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Desert Sands Unified

Riverside County school performance

Summary

Desert Sands Unified is underperforming.

Reading and math results average to the 43rd percentile among California school districts.

Only 42.5% of students met California's reading standard, but it is slowly trending up.

Math is weaker: 27.8% of students met California's math standard, but it is trending up slightly.

Proficiency Stats

Current Reading Proficiency	42.5%
Current Math Proficiency	27.8%
District Reading Rank	542 / 977 (45th percentile)
District Math Rank	573 / 977 (41st percentile)

Other Stats

Student / Teacher Ratio	22:1
Spend per Student	$20,992
Schools in District	33
Student Enrollment	25,613
Low-Income Students	18,775 (79.7%)
English Learners	4,473 (19.0%)

Quick links

Test score trends

2024 - 2026

Reading rose 1.5 points from last year and rose 3.5 points over the full period. Math rose 0.4 points from last year and rose 1.6 points over the full period.

Reading +3.5 percentage points Trend up

•Math +1.6 percentage points Trend up

Changes shown: Reading 2024–2026; Math 2024–2026.

Board Members

name	elected	up for re-election
Humberto Alvarez President (Trustee Area 2) [email protected]	2022	2026This year!
Kailee Watson, OD Vice President/Clerk (Trustee Area 1) [email protected]	2024	2028
Linda Porras Board Member (Trustee Area 4) [email protected]	2024	2028
Michael Duran Board Member (Trustee Area 5) [email protected]	2022	2026This year!
Tricia Pearce Board Member (Trustee Area 3) [email protected]	2024	2028

Board website

Expand for details on low-income and english learner performance

Reading Proficiency Scores

Comparison of low-income and English learner groups using district-level CAASPP proficiency data.

Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income

Low-income students trail other students by 28.0 points in reading. It widened over the period shown.

Low-Income

Non-Low-Income

Low-Income +3.0 percentage points Trend up

•

Non-Low-Income +5.9 percentage points Trend up

English Learners vs English Native

4.7% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 47.0% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results rose.

English Learners

English Native

English Learners -0.9 percentage points Trend down

•

English Native +3.6 percentage points Trend up

Math Proficiency Scores

Comparison of low-income and English learner groups using district-level CAASPP proficiency data.

Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income

Low-income students trail other students by 26.6 points in math. It widened over the period shown.

Low-Income

Non-Low-Income

Low-Income +1.2 percentage points Trend up

•

Non-Low-Income +4.0 percentage points Trend up

English Learners vs English Native

4.8% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 32.0% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results rose.

English Learners

English Native

English Learners -0.5 percentage points Trend down

•

English Native +1.3 percentage points Trend up

District School Map

Schools in this district, color-coded by reading proficiency.

Color by

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Hover over a school marker to see details

