Elementary Schools in Palm Desert, California: Palm Desert schools average near the state. The 24.1-point spread is where the choice actually lives.
Palm Desert, California has 4 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 40.6/100 — within 1.7 points of the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is George Washington Charter at 54/100, where 37.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Palm Desert schools average 25.1% 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 20.9% (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 Palm Desert
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (4)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington Charter Desert Sands Unified | 37.9% | 81st percentile · StrongScope Score 54/100 |
| 2 | James Earl Carter Elementary Desert Sands Unified | 30.9% | 70th percentile · SolidScope Score 46/100 |
| 3 | Abraham Lincoln Elementary Desert Sands Unified | 11.6% | 43rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 33/100 |
| 4 | Ronald Reagan Elementary Desert Sands Unified | 19.9% | 34th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 30/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Desert Charter Middle Desert Sands Unified | 22.5% | 57th percentile · SolidScope Score 39/100 |
High Schools (1)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Desert High Desert Sands Unified | 23.1% | 71st percentile · SolidScope Score 60/100 |
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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 Palm Desert
Hidden gems: 1 school in Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert
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