Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Palm Springs Unified

California · Public School District
28
Schools
21,029
Students
$19,330
Per-Pupil Spend
+35% nat'l
97.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+45pp vs nat'l
91.9%
Graduation Rate
+5.4pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Palm Springs Unified is a public school district in California serving 21,029 students across 28 schools. It includes 17 elementary, 5 middle, 5 high schools, among them 1 charter school. Its graduation rate of 91.9% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $19,330 is above average for a US public school district. 97% 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 43/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (28)
Middle Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Desert Springs Middle06–08803
James Workman Middle06–081,028
Nellie N. Coffman Middle06–08953
Painted Hills Middle06–08741
Raymond Cree Middle06–08708
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Cathedral City High09–121,395
Desert Hot Springs High09–121,742
Mt. San Jacinto High09–12426
Palm Springs High09–121,584
Rancho Mirage High09–121,491
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Desert Learning AcademyKG–12436
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,330+35% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
54%
36%
State
54.5%
Local (property tax)
36.0%
Federal
9.5%

Funding is shared between state (54%) and local sources (36%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
28
Schools
21,029
Students
97%
Free Lunch
$19K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate91.9%
Opportunity Score43/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
91.9% graduation rate — 5.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $19,330 per pupil — 35% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 28 schools including 1 charter school, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
97% 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 Palm Springs Unified?
Palm Springs Unified has 28 public schools, serving a total of 21,029 students.
What is the graduation rate for Palm Springs Unified?
The graduation rate is 91.9%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Palm Springs Unified spend per student?
Palm Springs Unified spends $19,330 per pupil — 35% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Palm Springs Unified?
97% of students in Palm Springs Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Palm Springs Unified?
Yes — 1 of the 28 schools in Palm Springs Unified is a charter school.
What grade levels does Palm Springs Unified serve?
Palm Springs Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Palm Springs Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Palm Springs Unified is 43/100. 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.