How does Desert Learning Academy compare to other elementary schools in Palm Springs?

Desert Learning Academy has a SchoolScope composite score of 48.6/100, placing it at the 63rd percentile statewide. 12% of students exceed standard, with a total of 682 students tested across grades and subjects.

What percentage of students exceed standards at Desert Learning Academy?

11.6% of students at Desert Learning Academy exceed the state standard on CAASPP assessments, while 28.2% meet or exceed it. The gap between these two numbers reveals whether the school pushes students beyond basic proficiency.

Is Desert Learning Academy improving or declining?

Desert Learning Academy's proficiency rate increases by 18.6 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5, suggesting the school is adding value over time.

What is the chronic absenteeism rate at Desert Learning Academy?

1.7% of students at Desert Learning Academy are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days). This metric reflects school culture and family engagement, and is weighted at 15% in our composite score.

Desert Learning Academy

Palm Springs Unified Palm Springs Riverside County 92264

Composite Score

out of 100

State Percentile

of elementary schools

State Rank

682 students tested

School overview

Enrollment

378 students

Student-Teacher Ratio

19:1

Free/Reduced Lunch

92%

Teachers

20 full-time

Student demographics

Hispanic 70.1%

White 16.4%

Asian 0.5%

Black 6.9%

Other 6.1%

Performance breakdown

Performance breakdown for Desert Learning Academy
Category	Percentage
Exceeded Standard	11.6%
Met Standard	16.7%
Below Standard	71.8%

Exceeded

11.6%

Met

16.7%

Below

71.8%

What other rankings don't show you

Most rating sites report "28% proficient" for Desert Learning Academy and stop there. Here's what that number hides:

11.6% of students exceeded standard while 16.7% merely met it. That exceeded rate is 9.4 points below the state average of 21.0%. That's near the Palm Springs Unified district average of 11.5%. Nearby schools (within ~3 miles) average 13.4% exceeded — about the same. The gap between "met" and "exceeded" is the difference between a school that clears the bar and one that raises it.

Students here improve by 18.6 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5, suggesting the school is adding value beyond what students arrive with.

Chronic absenteeism is 1.7%, better than the state average of 18.7%.

Key metrics

% Exceeded Standard

11.6%

Students scoring above proficient

% Met or Above

28.2%

Students meeting standard

Growth (G3→G5)

+18.6pp

Change in proficiency rate

Chronic Absenteeism

1.7%

Students missing 10%+ of days

Suspension Rate

0.2%

Students suspended at least once

Total Tested

682

Across all grades & subjects

ELA scores by grade

Grade	Tested	Exceeded	Met	Nearly Met	Not Met	Met+Above
3rd	13	7.7%	0.0%	23.1%	69.2%	7.7%
4th	15	40.0%	20.0%	13.3%	26.7%	60.0%
5th	19	15.8%	21.1%	10.5%	52.6%	36.8%
6th	23	8.7%	30.4%	21.7%	39.1%	39.1%
7th	29	17.2%	37.9%	20.7%	24.1%	55.2%
8th	33	9.1%	21.2%	45.5%	24.2%	30.3%
11th	39	12.8%	35.9%	15.4%	35.9%	48.7%

Math scores by grade

Grade	Tested	Exceeded	Met	Nearly Met	Not Met	Met+Above
3rd	13	0.0%	7.7%	7.7%	84.6%	7.7%
4th	15	20.0%	13.3%	46.7%	20.0%	33.3%
5th	19	5.3%	10.5%	31.6%	52.6%	15.8%
6th	23	4.3%	4.3%	13.0%	78.3%	8.7%
7th	28	10.7%	14.3%	21.4%	53.6%	25.0%
8th	33	9.1%	9.1%	18.2%	63.6%	18.2%
11th	39	2.6%	5.1%	10.3%	82.0%	7.7%