Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 35 schools in district

La Quinta Middle

78-900 Ave. 50, La Quinta, CA 92253Desert Sands Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
754
Students
Total enrolled
$18,016
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 26% vs nat'l
23.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 53% vs nat'l
40/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 19% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 754 students in grades 06–08 in La Quinta, California.
26% above average funding
District spends $18,016 per pupil, 26% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 40th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

La Quinta Middle is a large middle in La Quinta, California, serving grades 06–08 with 754 students. The district invests $18,016 per student — 26% above the national average of $14,347, with a 23.6:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 83% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at La Quinta Middle

754
Total Students
23.6 : 1
Student:Teacher
83%
Free Lunch
32
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution411 male · 343 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility83%
National avg 52% · 624 students
Student Composition
15%
77%
Asian1%
White15%
Hispanic / Latino77%
Black2%
Multiracial4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 061111009358

Academic Outcomes at La Quinta Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
40
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 40th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 30th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 92253

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,016Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,016
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,927
Student Support$3,423
Administration$2,162
Operations$2,702
Other$1,802
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,016 spent per student, an estimated $7,981 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
51%
38%
State government
50.5%
Local (property tax)
38.4%
Federal programs
11.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,016/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 23.6:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
  • 83% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Ronald Reagan ElementaryAmelia Earhart Elementary School of International StudiesGeorge Washington CharterAndrew Jackson Elementary
+15 more
↓
Middle
Palm Desert Charter MiddleJohn Glenn Middle School of International StudiesDesert Ridge AcademyIndio Middle
+2 more
↓
High School
La Quinta HighIndio HighPalm Desert HighShadow Hills High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyRiverside County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictDesert Sands Unified →
Phone: (760)777-4220
NCES ID: 061111009358
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in La Quinta seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Desert Sands Unified
High
La Quinta High
2,500 students · 09–12
● 40 opp74% FRL
High
Indio High
2,143 students · 09–12
● 38 opp92% FRL
High
Palm Desert High
2,050 students · 09–12
● 41 opp57% FRL
High
Shadow Hills High
1,751 students · 09–12
● 38 opp77% FRL
Mid
Palm Desert Charter Middle
1,347 students · 06–08
● 41 opp60% FRL
Mid
John Glenn Middle School of International Studies
1,045 students · 06–08
● 38 opp64% FRL
Mid
Desert Ridge Academy
1,030 students · 06–08
● 41 opp81% FRL
Elem
Ronald Reagan Elementary
834 students · KG–05
● 55 opp53% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
78-900 Ave. 50, La Quinta, CA 92253
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

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.