- Enrollment
- 1,687
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Palm Springs, CA
Desert Learning Academy
Federal NCES profile for Desert Learning Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 062955013957
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Learning Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #2 of 7
- public schools in Palm Springs · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.8:1
- students per teacher
- 95.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Learning Academy has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Learning Academy ranks #2 of 7 public schools in Palm Springs, CA.
School address
District: Palm Springs Unified · California
NCES ID 062955013957 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-58 students YoY
Desert Learning Academy shrank from 436 students in 2022-23 to 378 in 2023-24 (-13.3%).
Teacher FTE added 16.0 → 20.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-58 students YoY 062955013957 · Palm Springs, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
317 enr · 19.8:1 · 95.6% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Desert Hot Springs High (1,687 students)
Desert Learning Academy shrank from 436 students in 2022-23 to 378 in 2023-24 (-13.3%). Teacher FTE added 16.0 → 20.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Desert Learning Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Desert Hot Spr
Desert Hot Springs High
1,687 students
- Palm Springs H
Palm Springs High
1,497 students
- Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage High
1,401 students
- Cathedral City
Cathedral City High
1,334 students
- James Workman
James Workman Middle
1,020 students
- This school 317
Desert Learning Academy
317 students
What this shows Desert Learning Academy reports 317 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Learning Academy compares
Desert Learning Academy is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 95.6% | ▲ 72% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 317 | top 72% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
317
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
95.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 72% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$20,808
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 317 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 73.2%
White 15.5%
African American 6.9%
Asian 1.9%
Two or More 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 73.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.5, Desert Learning Academy is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Palm Springs Unified reports $20,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Learning Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hot Springs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Palm Springs High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rancho Mirage High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cathedral City High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| James Workman Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Learning Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,497
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,334
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,020
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~317 students)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Learning Academy
How many students attend Desert Learning Academy?
Desert Learning Academy has 317 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Palm Springs, CA. CCD year-over-year: 436 (2022-23) → 378 (2023-24), down 58.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Learning Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Learning Academy is 19.8:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 26% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Learning Academy?
95.6% of students at Desert Learning Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Learning Academy?
The largest demographic group at Desert Learning Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 73.2% of enrollment, in Palm Springs, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Learning Academy?
Desert Learning Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Learning Academy rank among public schools in Palm Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Learning Academy ranks #2 of 7 public schools in Palm Springs, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Palm Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in Palm Springs Unified?
Besides Desert Learning Academy, Palm Springs Unified also operates Desert Hot Springs High (1,687 students), Palm Springs High (1,497 students), and Rancho Mirage High (1,401 students). See the Palm Springs Unified district page for the complete list.