Desert Hills High

Summary:

Desert Hills High is a public high school located in Saint George, Utah, serving grades 10-12 with a total enrollment of 1,210 students. The school is part of the Washington District, which is ranked 35 out of 98 districts in Utah and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Desert Hills High consistently ranks among the top high schools in Utah, with a statewide ranking of 13 out of 138 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on the Utah Aspire Plus assessments is significantly higher than the state and district averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Science. However, the school has a relatively low percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with only 15.37% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, which is significantly lower than the nearby Millcreek High (46.25%) and Dixie High (31.25%).

The student population at Desert Hills High is predominantly White, with 85.62% of students identifying as White in the 2022-2023 school year. This is higher than the nearby Snow Canyon High (69.04% White) and Pine View High (66.23% White). This suggests that Desert Hills High may be attracting a more academically-inclined student population, which could be a result of factors such as the school's reputation, location, or the demographics of the surrounding community.

Detail:

Public 10-12

828 E Desert Hills Drive
Saint George, UT 84790

(435) 674-0885

District: Washington District

SchoolDigger Rank:
13^th of 138 Utah High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,251

Feeder schools for Desert Hills High:

Elementary:	Bloomington Hills School
	Coral Canyon School
	Desert Canyons Elementary
	Little Valley School
Middle:	Sunrise Ridge Intermediate

Student/teacher ratio: 26.0

Number of students: 1,210

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.6%

Hispanic:

6.9%

Two or more races:

2.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 15.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Desert Hills High ranks better than 90.6% of high schools in Utah. It also ranks first among 6 ranked high schools in the Washington District! (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 82. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Desert Hills High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Desert Hills High has the largest high school student body size in the Washington District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Desert Hills High is $7,251, which is the lowest among 7 high schools in the Washington District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Desert Hills High:

SchoolDigger ranks Desert Hills High 13^th of 138 Utah public high schools. (See Desert Hills High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

White students:

Washington District:

SchoolDigger ranks Washington District 35^th of 98 Utah school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Desert Hills High

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Rank History for all students at Desert Hills High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2009	46.67	79^th	148	46.6%
2010	61.09	27^th	153	82.4%
2011	69.61	8^th	164	95.1%
2012	66.64	18^th	166	89.2%
2013	67.32	23^rd	167	86.2%
2014	71.53	15^th	120	87.5%
2015	77.92	11^th	131	91.6%
2016	75.04	16^th	129	87.6%
2017	73.16	15^th	125	88.0%
2018	65.37	17^th	123	86.2%
2019	76.24	26^th	136	80.9%
2021	86.08	12^th	129	90.7%
2022	76.78	17^th	131	87.0%
2023	65.64	33^rd	139	76.3%
2024	82.00	13^th	138	90.6%

See the entire list of Utah High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Desert Hills High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	53.40	37^th	84	56.0%
2023	75.59	16^th	93	82.8%
2024	98.71	1^st	93	98.9%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for White students at Desert Hills High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	UT State Percentile
2022	70.04	25^th	123	79.7%
2023	55.35	44^th	122	63.9%
2024	75.92	18^th	123	85.4%

See the entire list of Best Utah High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Utah State Board of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Utah State Board of Education

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Enrollment information for Desert Hills High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2009	663	4	23	25	8	n/a	n/a	0	723
2010	758	6	28	34	8	n/a	n/a	26	860
2011	833	5	12	42	9	17	0	0	918
2012	863	6	12	49	6	18	4	0	958
2013	937	7	9	45	5	18	3	0	1024
2014	1070	6	15	50	6	22	2	0	1171
2015	1129	5	15	54	6	20	5	0	1234
2016	1207	8	17	51	8	21	9	0	1321
2017	1234	9	15	65	5	31	10	0	1369
2018	1282	9	18	70	2	28	15	1	1425
2019	1397	5	17	71	4	29	20	0	1543
2020	936	5	18	52	3	19	14	0	1047
2021	890	9	10	57	3	20	17	0	1006
2022	947	12	15	66	7	13	22	0	1082
2023	1036	11	14	84	5	28	32	0	1210

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Desert Hills High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	723	8.3	21.1	15.9
2010	860	36.1	23.7	22.3
2011	918	37.1	24.7	24.1
2012	958	41.8	22.8	35.1
2013	1024	44.3	23.0	40.9
2014	1171	48.3	24.2	23.5
2015	1234	n/a	n/a	21
2016	1321	n/a	n/a	16.7
2017	1369	48.3	28.3	17.8
2018	1425	n/a	n/a	13.8
2019	1543	58.7	26.2	13.2
2020	1047	43.6	24.0	13.8
2021	1006	n/a	n/a	12.8
2022	1082	41.5	26.0	15.6
2023	1210	46.5	26.0	15.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Desert Hills High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	723	8.3	21.1	15.9
2010	860	36.1	23.7	22.3
2011	918	37.1	24.7	24.1
2012	958	41.8	22.8	35.1
2013	1024	44.3	23.0	40.9
2014	1171	48.3	24.2	23.5
2015	1234	n/a	n/a	21
2016	1321	n/a	n/a	16.7
2017	1369	48.3	28.3	17.8
2018	1425	n/a	n/a	13.8
2019	1543	58.7	26.2	13.2
2020	1047	43.6	24.0	13.8
2021	1006	n/a	n/a	12.8
2022	1082	41.5	26.0	15.6
2023	1210	46.5	26.0	15.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Desert Hills High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$391 (5.4%)	$6,860 (94.6%)	$7,251

