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Elementary Schools in Palm Springs, California: 5 schools. Average score 7.2 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.

2024–25 data5 schools · avg 31.7/100

Palm Springs, California has 5 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.7/100 — 7.2 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Cielo Vista Charter at 42/100, where 26.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Palm Springs schools average 15.4% 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 18.0% (near the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

How Palm Springs schools compare

Palm Springs has 5 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.7/100 — 7.2 points below the state average of 38.9 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Cielo Vista Charter with a Scope Score of 42 and 26.9% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Palm Springs averages 18.0% — near the state average of 17.9%.

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

Elementary school archetypes in Palm Springs

2 Culture First1 On the Rise2 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in Palm Springs 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

For the data nerds

Every school in Palm Springs

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed

Figures
Score range · elementary23.8 – 42.2
18.4 pts SchoolScope composite
Chronic absenteeismstate avg 17.9% (level-matched)
18.0% CDE Attendance 2025

Elementary Schools (5)

avg 31.7/1005 ranked elementary schools2 Developing, 2 Needs Support, +1 more
#SchoolExceededScore
1Cielo Vista Charter
Palm Springs Unified Culture First
26.9%Solid
42/100
2Katherine Finchy Elementary
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
19.4%Developing
34/100
3Desert Learning Academy
Palm Springs Unified Culture First
14.8%Developing
32/100
4Cahuilla Elementary
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
9.6%Needs Support
26/100
5Vista del Monte Elementary
Palm Springs Unified On the Rise
6.3%Needs Support
24/100

Middle Schools (1)

avg 23.7/1001 ranked middle schools1 Needs Support
#SchoolExceededScore
1Raymond Cree Middle
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
12.3%Needs Support
24/100

High Schools (1)

avg 53.3/1001 ranked high schools1 Solid
#SchoolExceededScore
1Palm Springs High
Palm Springs Unified Building Momentum
12.9%Solid
53/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 7 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.

Private Schools in Palm Springs

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.

King's Schools of the Desert
Christian (no specific denomination) · Grades Pre-K-8 · 209 students
17:1Private
St. Theresa Elementary School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 161 students
14:1Private
Montessori School of Palm Springs
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-5 · 55 students
4:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Palm 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 Palm Springs good?
Palm Springs's 5 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 31.7/100, which is 7.2 points below the state average. 15.4% 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 Palm Springs?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Palm Springs is Cielo Vista Charter with a Scope Score of 42/100 and 26.9% 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 Springs schools compare to the state average?
Palm Springs elementary schools average a Scope Score of 31.7/100 — 7.2 points below the state average of 38.9. The exceeded rate averages 15.4% vs. 21.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 18.0% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Palm Springs?
Palm 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 composite rating (0–100), built from publicly available California school data across academic-performance and school-climate signals. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — showing how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Full methodology and weights.

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