Elementary Schools in La Quinta, California: 3 schools. Average score 9.2 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
La Quinta, California has 3 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 29.6/100 — 9.2 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Benjamin Franklin Elementary at 36/100, where 11.1% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. La Quinta schools average 11.7% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Chronic absenteeism averages 29.7% (above 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 La Quinta
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (3)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Franklin Elementary Desert Sands Unified | 11.1% | 51st percentile · SolidScope Score 36/100 |
| 2 | Harry S. Truman Elementary Desert Sands Unified | 15.8% | 29th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 28/100 |
| 3 | Horizon Desert Sands Unified | 8.3% | 22nd percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 25/100 |
Middle Schools (2)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Quinta Middle Desert Sands Unified | 10.5% | 15th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 22/100 |
| 2 | Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle Desert Sands Unified | 5.4% | 12th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 20/100 |
High Schools (2)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Quinta High Desert Sands Unified | 19.1% | 45th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 51/100 |
| 2 | Summit High (Continuation) Desert Sands Unified continuation high school | 2.8% | 90th percentile · StrongWithin its own school classScope Score 32/100 |
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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 La Quinta
Hidden gems: 1 school in La Quinta is classified as On the Rise — 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
Private Schools in La Quinta
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
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