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Palm Desert High School

Palm Desert, CA 92260

Phone: (760) 862-4300
Fax: (760) 862-4390
District: Desert Sands Unified

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GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades 9,10,11,12 • 2079 students

Palm Desert High School, a public school located in Palm Desert, CA, serves grades 9-12 in the Desert Sands Unified School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Palm Desert High School is a public school located in Palm Desert, CA. 2079 students attend Palm Desert High School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
College Readiness	9/10	The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using 2019 SAT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using 2019 Average ACT score data from California Department of Education, using 2019 ACT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from California Department of Education, using 2025 Percent of students who meet UC/CSU entrance requirements data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 demographic data from California Department of Education.

Posted: June 29, 2026

This school is large enough to have something for everybody: academics, sports, clubs, music, and career tracts. All three of my children have attended with great results. Our priorities are academic, social, clubs, art, sports, music, career tract, in that order. They transferred from private to public and still made friends.
PDHS had 23 AP courses when my oldest started, which was more than the local, private high school. This metric was one of our main deciding points. The AP Capstone program is now available and its Seminar and Research components really prepare students for the critical thinking and writing required by top colleges. There is an array of clubs and the opportunity for students to form their own club. In some ways PDHS has become a magnet school to draw in families from the surrounding region
Another factor that became more important with Covid was the dual - enrollment program with College of the Desert, a top CA community college down the street. Palm Desert High School students can take many types of courses there, for free, and receive college credit. High school students can take some courses at PDHS and many more online or in person at College of the Desert's campus. On average, COD's courses were about as difficult as AP classes, and it is entirely possible for a student to complete high school with one year of college already earned. And if this is the route your student decides to take, transfer students from CA community colleges are more likely to be admitted to a top UC.

Posted: February 14, 2026

This school is just ok. Academics are alright. Counselors not that great. Kids not very accepting or friendly. When we moved to the area we were told PD is a great school. After a few months we realized its not. The principal and school leadership do not enforce the rules or the dress code. Girls come to school in bras and their butt hanging out of their shorts. The sports programs aren't as great as they seem the so called coaches arent really coaching anymore. They are on autopilot but they will still charge you for an outside lesson. Its all about money and power for the coaches. They don't play the best players. They play whoever is in their clique.
La Quinta HS is a much better school. They are very strict about the rules, dress code, academics. Your child will be better off at LQ.

Posted: July 12, 2025

Great academics. Great opportunity for motivated students to obtain associate degree from College of the Desert. Highly recommend this school. Robust amount of AP course offerings. Teachers seem really caring and supportive. Student life experience seems well balanced with many really nice students and supportive families. Really appreciate this school and all the resources. All children should be able to excel here.

Posted: July 12, 2025

Posted: July 13, 2022

Outstanding program with immense opportunities unparalleled at comparable high schools in any state.

Posted: July 13, 2022

Posted: March 2, 2022

INCOMPETANCE AT IT'S FINEST! I seriously don't know how this office is functioning. After trying to get assistance from teachers and coming up short, I tried the counselor. When our issues were swept under the rug, I went to the vice principal. She tried to blame teachers' responses on the amount of students they had. (yet they supposedly have less than the norm). I was referred to a different counselor and at first had hope. But no, let down again...Having any correspondence with office staff has been challenging. Following up with issues in an email thread and recapping the situation, and they still respond like it's a new issue with a new person. Tried to make an appointment to come in instead, and I was given a time choices for the next day - they didn't expect me at all! Why bother try to schedule something if they can't follow through? There are good reviews of this school, but it must be for kids that don't need any assistance. This is an absolute shame and my kid is suffering.

Posted: March 2, 2022

Posted: August 1, 2021

Horrendous communication across the board. Office. Teachers. Counselors. Sports. They truly do not prioritize the needs of the student. When my student asked for help, he got shamed or they wouldnt help. Such a disgrace.

Posted: August 1, 2021

Posted: July 15, 2021

Three of our children have been enrolled, two currently. One gone on scholarships and two attending.
Three nephews graduated from PDHS. All three moved on and are doing extremely well today.
Safe environment

Best athletics in the valley- nearly all sports are dominant- football, baseball, golf, tennis, water polo, swimming, wrestling and more.

Posted: July 15, 2021

Posted: March 22, 2021

So far a very disappointing experience. Transferred here mid year, communication is lacking. When I asked for help or clarification on classwork/routine, I was told maybe the teachers dont know he is a new student. Still didnt help. A couple teachers have been putting effort in, but others refuse to explain or answer questions.

Posted: March 22, 2021

Posted: March 23, 2019

PDHS was a great school. It offered a lot of classes, was very supportive to students that wanted to go to college and my counselor was willing to help me with everything to get into a good school. 99% of Classmates/Students were friendly and 19/20 teachers have my support. Go to PDHS!

Reviews provided by GreatSchools^™

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Murray Lane	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Yucca valley	CA	26.8 mi
2	Shafter Avenue	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Yucca valley	CA	27.2 mi
3	Turtle Rock	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Twentynine Palms	CA	34 mi
4	Redhawk	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Temecula	CA	46.2 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Smoke Tree	Twentynine Palms	CA	31.4 mi
2	Murrieta, California	Murrieta	CA	45.3 mi
3	Temecula, California	Temecula	CA	46 mi
4	Murrieta	Murrieta	CA	47.4 mi

Base	Distance
29 Palms Marine Base	37.1 mi.

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Palm Desert High School

Palm Desert, CA 92260

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