Data source: Utah Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Desert Hills High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 26^th of 136 High schools	Ranks 33^rd of 139 High schools	4.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Desert Hills High)	58.2	48.5	9.7%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Washington District)	51.6	47.2	4.4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Utah)	49.5	45.3	4.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (Desert Hills High)	55.9	35.9	20%
10th Grade Mathematics (Washington District)	36	30.6	5.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Utah)	36.3	27.7	8.6%
10th Grade Science (Desert Hills High)	39.3	41	1.7%
10th Grade Science (Washington District)	32.2	35.3	3.1%
10th Grade Science (Utah)	33	32.2	0.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1543	1210	21.6%
African American	5	11	120%
American Indian	4	5	25%
Asian	17	14	17.6%
Hispanic	71	84	18.3%
Pacific Islander	29	28	3.4%
White	1397	1036	25.8%
Two or More Races	20	32	60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	13.2%	15.4%	2.2%

Schools Near Desert Hills High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts (2024)		Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics (2024)		Utah Aspire Plus Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus English Language Arts 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Mathematics 10th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 9th Grade	Utah Aspire Plus Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Desert Hills High	Public	10-12	828 E Desert Hills Drive	Saint George	84790	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 674-0885	1,210	47	26.0	15.4%	1,036 (85.6%)	11 (0.9%)	84 (6.9%)	14 (1.2%)	5 (0.4%)	28 (2.3%)	32 (2.6%)	82	13^th of 138 public high schools	90.6%		65.6	33^rd of 139 public high schools	76.3%	20		57.5		36.5		52.6	$7,251	$391	$6,860
Dixie High	Public	10-12	350 E 700 S	St George	84770	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 673-4682	1,293	59	21.8	31.2%	908 (70.2%)	13 (1.0%)	279 (21.6%)	9 (0.7%)	24 (1.9%)	23 (1.8%)	37 (2.9%)	55.1	58^th of 138 public high schools	58.0%		31.8	97^th of 139 public high schools	30.2%	39		42.8		22.7	80.8	31.9	$8,536	$411	$8,125
Crimson Cliffs High	Public	10-12	4430 S Crimson Cliffs Way	Washington	84780	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 634-7015	1,334	50	26.6	10.6%	1,189 (89.1%)	9 (0.7%)	83 (6.2%)	11 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	14 (1.0%)	24 (1.8%)	97.3	5^th of 138 public high schools	96.4%		81.4	15^th of 139 public high schools	89.2%	10		68.8		57.2		60.6
Success DSU	Public, Charter	10-12	225 South 700 East	St George	84770	Washington County	Success Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(435) 652-7830	300	5	56.4	13.0%	245 (81.7%)	5 (1.7%)	36 (12.0%)	7 (2.3%)	2 (0.7%)	5 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	77.6	19^th of 138 public high schools	86.2%		99.1	3^rd of 139 public high schools	97.8%	16		66.7		43.3		35.5	$493	$05	$489
Millcreek High	Public	7-12	2410 E Riverside Dr	St George	84790	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 628-2462	160	21	7.4	46.3%	103 (64.4%)	2 (1.3%)	44 (27.5%)	1 (0.6%)	2 (1.3%)	3 (1.9%)	5 (3.1%)								(n/a)							$15,284	$907	$14,378
Utah Online 7-12	Public, Virtual	6-12	121 W. Tabernacle	Saint George	84770	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	Yes	No	(435) 673-3553	1,220	53	23.0	15.2%	998 (81.8%)	22 (1.8%)	121 (9.9%)	14 (1.1%)	23 (1.9%)	21 (1.7%)	21 (1.7%)	75.9	24^th of 138 public high schools	82.6%					(n/a)	54.7	56.1	54.0	45.2	48.0	32.4	$8,875	$346	$8,528
Southwest High	Public	9-12	756 West Tabernacle	Saint George	84770	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 652-4709	0	4	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
St. George Academy	Public, Charter	8-12	380 E. 3090 S.	Washington	84780	Washington County	St. George Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(435) 319-0105	223	17	12.7	12.6%	160 (71.7%)	1 (0.4%)	48 (21.5%)	6 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	6 (2.7%)								(n/a)							$8,356	$126	$8,230
Pine View High	Public	10-12	2850 E 750 N	St George	84790	Washington County	Washington District	No	No	No	No	(435) 628-5255	1,143	54	21.1	32.9%	757 (66.2%)	14 (1.2%)	288 (25.2%)	7 (0.6%)	24 (2.1%)	20 (1.7%)	33 (2.9%)	52.4	62^nd of 138 public high schools	55.1%		32.8	93^rd of 139 public high schools	33.1%	31		45.0		26.1		38.9	$8,531	$406	$8,125
Utah Arts Academy	Public, Magnet, Charter	9-12	1091 N Bluff St	Saint George	84770	Washington County	Utah Arts Academy	Yes	Yes	No	No	(435) 414-4535	272	19	14.4	24.3%	216 (79.4%)	9 (3.3%)	37 (13.6%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	3 (1.1%)	2 (0.7%)	36.3	89^th of 138 public high schools	35.5%					(n/a)		48.1		15.7		27.8	$8,797	$376	$8,421

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Hills High

What is the racial makeup of Desert Hills High?

Students at Desert Hills High are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% Asian.

What district is Desert Hills High in?

Washington District

How many students attend Desert Hills High?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,210 students attended Desert Hills High.

Is Desert Hills High a good school?

Yes. Desert Hills High ranks in the top 9.4% of Utah high schools.

What schools feed into Desert Hills High?

Desert Hills High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bloomington Hills School
Elementary : Coral Canyon School
Elementary : Desert Canyons Elementary
Elementary : Little Valley School
Middle : Sunrise Ridge Intermediate

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Utah State Board of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.