Public schools in Palm Desert, CA
7 open public schools with an address in Palm Desert, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,025
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
25.5:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Palm Desert public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in Palm Desert, CA: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,025 students, an average of 1,004 per school. The largest campus is Palm Desert High (2,079 students), and the largest elementary school is Ronald Reagan Elementary (808).
Desert Sands Unified operates the most schools here (6), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 25.5:1, higher than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 62% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Palm Desert
Elementary schools in Palm Desert
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln Elementary Desert Sands Unified | KG–05 | 607 | 25.2:1 | |
| George Washington Charter Desert Sands Unified · Charter | KG–05 | 746 | 25.7:1 | |
| James Earl Carter Elementary Desert Sands Unified | KG–05 | 487 | 22.1:1 | |
| Ronald Reagan Elementary Desert Sands Unified | KG–05 | 808 | 23.4:1 |
Middle schools in Palm Desert
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Desert Charter Middle Desert Sands Unified · Charter | 06–08 | 1,298 | 27.6:1 |
High schools in Palm Desert
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altus Schools Coachella Valley Altus Schools Coachella Valley District · Charter | 07–12 | — | — | |
| Palm Desert High Desert Sands Unified | 09–12 | 2,079 | 26:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White31.2%
- Hispanic54.4%
- Black1.5%
- Asian6.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial6.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Palm Desert schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,025 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Palm Desert
How many public schools are in Palm Desert, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in Palm Desert: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 6,025 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Palm Desert?
Schools with an address in Palm Desert belong to 2 education agencies, led by Desert Sands Unified (6 schools), Altus Schools Coachella Valley District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Palm Desert?
Palm Desert High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Palm Desert, with 2,079 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Palm Desert?
Yes. 3 of the 7 public schools in Palm Desert are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Altus Schools Coachella Valley, George Washington Charter, Palm Desert Charter Middle. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Palm Desert schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Palm Desert public schools is 25.5:1, higher than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Palm Desert guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities