Our Valley’s Education

This week I am introducing not only myself, but the local school districts of our Coachella Valley. I am a mathematics resource teacher with a local private school. I have a great interest in education, and hope to spark the same interest in my readers. I hope to encourage the issues of local education in everyone. Whether you have a son or daughter, niece or nephew, or grandchild, education should be important to you. I have three children attending local schools, which I am very pleased with. Here in our valley, we have three school districts that dedicate themselves to the educational success of every child. The three school districts share the entirety of the valley, splitting it into three educational zones.
The western most portion of our valley is educated by the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD). Established in 1958, PSUSD has grown to include sixteen elementary schools, five middle schools, four alternative education schools, and soon to have four high schools with the addition of Rancho Mirage High School opening in the 2013-2014 school year. Mid-valley is educated by the Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD). In 1964, DSUSD became the school district of Indio and surrounding cities. DSUSD includes nineteen elementary schools, one charter elementary school, six middle schools, one charter middle school, four comprehensive high schools, two continuation high schools, one alternative education school, and a preschool. Our third and final educational mastermind is the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD). Created out of the Coachella Public Schools in the 1960s, CVUSD has fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, and one adult school.
According to the 2010 Census, approximately 90,000 plus children live in the Coachella Valley, which includes all children that are eighteen years of age and under. This number includes the nine incorporated cities, and many unincorporated cities in our little valley. This number is also not including our growth over the last two years.
Our districts, schools, and teachers have a grand challenge to educating our children. The lives they educate today will possibly be our leaders tomorrow. So, let’s do our best to support our local schools, our challenged teachers, and the districts that organize the whole educational mess. Finally, for those of you who have children in our local schools, I encourage you to take whatever time you can and volunteer. Teachers need your help! But more importantly, your kids will flourish academically from your positive presence, just don’t embarrass them too much.