Desert Sands Charter: Best Charter High School in Lancaster (2026 List)

About Desert Sands Charter

Desert Sands Charter is a public charter high school in Lancaster, California, that serves students in grades 9 through 12. As the main school in its charter district, it is known as one of the best schools for offering a flexible and personalized way to learn. The school has about 1,900 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of about 25:1. This means that each student gets personalized help to reach their academic goals. The student body is made up of people from many different cultures. 88% of the students are minorities, and 83% of them are considered economically disadvantaged. The performance data shows that the student is 3% proficient in math and 31% proficient in reading. Students can also get ready for college by taking tests like the SAT and ACT. Desert Sands Charter is one of the most respected schools in the area for independent study. Its strengths are its easy-to-understand teaching style and its dedication to helping students get their high school diploma, and it is one of the best high school in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 3%

Reading 31%

State average proficiency is 3% in Math and 31% in Reading.

37

Full-time Teachers

19 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

690

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 11.45%

Asian 0.29%

Hispanic 55.36%

Black 12.46%

Two+ Races 19.71%

Native Am. 0.14%

White

11.45%

Asian

0.29%

Hispanic

55.36%

Black

12.46%

Two+ Races

19.71%

Native Am.

0.14%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 690

54.06%

373 Female

45.36%

313 Male

Student Population

690 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 19 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

151 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Desert Sands Charter Contact Information

Address

177 Holston Dr., Lancaster, CA, 93535

View on Map

Phone

(661) 942-3357

Call Now

Website

http://www.dschs.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Desert Sands Charter High School's personalized learning model is getting better for the 2025–2026 school year. This makes the school's promise to offer flexible education even stronger. This model lets a teacher help students with one or two subjects at a time. The school board just approved a new set of rules for how students can use AI. These rules are about safety and morals. This is to make sure that students do their homework honestly and are ready for the technological challenges of the future.

FAQ

Q1. Are there chances to be a leader at Desert Sands Charter?

Ans. Yes, student council and team-based activities help students learn how to be leaders.

Q2. How does Desert Sands Charter help students get ready for their careers?

Ans. Desert Sands Charter helps students explore and plan their careers by giving them advice, internships, and programs that connect them with career exploration and planning.

Q3. Are college entrance exams conducted here?

Ans. Students can take the SAT and ACT tests on-site or through programs that work to gether.

Q4. Are students allowed to go to cultural and arts events?

Ans. Yes, Desert Sands Charter encourages students to be creative by offering programs in music, theater, and the visual arts.

Q5. What can students do to get help with their homework?

Ans. Tu to ring, advice, and counseling help students figure things out and do well in school.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say