- Enrollment
- 2,425
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · La Quinta, CA
Horizon
Federal NCES profile for Horizon, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 061111008560
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 62
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizon earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of California schools.
- #1 of 8
- public schools in La Quinta · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- small classes for California
- 71.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Horizon has class sizes smaller than 91% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon ranks #1 of 8 public schools in La Quinta, CA.
School address
District: Desert Sands Unified · California
NCES ID 061111008560 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-58 students YoY
Horizon shrank from 414 students in 2022-23 to 356 in 2023-24 (-14.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.1 → 17.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-58 students YoY 061111008560 · La Quinta, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
286 enr · 13.6:1 · 71.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: La Quinta High (2,425 students)
Horizon shrank from 414 students in 2022-23 to 356 in 2023-24 (-14.0%). Teacher FTE lost 21.1 → 17.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Horizon in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- La Quinta High
La Quinta High
2,425 students
- Palm Desert Hi
Palm Desert High
2,079 students
- Indio High
Indio High
1,962 students
- Shadow Hills H
Shadow Hills High
1,650 students
- Palm Desert Ch
Palm Desert Charter Middle
1,298 students
- This school 286
Horizon
286 students
What this shows Horizon reports 286 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizon compares
Horizon 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 37% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.0% | ▲ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 286 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
286
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 9% in California - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
86.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,070
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 188 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 5 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 75.9%
White 15.0%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 1.4%
African American 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 75.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.6, Horizon is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Desert Sands Unified reports $17,070 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizon Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Quinta High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Desert High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indio High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shadow Hills High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Palm Desert Charter Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horizon's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,079
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,962
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,650
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,298
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
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 (~286 students)
Frequently asked questions about Horizon
How many students attend Horizon?
Horizon has 286 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in La Quinta, CA. CCD year-over-year: 414 (2022-23) → 356 (2023-24), down 58.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizon?
The student-teacher ratio at Horizon is 13.6:1, which is 37% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 13% lower 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 Horizon?
71.0% of students at Horizon are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizon?
The largest demographic group at Horizon is Hispanic or Latino at 75.9% of enrollment, in La Quinta, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizon?
Horizon has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Horizon rank among public schools in La Quinta?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizon ranks #1 of 8 public schools in La Quinta, 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 La Quinta on the city page.
What other schools are in Desert Sands Unified?
Besides Horizon, Desert Sands Unified also operates La Quinta High (2,425 students), Palm Desert High (2,079 students), and Indio High (1,962 students). See the Desert Sands Unified district page for the complete list.