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Elementary Schools in Desert Hot Springs, California: 5 schools. Average score 16.5 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.

Below Average2024–25 data5 schools · avg 22.4/100

Desert Hot Springs, California has 5 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 22.4/100 — 16.5 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Bella Vista Elementary at 28/100, where 8.2% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Desert Hot Springs schools average 6.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 34.3% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
22.4
State avg: 38.9
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
12.2
15.5 – 27.7
Avg Exceeded %
6.3%
State avg: 21.4%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
34.3%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
5
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary5Needs Support
22.4/100
6.3%-16.5
High1Developing
45.5/100
11.2%-8.5
Middle2Needs Support
11.8/100
4.2%-26.8

How Desert Hot Springs schools compare

Desert Hot Springs has 5 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 22.4/100 — 16.5 points below the state average of 38.9 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Bella Vista Elementary with a Scope Score of 28 and 8.2% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Desert Hot Springs averages 34.3% — 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 Desert Hot Springs

3 On the Rise2 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 3 schools in Desert Hot Springs are classified as On the Rise (3) — 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

For the data nerds

Every school in Desert Hot Springs

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Desert Hot Springs High
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
11.2%Developing
45/100
2Bella Vista Elementary
Palm Springs Unified On the Rise
8.2%Needs Support
28/100
3Cabot Yerxa Elementary
Palm Springs Unified On the Rise
6.2%Needs Support
24/100
4Julius Corsini Elementary
Palm Springs Unified On the Rise
4.6%Needs Support
23/100
5Bubbling Wells Elementary
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
6.6%Needs Support
23/100
6Two Bunch Palms Elementary
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
6.0%Needs Support
16/100
7Painted Hills Middle
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
4.5%Needs Support
14/100
8Desert Springs Middle
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
3.9%Needs Support
9/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 8 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Desert Hot Springs

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 Desert Hot Springs good?
Desert Hot Springs's 5 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 22.4/100, which is 16.5 points below the state average. 6.3% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.4%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (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 Desert Hot Springs?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Desert Hot Springs is Bella Vista Elementary with a Scope Score of 28/100 and 8.2% 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 Desert Hot Springs schools compare to the state average?
Desert Hot Springs elementary schools average a Scope Score of 22.4/100 — 16.5 points below the state average of 38.9. The exceeded rate averages 6.3% vs. 21.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 34.3% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Desert Hot Springs?
Desert Hot Springs has 5 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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