Schools


Abraham Lincoln Elementary 74-100 Rutledge Way, Palm Desert, 92260-2644 School Detail	38.2% — Abraham Lincoln Elementary	+9.6% — Abraham Lincoln Elementary	25.9% — Abraham Lincoln Elementary	+7.4% — Abraham Lincoln Elementary
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International 45-250 Dune Palms Road, Indio, 92201-0901 School Detail	47.3% — Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International	+8.8% — Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International	35.0% — Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International	-0.5% — Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International
Amistad High (Continuation) 83-501 Dillon Avenue, Indio, 92201-3325 School Detail	7.1% — Amistad High (Continuation)	+0.6% — Amistad High (Continuation)	4.2% — Amistad High (Continuation)	+4.2% — Amistad High (Continuation)
Andrew Jackson Elementary 82-850 Kenner Avenue, Indio, 92201-2469 School Detail	23.8% — Andrew Jackson Elementary	+1.6% — Andrew Jackson Elementary	20.1% — Andrew Jackson Elementary	+4.7% — Andrew Jackson Elementary
Benjamin Franklin Elementary 77-800 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, 92253-3841 School Detail	30.9% — Benjamin Franklin Elementary	-6.3% — Benjamin Franklin Elementary	21.2% — Benjamin Franklin Elementary	-3.8% — Benjamin Franklin Elementary
Carrillo Ranch Elementary 43-775 Madison Street, Indio, 92201-8626 School Detail	29.8% — Carrillo Ranch Elementary	-3.8% — Carrillo Ranch Elementary	17.8% — Carrillo Ranch Elementary	-8.9% — Carrillo Ranch Elementary
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle 43-495 Palm Royale Drive, La Quinta, 92253-8178 School Detail	29.0% — Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle	+1.4% — Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle	10.8% — Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle	-0.7% — Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle
Desert Ridge Academy 79-767 Avenue 39, Indio, 92203-9647 School Detail	35.7% — Desert Ridge Academy	+10.8% — Desert Ridge Academy	20.7% — Desert Ridge Academy	+7.3% — Desert Ridge Academy
Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy 47-368 Monroe Street, Indio, 92201-6702 School Detail	35.0% — Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy	+2.8% — Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy	32.5% — Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy	+5.8% — Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. Academy
George Washington Charter 45-768 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, 92260-4861 School Detail	67.8% — George Washington Charter	-1.9% — George Washington Charter	58.8% — George Washington Charter	-6.8% — George Washington Charter
Gerald R. Ford Elementary 44-210 Warner Trail, Indian Wells, 92210-7598 School Detail	65.0% — Gerald R. Ford Elementary	+1.5% — Gerald R. Ford Elementary	54.9% — Gerald R. Ford Elementary	-1.6% — Gerald R. Ford Elementary
Harry S. Truman Elementary 78-870 Avenue 50, La Quinta, 92253-2400 School Detail	39.0% — Harry S. Truman Elementary	+0.1% — Harry S. Truman Elementary	27.3% — Harry S. Truman Elementary	-8.9% — Harry S. Truman Elementary
Herbert Hoover Elementary 44-300 Monroe Street, Indio, 92201-3011 School Detail	21.0% — Herbert Hoover Elementary	-2.3% — Herbert Hoover Elementary	11.5% — Herbert Hoover Elementary	-4.5% — Herbert Hoover Elementary
Horizon 43-330 Palm Royale Drive, La Quinta, 92253-8170 School Detail	47.3% — Horizon	+12.3% — Horizon	40.4% — Horizon	+23.3% — Horizon
Indio High 81-750 Avenue 46, Indio, 92201-3911 School Detail	49.1% — Indio High	+13.2% — Indio High	13.0% — Indio High	+5.7% — Indio High
Indio Middle 81-195 Miles Avenue, Indio, 92201-5639 School Detail	24.0% — Indio Middle	+5.8% — Indio Middle	7.5% — Indio Middle	+2.0% — Indio Middle
James Earl Carter Elementary 74-251 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert, 92260-1700 School Detail	54.1% — James Earl Carter Elementary	-9.1% — James Earl Carter Elementary	43.2% — James Earl Carter Elementary	-7.9% — James Earl Carter Elementary
James Madison Elementary 80-845 Avenue 46, Indio, 92201-5059 School Detail	25.3% — James Madison Elementary	+5.2% — James Madison Elementary	15.5% — James Madison Elementary	-3.1% — James Madison Elementary
James Monroe Elementary 42-100 Yucca Lane, Bermuda Dunes, 92203-8100 School Detail	55.2% — James Monroe Elementary	-2.3% — James Monroe Elementary	55.2% — James Monroe Elementary	-5.3% — James Monroe Elementary
John F. Kennedy Elementary 45-100 Clinton Street, Indio, 92201-3807 School Detail	21.4% — John F. Kennedy Elementary	+8.3% — John F. Kennedy Elementary	14.3% — John F. Kennedy Elementary	+4.9% — John F. Kennedy Elementary
John Glenn Middle School of International Studies 79-655 Miles Avenue, Indio, 92201-0900 School Detail	45.9% — John Glenn Middle School of International Studies	+4.7% — John Glenn Middle School of International Studies	38.1% — John Glenn Middle School of International Studies	+2.8% — John Glenn Middle School of International Studies
La Quinta High 79-255 Blackhawk Way, La Quinta, 92253-4244 School Detail	66.2% — La Quinta High	+1.2% — La Quinta High	26.2% — La Quinta High	+2.5% — La Quinta High
La Quinta Middle 78-900 Avenue 50, La Quinta, 92253-2400 School Detail	36.9% — La Quinta Middle	+2.7% — La Quinta Middle	26.7% — La Quinta Middle	+6.4% — La Quinta Middle
Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary 44-640 Clinton Street, Indio, 92201-2908 School Detail	26.4% — Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary	+6.7% — Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary	15.2% — Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary	+3.7% — Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary
Martin Van Buren Elementary 47-733 Van Buren Street, Indio, 92201-7144 School Detail	44.2% — Martin Van Buren Elementary	+9.5% — Martin Van Buren Elementary	41.5% — Martin Van Buren Elementary	+8.8% — Martin Van Buren Elementary
Palm Desert Charter Middle 74-200 Rutledge Way, Palm Desert, 92260-2646 School Detail	64.1% — Palm Desert Charter Middle	+9.7% — Palm Desert Charter Middle	42.8% — Palm Desert Charter Middle	+2.5% — Palm Desert Charter Middle
Palm Desert High 74-910 Aztec Road, Palm Desert, 92260-5639 School Detail	69.2% — Palm Desert High	-2.4% — Palm Desert High	37.5% — Palm Desert High	-1.9% — Palm Desert High
Richard R. Oliphant Elementary 41-633 Gore Street, Indio, 92203-3178 School Detail	48.5% — Richard R. Oliphant Elementary	+8.8% — Richard R. Oliphant Elementary	35.5% — Richard R. Oliphant Elementary	+0.6% — Richard R. Oliphant Elementary
Ronald Reagan Elementary 39-800 Liberty Drive, Palm Desert, 92211-9300 School Detail	47.6% — Ronald Reagan Elementary	-4.1% — Ronald Reagan Elementary	32.5% — Ronald Reagan Elementary	-7.2% — Ronald Reagan Elementary
Shadow Hills High 39-225 Jefferson Street, Indio, 92201-9482 School Detail	52.1% — Shadow Hills High	+4.6% — Shadow Hills High	19.6% — Shadow Hills High	+6.7% — Shadow Hills High
Summit High (Continuation) 43-330 Palm Royale Drive, La Quinta, 92253-8170 School Detail	11.0% — Summit High (Continuation)	-14.8% — Summit High (Continuation)	6.0% — Summit High (Continuation)	+2.9% — Summit High (Continuation)
Theodore Roosevelt Elementary 83-200 Drive Carreon Boulevard, Indio, 92201-6951 School Detail	24.3% — Theodore Roosevelt Elementary	+5.6% — Theodore Roosevelt Elementary	17.6% — Theodore Roosevelt Elementary	+1.7% — Theodore Roosevelt Elementary
Thomas Jefferson Middle 83-089 Highway 111, Indio, 92201-5643 School Detail	20.0% — Thomas Jefferson Middle	-1.9% — Thomas Jefferson Middle	6.0% — Thomas Jefferson Middle	+0.8% — Thomas Jefferson Middle

