Desert Trails Preparatory Academy, Adelanto CA

Original Research by School Decision on Desert Trails Preparatory Academy

Desert Trails Preparatory Academy is a charter school in Adelanto serving kindergarten through eighth grade. The school recently expanded from elementary-only to include middle school grades, allowing families to keep students enrolled through eighth grade rather than transferring after sixth grade. This shift appears to be in progress, as different official records still show varying grade configurations.

The school serves a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial shares of Black and multiracial students. A very large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of Adelanto's families. Enrollment is small to mid-sized for the grade span, with particularly small cohorts in the upper middle grades.

State test results from the most recent year show proficiency rates that sit below where the state's midpoint generally falls. In elementary grades, proficiency is lower in English language arts than math. Third grade trails fourth grade in both subjects, while fifth grade shows stronger performance in both, particularly in ELA. By sixth grade, proficiency declines again. Science proficiency in fifth grade is also below half. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile when compared to other schools in San Bernardino County, though this reflects a relatively low bar across the county's district schools. Trend data is unavailable because the school has only one year of reported results, so parents cannot see whether performance is moving or stable.

The school does not report rates for students with individualized education plans or English learners, so parents may want to ask directly about the school's capacity and services in these areas. Information about discipline, attendance patterns, staffing, and specific course or program offerings was not available in the school's public data.

In the local housing market, home values are moderate compared to state and national benchmarks. Rents have risen noticeably over the past year and remain a significant cost factor for working families. The area is not a job-rich region, so many households depend on employment outside Adelanto, adding to family commute demands.

A parent considering Desert Trails should weigh the recent expansion into middle grades as both opportunity and uncertainty. The longer school continuity through eighth grade is a practical advantage. However, the school is still early in this transition, and performance data is limited to a single year. The school's charter status, small enrollment, and the economic profile of its community are all characteristics to understand directly through visits and conversations with current families and staff.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 335%

School 35% · district not reported

▼ 8 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · district not reported

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · district not reported

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 647%

School 47% · district not reported

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 322%

School 22% · district not reported

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · district not reported

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 560%

School 60% · district not reported

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Grade 644%

School 44% · district not reported

even with state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 540%

School 40% · district not reported

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income20%Higher-income27%7 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income33%Higher-income46%13 pp gap