Public schools in Palm Springs, CA
8 open public schools with an address in Palm Springs, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
8
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,657
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.7:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Palm Springs public schools
The federal directory lists 8 public schools in Palm Springs, CA: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,657 students, an average of 665 per school. The largest campus is Palm Springs High (1,497 students), and the largest elementary school is Cielo Vista Charter (824).
Every listed school belongs to Palm Springs Unified. 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 19.7:1, lower 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 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 94% 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 Springs
Elementary schools in Palm Springs
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cahuilla Elementary Palm Springs Unified | KG–05 | 399 | 19.2:1 | |
| Cielo Vista Charter Palm Springs Unified · Charter | KG–08 | 824 | 20.2:1 | |
| Katherine Finchy Elementary Palm Springs Unified | KG–05 | 464 | 20.2:1 | |
| Vista del Monte Elementary Palm Springs Unified | KG–05 | 435 | 19.1:1 |
Middle schools in Palm Springs
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond Cree Middle Palm Springs Unified | 06–08 | 721 | 19.7:1 |
High schools in Palm Springs
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs High Palm Springs Unified | 09–12 | 1,497 | 21:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Palm Springs
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Learning Academy Palm Springs Unified · Alternative School | KG–12 | 317 | 15.6:1 | |
| Virtual Pre Palm Springs Unified | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White11.1%
- Hispanic75.2%
- Black5.8%
- Asian3.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Palm Springs schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,657 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Palm Springs
How many public schools are in Palm Springs, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 8 open public schools with a location address in Palm Springs: 4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 4,657 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Palm Springs?
All listed public schools with an address in Palm Springs belong to Palm Springs Unified. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Palm Springs, with 1,497 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Palm Springs?
Yes. 1 of the 8 public schools in Palm Springs are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Cielo Vista Charter. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Palm Springs schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Palm Springs public schools is 19.7:1, lower 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 Springs 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