Understanding this district

How does Desert Sands Unified rank in California?

Desert Sands Unified ranks No. 542 of 977 in reading and No. 573 of 977 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare districts across all district types.

How much do results vary between Desert Sands Unified’s schools?

Among the 19 schools serving K–5, proficiency ranges from 21.0% to 67.8% in reading and 11.5% to 58.8% in math.

See the district’s schools

Are results improving across Desert Sands Unified’s schools?

Over 2024–2026, reading proficiency rose at 23 of 33 schools with results covering that full period; math rose at 20 of 33.

Compare school trends

How do low-income students in Desert Sands Unified compare with other districts?

Low-income reading proficiency is 36.2%, compared with 35.1% at a typical California unified district. In math, it is 21.8%, compared with 23.6%.

See student-group results

Which districts should I compare with Desert Sands Unified?

Unified districts in Riverside County. Peers have the closest enrollment sizes.

2026 proficiency
District	Math	Reading
Desert Sands UnifiedThis district	27.8%	42.5%
Temecula Valley Unified	51.6%	63.8%
Hemet Unified	20.3%	36.0%

Compare these districts

How we compare low-income results

“Typical” is the median across 339 California unified districts with 2026 results, a reported low-income population, and at least 20 low-income tested students in each subject. Each district counts once. This compares proficiency for low-income students, rather than the gap between income groups.

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