About

About Us

About Palm Valley School

Palm Valley School has a strong tradition of paving the way for future leaders. Since 1952, Palm Valley School has stood alone as the Coachella Valley’s only non-religious, college-prep, independent school. With our commitment to excellence, Palm Valley Private School provides an Toddler-12th grade nurturing environment in which highly motivated students flourish and find success in the classroom, at colleges and universities throughout the nation, and beyond. PVS offers an environment where it’s ‘cool’ to be smart.

Quick Facts About Palm Valley School

List of 9 items.

  • School

    PVS offers a complete and integrated educational experience for Toddlers through 12th graders.
  • Campus

    PVS occupies 34 acres in Rancho Mirage with stunning mountain views. The campus features separate campuses and buildings for each of our four divisions – Preschool (ages 18 months to 4), Elementary (Grades K-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12), along with a full-size gymnasium and several separate recesses and athletic fields.
  • Class Size

    With an average school-wide student to faculty ratio of 12:1, our small class sizes offer personal attention and a college preparatory curriculum designed to meet the individual strengths and needs of each student. Our inspiring, innovative and passionate faculty is one of our greatest strengths.
  • Service

    PVS students have completed thousands of hours of community service since the formal service program began in 2006.
  • Scholarships

    The graduating class of 2023 earned more than $1.5 million in merit scholarships alone.
  • College Counseling

    Our College Counseling program is unparalleled in the Valley. Our student to college counselor ratio is approximately 25 to one, compared to the national average of over 400 to one.
  • Activity

    Students participate almost daily in physical education and a variety of competitive sports.
  • Arts

    Our Visual Art, Drama, and Choral programs are high caliber and award winning.
  • AP Courses

    With 10+ Advanced Placement (AP) courses, we are dedicated to developing our students inside and outside of the classroom for a college preparatory path.

Message from the Head of School

Welcome! We are pleased that you have taken an interest in Palm Valley School. We are a Preschool – 12th grade private, independent school in the heart of the Coachella Valley. We are the only California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) – affiliated school in the valley. We offer the small class sizes, college-preparatory curriculum, and individualized instruction that you expect from a private school. However, we offer so much more. From specialized class offerings to a generous slate of extra-curricular activities led by caring and skilled professionals, our school community is like no other. It is our hope that the warmth and nurturing that makes our Firebird Family so special will be felt as you peruse the pages of our website.

I’d like to personally invite you to review our Admissions pages where you will find important information about our school and campus. In particular, take note of our significant financial aid program. We offer a variety of ways to help make Palm Valley School affordable for all families in the Coachella Valley. In addition, take a moment to find out where our Palm Valley School graduates attend following their high school education. We are proud of our 100% college acceptance rate and are honored to equip our graduates for the finest colleges and universities in the United States. An investment in a Palm Valley School education is an investment in the future of your child!

After taking some time to review our website, we would like to encourage you to come visit our beautiful 34-acre campus in Rancho Mirage. And when you are here, please be sure to stop by my office to say hello. I would love to get a chance to meet you and get to know your family better….

Warmly,

Dr. Steven Sherman
    • Dr. Steve Sherman, Head of School

Our Mission:

Palm Valley School is an exceptional learning community that educates, nurtures, and challenges each student to achieve excellence and contribute to our global society.

Our Values

List of 7 items.

  • Individual Attention to Students

  • Inspiring, Passionate, and Innovative Teaching

  • Inquiry and Exploration

  • Academic, Artistic, and Athletic Growth

  • Trust, Respect, and Partnership

  • Diversity

  • Responsibility to Self and Others

Palm Valley Private School occupies 34 acres in Rancho Mirage with stunning mountain views. The campus features separate campuses and buildings for each of our four divisions – Preschool (ages 18 months to 5), Elementary (Grades K-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12), along with a full-size gymnasium, several separate recesses and athletic fields, a black box theater and smart lab.