Elementary Schools in Cathedral City, California: 5 schools. Average score 4.0 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
Cathedral City, California has 5 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 34.8/100 — 4.0 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Sunny Sands Elementary at 44/100, where 19.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Cathedral City schools average 13.7% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Of 5 schools, 1 Growth Engine stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.6% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Start with your child’s school level
The overview describes elementary schools. The lists below separate elementary, middle and high schools, so each school’s standing stays within its own comparison group. Open a profile to see the underlying results, student support and questions to ask on a visit.
Every school in Cathedral City
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (5)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunny Sands Elementary Palm Springs Unified | 19.9% | 68th percentile · SolidScope Score 44/100 |
| 2 | Rio Vista Elementary Palm Springs Unified | 18.7% | 46th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 34/100 |
| 3 | Cathedral City Elementary Palm Springs Unified | 7.3% | 42nd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 33/100 |
| 4 | Agua Caliente Elementary Palm Springs Unified | 7.8% | 40th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 32/100 |
| 5 | Landau Elementary Palm Springs Unified | 15.0% | 36th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 31/100 |
Middle Schools (2)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Workman Middle Palm Springs Unified | 13.3% | 43rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 33/100 |
| 2 | Nellie N. Coffman Middle Palm Springs Unified | 6.8% | 24th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 25/100 |
High Schools (2)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cathedral City High Palm Springs Unified | 10.9% | 27th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 46/100 |
| 2 | Mt. San Jacinto High Palm Springs Unified continuation high school | 3.1% | 60th percentile · SolidWithin its own school classScope Score 26/100 |
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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.
Elementary school archetypes in Cathedral City
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Cathedral City are classified as On the Rise (2) or Growth Engine — 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
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology