CaliforniaSchoolsDesert Springs Middle

Desert Springs Middle

PublicRegular
Desert Hot Springs, California · Palm Springs Unified
Teachers33.0FTE
Ratio22.4:1students per teacher
Students740enrolled
SCHOOL SNAPSHOT
Students740
Grade Span6–8
Student:Teacher22.4:1
Free/Reduced Lunch97%
Title INo
SectorPublic
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Student : Teacher
20.8:1
7.1%vs prior yrUS avg 15.4:1
Teacher FTE
36
9.1%vs prior yr
Enrollment
749
1.2%vs prior yr
Years of Data
5
2020–2024
Counselors
1:437
4.8%vs prior yrASCA max 1:250
Nurses
1:3,496
357%vs prior yrNASN max 1:750
Psychologists
1:874
42.9%vs prior yrNASP max 1:500
Social Workers
SSWAA max 1:250
Trends & 5-year history below

Pupil : Teacher Ratio — 5-Year Trend

14.7:116.6:118.5:120.5:122.4:124.3:12020202120222023202423.0:121.1:123.6:122.4:120.8:1Desert Springs MiddleUS public-school avg

Enrollment & Teacher FTE

729760791823854885333435363738202020212022202320248748008037407493838343336EnrollmentTeacher FTE

Year-by-year workforce

Metric20202021202220232024Nat Avg
Enrollment874800803740749
Teacher FTE3838343336
Pupil : Teacher ratio23.0:121.1:123.6:122.4:120.8:115.4:1

What These Numbers Mean

Teacher FTE

Full-Time Equivalent counts part-time teachers proportionally. One full-time teacher = 1.0 FTE; two half-time teachers also = 1.0 FTE. This is the standard federal reporting unit.

Pupil : Teacher ratio

NCES-reported ratio divides total enrollment by teacher FTE. It is NOT the same as average class size — schools with specialists, coaches, and resource teachers will show lower ratios than typical class sizes.

How to read the trend

A falling pupil:teacher ratio (line going down) means more staffing per student — generally a positive signal. A rising line can indicate budget pressure or fast enrollment growth outpacing hiring. Always compare to the US average (dashed grey).

Historical data spans 20202024 from NCES CCD.

Student Support & Wellbeing

Non-teaching staff who support student mental health, physical health, and behavioural needs. Lower pupil-to-staff ratios mean more one-on-one access.

Counselors & Social Workers — staff to pupils (recommended 1:250)

1:01:991:1981:2971:3971:4962015201720201:4591:4591:437Counselor : PupilsSocial Worker : PupilsRecommended 1:250

Nurses & Psychologists — staff to pupils

1:01:7551:1,5101:2,2651:3,0211:3,7762015201720201:1,5301:7651:3,4961:1,5301:1,5301:874Nurse : PupilsNASN 1:750Psychologist : PupilsNASP 1:500

Support staffing & ratios — year by year

Metric201520172020Nat Avg
Counselors (FTE)222
Nurses (FTE)0.61.20.3
Psychologists (FTE)0.60.61
Social Workers (FTE)000
Counselor : Pupils1:4591:4591:4371:250
Nurse : Pupils1:1,5301:7651:3,4961:750
Psychologist : Pupils1:1,5301:1,5301:8741:500
Social Worker : Pupils1:250

Why these ratios matter

Counselors (ASCA 250:1)

School counselors support academic planning, college & career readiness, and social-emotional wellbeing. The American School Counselor Association recommends no more than 250 students per counselor.

Nurses (NASN 750:1)

School nurses manage chronic conditions, medications, immunisations, and emergencies. The National Association of School Nurses recommends at least 1 full-time nurse per 750 students (more for high-need populations).

Psychologists (NASP 500:1)

School psychologists assess learning & behavioural needs, run mental-health interventions, and coordinate special-education services. NASP recommends 500:1 or lower.

Social workers (SSWAA 250:1)

School social workers bridge home-school relationships, address attendance & trauma, and connect families to community resources. SSWAA recommends 250:1.

Source: US Dept of Education CRDC (20152020) — Civil Rights Data Collection.