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Email BoardJames Earl Carter Elementary
74-251 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert, CA 92260-1700
Summary
James Earl Carter Elementary is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 62nd percentile among comparable California schools.
54.1% of students met California's reading standard, but it is trending down.
Math is weaker: 43.2% of students met California's math standard, and it is trending down.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 54.1% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 43.2% |
| Reading State Rank | 1,568/4,657 (66th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 1,968/4,657 (58th percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 20:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 487 |
| Low-Income Students | 309 (63.4%) |
| English Learners | 64 (13.1%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading fell 2.0 points from last year and fell 9.1 points over the full period. Math fell 8.4 points from last year and fell 7.9 points over the full period.
•Math -7.9 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Filipino and Two or more races students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the reading standard ranges from 51.3% to 55.7% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank in the top 34% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 31.4-point reading income gap is wider than the 19.8-point gap at a typical California K–5 school. It widened over the period shown.
•
English Learners vs English Native
18.8% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 55.3% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Filipino students have the strongest math results at about 82% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 29% to 56%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the math standard ranges from 39.2% to 46.8% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank in the top 43% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 26.5-point math income gap is wider than the 20.0-point gap at a typical California K–5 school. It widened slightly over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
18.8% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 43.0% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
•Progress as students move up
2023–2026
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 1,832 schools for reading and 1,839 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California K–5 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does James Earl Carter Elementary compare within the district?
James Earl Carter Elementary is No. 4 in both reading and math proficiency among the 19 K–5 schools in Desert Sands Unified with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does James Earl Carter Elementary rank in California?
James Earl Carter Elementary ranks No. 1,568 of 4,657 in reading and No. 1,968 of 4,657 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at James Earl Carter Elementary compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 5 in both subjects among 19 K–5 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 43.0% meet the reading standard and 33.8% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does James Earl Carter Elementary compare with other schools in Palm Desert?
James Earl Carter Elementary is No. 2 in both reading and math proficiency among the 4 K–5 schools in Palm Desert with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Palm DesertHow does James Earl Carter Elementary compare with other schools in Riverside County?
James Earl Carter Elementary is No. 36 in reading and No. 47 in math proficiency among the 160 K–5 schools in Riverside County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Riverside CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving K–5 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| James Earl Carter ElementaryThis school | 43.2% | 54.1% |
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary | 25.9% | 38.2% |
| George Washington Charter | 58.8% | 67.8% |
