James Monroe Elementary, Bermuda Dunes CA

Original Research by School Decision on James Monroe Elementary

James Monroe Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Bermuda Dunes, a small residential community nestled in the Coachella Valley between Palm Desert and La Quinta. The school sits within Desert Sands Unified School District, which in March 2024 secured voter approval for a major facility modernization bond, a commitment that will extend the property tax rate through the coming years to upgrade aging school buildings across the region.

The school enrolls a small population of students, roughly balanced across its grade span. A substantial share come from households qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting economic conditions in the area. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a meaningful White enrollment and smaller numbers of Asian, multiracial, and other students. Specific data on the percentage of English learners and students with Individual Education Plans were not available in the school's current profile.

In state testing administered in 2024-25, James Monroe shows mixed performance across subjects and grades. In English language arts, proficiency rates climb steadily from third grade into upper elementary; fourth and fifth graders score substantially higher than their third-grade peers. Math performance follows a similar trajectory, with third grade the lowest point and proficiency increasing noticeably by fifth grade. In science, measured only at fifth grade, proficiency runs considerably lower than in either math or ELA. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other district schools in Riverside County, a genuine strength that reflects the school's standing among local peers.

The fact that third grade shows the softest numbers across both ELA and math warrants attention; a parent may want to ask the school directly about supports for students transitioning into tested grades and how the school addresses foundational skill gaps that emerge at that level. The science results, meanwhile, suggest an area where curriculum and instructional focus may benefit from closer examination.

Bermuda Dunes itself is a quiet, golf-centered residential enclave organized around the Bermuda Dunes Country Club. The community is car-dependent, with residents traveling throughout the broader valley for work and services, though locals value the neighborhood's walkability within its immediate bounds. A shopping corridor runs along Washington Street, and the region's larger commercial activity lies a few miles south. Housing values in the area are moderate compared to statewide benchmarks, though rents have risen. The median household income is in line with national norms, and the local job market centers on service, retail, hospitality, and construction, with the school district itself a significant employer.

Growth in Bermuda Dunes has been modest and incremental rather than explosive, with new homes appearing both within the gated country club community and in smaller nearby subdivisions. The neighborhood does not have a traditional downtown; civic life centers on the community center and nearby parks, with transit provided by regional bus service. For families in the area, James Monroe represents the local elementary option within a district that has prioritized facility improvements and is positioned to serve students through the transition to middle and high school in neighboring Palm Desert.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 342%

School 42% · District 35% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 456%

School 56% · District 35% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 561%

School 61% · District 30% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 348%

School 48% · District 38% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 464%

School 64% · District 42% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 563%

School 63% · District 44% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Science

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 30% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

This schoolDesert Sands Unified, 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-income38%Higher-income76%38 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income56%Higher-income78%22 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income54%Higher-income78%24 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income33%Higher-income64%31 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income52%Higher-income64%12 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income51%Higher-income78%27 pp gap