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Elementary Schools in Palm Desert, California: Palm Desert schools average near the state. The 21.3-point spread is where the choice actually lives.

Near Average2024–25 data4 schools · avg 46.6/100

Palm Desert, California has 4 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 46.6/100 — within 1.7 points of the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is George Washington Charter at 58/100, where 37.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Palm Desert schools average 25.1% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.9% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
46.6
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
21.3
36.8 – 58.1
Avg Exceeded %
25.1%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
20.9%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
4
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary4Developing
46.6/100
25.1%+1.7
High1Solid
55.2/100
23.1%+11.5
Middle1Developing
44.4/100
22.5%+1.8

How Palm Desert schools compare

Palm Desert has 4 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 46.6/100 — within 1.7 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is George Washington Charter with a Scope Score of 58 and 37.9% of students exceeding standard.

These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Palm Desert schools average 25.1% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.

Chronic absenteeism in Palm Desert averages 20.9% — above the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

School archetypes in Palm Desert

1 Strong All-Around3 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Palm Desert

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1George Washington Charter
Desert Sands Unified Strong All-Around
37.9%Solid
58/100
2Palm Desert High
Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum
23.1%Solid
55/100
3James Earl Carter Elementary
Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum
30.9%Solid
51/100
4Palm Desert Charter Middle
Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum
22.5%Developing
44/100
5Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum
11.6%Developing
41/100
6Ronald Reagan Elementary
Desert Sands Unified Building Momentum
19.9%Developing
37/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 6 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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.

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.

Xavier College Preparatory High School
Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 559 students
10:1Private
Sacred Heart School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 546 students
16:1Private
Palm Desert Learning Tree Center
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-5 · 130 students
17:1Private
Desert Adventist School
Pentecostal · Grades Pre-K-8 · 31 students
15:1Private
Montessori School of the Desert
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-4 · 12 students
8:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Palm Desert

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

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Palm Desert good?
Palm Desert's 4 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.6/100, which is within 1.7 points of the state average. 25.1% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Palm Desert?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Palm Desert is George Washington Charter with a Scope Score of 58/100 and 37.9% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Palm Desert schools compare to the state average?
Palm Desert elementary schools average a Scope Score of 46.6/100 — within 1.7 points of the state average of 44.8. The exceeded rate averages 25.1% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.9% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Palm Desert?
Palm Desert has 4 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

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