Overview
Desert Sands Charter is a public high serving grades 8–12 in Lancaster, California. The school enrolls 727 students. It is part of the Desert Sands Charter District district. The school operates as a charter school.
Source: NCES CCD (2023)
Strengths & Things to Consider
Indicators pulled CCD and benchmarked against California state averages. This is not a ranking — different families value different things.
Strengths
Charter school with flexibility in curriculum
Publicly funded with greater autonomy over instruction and staffing
Things to Consider
Higher share of students from low-income families
79% free/reduced-lunch eligibility — schools in this range benefit from strong parent engagement programs
Key Facts
SectorPublic
School TypeRegular
LevelHigh
Grade Span8–12
DistrictDesert Sands Charter District
County6037
CityLancaster
ZIP93534
CharterYes
MagnetNo
Title INo
NCES School ID060178408714
Student Demographics
Total Enrollment727
White0.5%
Hispanic / Latino56.8%
Black / African American0.2%
Asian18.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native17.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
Two or More Races6.2%
Race / Ethnicity Distribution
Source: NCES CCD (2023)
Equity & Title I
In the United States, Free/Reduced Lunch (FRL) eligibility is the primary federal proxy for student poverty. Schools with 40% or more FRL-eligible students typically qualify for Title I school-wide programs.
FRL %79%
State Avg65%
Title INo
Source: NCES CCD (2023)