SA
High SchoolsGrades 9-Adult

Palm Desert High

Desert Sands Unified · Riverside County · 74-910 Aztec Road, Palm Desert, CA 92260-5639

(760) 862-4300 · www.dsusd.us

8/10
#274
Rank 274 out of 1,227
Top 22%
English Language Arts9/10 · #231 · 81st percentile
Mathematics8/10 · #316 · 74th percentile
Science8/10 · #272 · 79th percentile

English Language Arts

Math Trend

Science Trend

School Overview

Palm Desert High sits in one of the Coachella Valley's more established communities, where the desert landscape, golf courses, and the famous El Paseo shopping district give the area a distinct character that blends outdoor living with a touch of sophistication. Academically, the school performs solidly across the board — particularly in English — making it a strong option for families who want a well-rounded public high school without venturing into the private sector. Families drawn to the desert lifestyle, with its sunny winters, close-knit suburban feel, and easy access to both Palm Springs and the broader Inland Empire, tend to find Palm Desert a genuinely appealing place to put down roots.

Student Demographics

485 students tested · 2024-25 school year

Ethnicity

Hispanic
245 (51%)
White
161 (33%)
Multiple Races
27 (6%)
Asian
25 (5%)
Filipino
13 (3%)
African American
10 (2%)
Other
4 (1%)

Key Indicators

English Learners57 (12%)
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged299 (62%)
Students with Disabilities61 (13%)

Staff & Teachers(2024-25)

2,079
Enrollment
79.9
Teachers (FTE)
26:1
Student-Staff Ratio
5
Administrators (FTE)
24
Avg Class Size*(2023-24)

Graduation Rate

95.8%of students graduate within 4 years

Graduation Rate Trend

College Readiness

Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs offer college-level coursework and are a key indicator of academic rigor.

21
AP Courses
offered
33.2%
AP Participation
of students
680
AP Enrollment
students

Source: Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22

Athletics

Aztecs · CIF Southern Section

26
varsity sports
10 boys
12 girls
BaseballBasketball (Boys)Basketball (Girls)Beach Volleyball (Girls)Cross Country (Boys)Cross Country (Girls)Flag Football (Girls)Football (11 person)

Source: CIF Home Campus 2025-26

Community Enrichment Programs

This supplementary score measures the availability of enrichment programs — such as tutoring, music, dance, sports, and arts — within 3 miles of the school. Schools in communities with more diverse and accessible programs score higher.

Nearby Programs5/10 · #1233 · 44th percentile

71 programs within 3 miles. Ranked among High Schools in California.

Nearby Libraries

No programs found