Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Desert Sands Unified

California · Public School District
35
Schools
26,379
Students
$18,016
Per-Pupil Spend
+26% nat'l
74.2%
Free Lunch Rate
+22pp vs nat'l
93.4%
Graduation Rate
+6.9pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Desert Sands Unified is a public school district in California serving 26,379 students across 35 schools. It includes 20 elementary, 7 middle, 7 high schools, among them 2 charter schools. Its graduation rate of 93.4% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $18,016 is above average for a US public school district. 74% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 40/100.

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All Schools (35)
Elementary Schools20 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Abraham Lincoln ElementaryKG–05585
Amelia Earhart Elementary School of International StudiesKG–05782
Andrew Jackson ElementaryKG–05748
Benjamin Franklin ElementaryKG–05619
Carrillo Ranch ElementaryKG–05492
Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon Jr. AcademyKG–05591
George Washington CharterCharterKG–05755
Gerald R. Ford ElementaryKG–05603
Harry S. Truman ElementaryKG–05666
Herbert Hoover ElementaryKG–05343
James Earl Carter ElementaryKG–05516
James Madison ElementaryKG–05377
James Monroe ElementaryKG–05581
John Adams Early Childhood Learning CenterKG–010
John F. Kennedy ElementaryKG–05446
Lyndon B. Johnson ElementaryKG–05536
Martin Van Buren ElementaryKG–05529
Richard R. Oliphant ElementaryKG–05620
Ronald Reagan ElementaryKG–05834
Theodore Roosevelt ElementaryKG–05492
Middle Schools7 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle06–08436
Desert Ridge Academy06–081,030
Indio Middle06–08784
John Glenn Middle School of International Studies06–081,045
La Quinta Middle06–08754
Palm Desert Charter MiddleCharter06–081,347
Thomas Jefferson Middle06–08538
High Schools7 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Amistad High (Continuation)09–12209
Desert Sands A.T.L.A.S.12–1264
Indio High09–122,143
La Quinta High09–122,500
Palm Desert High09–122,050
Shadow Hills High09–121,751
Summit High (Continuation)10–12199
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
HorizonKG–12414
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,016+26% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
51%
38%
State
50.5%
Local (property tax)
38.4%
Federal
11.0%

Funding is shared between state (51%) and local sources (38%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
35
Schools
26,379
Students
74%
Free Lunch
$18K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate93.4%
Opportunity Score40/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
93.4% graduation rate — 6.9 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $18,016 per pupil — 26% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 35 schools including 2 charter schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
74% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Desert Sands Unified?
Desert Sands Unified has 35 public schools, serving a total of 26,379 students.
What is the graduation rate for Desert Sands Unified?
The graduation rate is 93.4%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Desert Sands Unified spend per student?
Desert Sands Unified spends $18,016 per pupil — 26% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Desert Sands Unified?
74% of students in Desert Sands Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Desert Sands Unified?
Yes — 2 of the 35 schools in Desert Sands Unified are charter schools.
What grade levels does Desert Sands Unified serve?
Desert Sands Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Desert Sands Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Desert Sands Unified is 40/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.