with a Scope Score of 50 and 26.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cielo Vista Charter Palm Springs Unified Culture First | 26.9% | Solid 50/100 |
| 2 | Sunny Sands Elementary Palm Springs Unified Culture First | 19.9% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Rio Vista Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 18.7% | Developing 41/100 |
| 4 | Katherine Finchy Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 19.4% | Developing 38/100 |
| 5 | Landau Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 15.0% | Developing 36/100 |
| 6 | Cathedral City Elementary Palm Springs Unified Culture First | 7.3% | Developing 36/100 |
| 7 | Rancho Mirage Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 16.4% | Developing 35/100 |
| 8 | Agua Caliente Elementary Palm Springs Unified On the Rise | 7.8% | Developing 34/100 |
| 9 | Desert Learning Academy Palm Springs Unified On the Rise | 14.8% | Developing 33/100 |
| 10 | Bella Vista Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 8.2% | Developing 32/100 |
| 11 | Cahuilla Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 9.6% | Developing 30/100 |
| 12 | Della S. Lindley Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 8.0% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 13 | Vista del Monte Elementary Palm Springs Unified On the Rise | 6.3% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 14 | Bubbling Wells Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 6.6% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 15 | Cabot Yerxa Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 6.2% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 16 | Julius Corsini Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 4.6% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 17 | Two Bunch Palms Elementary Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 6.0% | Needs Support 23/100 |
Middle Schools (5)
Palm Springs Unified has 5 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 24.3 — 16.2 points below the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +0.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is James Workman Middle with a Scope Score of 34 and 13.3% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Workman Middle Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 13.3% | Developing 34/100 |
| 2 | Raymond Cree Middle Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 12.3% | Developing 30/100 |
| 3 | Nellie N. Coffman Middle Palm Springs Unified On the Rise | 6.8% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 4 | Painted Hills Middle Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 4.5% | Needs Support 17/100 |
| 5 | Desert Springs Middle Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 3.9% | Needs Support 14/100 |
High Schools (5)
Palm Springs Unified has 5 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.8 — 1.7 points near the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Palm Springs High with a Scope Score of 55 and 12.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Springs High Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 12.9% | Solid 55/100 |
| 2 | Rancho Mirage High Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 13.1% | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | Cathedral City High Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 10.9% | Developing 47/100 |
| 4 | Desert Hot Springs High Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 11.2% | Developing 47/100 |
| 5 | Mt. San Jacinto High Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum | 3.1% | Needs Support 27/100 |
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 Palm Springs 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