PALM DESERT, CA — Summer break is winding down for Desert Sands Unified School District families, with students scheduled to return to class for the 2026-27 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Desert Sands Unified serves students in Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes and Rancho Mirage.
Here are key dates and schedule details families should know before the new school year begins.
The first day of school for Desert Sands Unified students is Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
New teacher in-service days are scheduled for Aug. 12-14, and teacher preparation days are scheduled for Aug. 17-18 before students return.
Bell schedules vary by school site, and families should confirm start and dismissal times with their student's individual campus.
Palm Desert High School's posted 2026-27 bell schedule lists first period beginning at 8:30 a.m. The regular Monday and Friday schedule ends at 3:35 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday schedules also end at 3:35 p.m.; Wednesday early-release schedules end at 2:40 p.m.
Period 0 at Palm Desert High School begins at 7:30 a.m. for students with a zero-period class.
Elementary school schedules vary by campus. Families should check their student's elementary school for regular day, minimum day, conference day, TK and kindergarten schedules.
Middle school schedules also vary by campus. Families should check with Palm Desert Charter Middle School or their assigned middle school for regular day, minimum day, early-release and special schedules.
Desert Sands Unified School District:
Graduation dates for individual high schools are typically announced separately by each campus closer to the end of the school year. Families should check with Palm Desert High School, La Quinta High School, Shadow Hills High School, Indio High School or their student's campus for commencement details
For elementary schools, the district calendar lists nine minimum days, to be determined by individual school sites.
For middle schools, the district calendar lists four minimum days.
For high schools, the district calendar lists four minimum days.
For grades K-5, the first trimester ends Nov. 13, the second trimester ends March 5, and the third trimester ends June 4.
For grades 6-12, the first quarter ends Oct. 15, the second quarter ends Dec. 18, the third quarter ends March 19, and the fourth quarter ends June 4.
Families should check their individual campus for school supply lists, bell schedules, minimum days, transportation information, ParentVUE access, meal information and campus-specific back-to-school events.
Families seeking transfers should also note that Desert Sands Unified's transfer process has separate instructions for Washington Charter Elementary School and Palm Desert Charter Middle School.
For all additional information visit: dsusd.us/for_parents
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