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Desert Sands Community School
About
Desert Sands Community School is located at 435 Ranch Road, with mail sent to PO Box 669, Ashcroft, BC V0K 1A0. It is part of Gold Trail School District (#74), which emphasizes supporting students’ intellectual, emotional, and physical health and valuing achievement in many forms (academic, social, sporting, creative, and more). The district’s mission is to help each learner achieve personal success and become responsible, productive citizens, with learning environments rooted in local Indigenous history, language, and knowledge.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Gold Trail)
Education language: English
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-12
Phone: 250 453-9144
Email: kcrookssmith@sd74.bc.ca
Principal: Susan Schalles
Programs and Services
**Graduation Program (Grades 10–12)** Gold Trail School District provides information and resources for the Graduation Program for students in Grades 10–12. **Student support / special education** Desert Sands Community School references a Speech-Language Program (posted as a downloadable PDF). The district also publishes an Accessibility Plan and invites feedback to help reduce barriers for students, staff, and community members accessing facilities. **Athletics and extracurricular sports** The Desert Sands Community School site includes an Athletics page (details are not provided in the available text).
School Culture and Expectations
Gold Trail School District states it values students and supports their intellectual, emotional, and physical health as they grow and learn. The district recognizes that all students are different and values student achievement in many forms, encouraging students to explore their full potential with the belief that every student is successful. The district also emphasizes Truth and Reconciliation as part of its daily work and strategic plan, with a focus on supporting learning environments rooted in local Indigenous history, language, and knowledge.
Enrollment
Desert Sands Community School provides a Registration page with a Student Registration Form and a Request for Student Records. Families can contact the school by phone at (250) 453-9144 or email the principal for registration questions.
Location
Desert Sands Community School Reviews
Reviews load after the page becomes interactive.
Academic Learning of Desert Sands Community School
32.71
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 33 - well below the province public school average of 42, trailing by 9 points.
Literacy: 34
Numeracy: 31
Literacy and numeracy are closely matched.
51.56
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 52 - above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 2 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
52.98
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 53 - above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 3 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
67.86
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 68 - well above the province public school average of 52, ahead by 16 points.
Students report stronger preparation for future learning, transitions, and career pathways than comparable schools, which points to a solid readiness profile.
Academic Scores by School Year
Clustered Academic Score Trends
School year trend view: All Grades (combined Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where available). In 2024-2025, literacy is 34, numeracy is 31, and overall is 33.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score declined by 3 points.
In the latest year, literacy is the strongest of the three measures at 34, while numeracy is lowest at 31.
Across the available years, literacy declined by 7 points since 2019-2020, while numeracy was broadly stable since 2019-2020.
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024-2025, academic performance is 33, student commitment to learning is 52, critical thinking is 53, and college and career readiness is 68.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 68, while Academic Performance is lowest at 33.
College and Career Readiness shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 21 points since 2021-2022.
Additional Information
Data is regularly updated to reflect the latest available academic scores and assessments from official school records.
Character and Wellbeing
50.00
Artistic and Creative Traits
Artistic and Creative Traits
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 50 - well below the province public school average of 57, trailing by 7 points.
Students report weaker creativity, imagination, and artistic thinking than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
55.99
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 56 - well below the province public school average of 72, trailing by 16 points.
Students report weaker participation in school and community life than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen voice, involvement, and connection.
56.90
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 57 - well below the province public school average of 67, trailing by 10 points.
Students report weaker physical and emotional well-being than comparable schools, making health and well-being an area to watch closely.
56.40
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 56 - well below the province public school average of 75, trailing by 18 points.
Students report weaker effort, persistence, and responsibility than comparable schools, suggesting work habits are an area to strengthen.
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Civic Engagement is 56, Health is 57, and Work Ethic is 56.
The strongest current area is Health at 57, while Civic Engagement is lowest at 56.
Civic Engagement shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 32 points since 2019/2020.
Resources
71.43
Community Support
Community Support
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 71 - well above the province public school average of 61, ahead by 10 points.
Parents and the wider community appear to provide stronger support for student learning than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
62.50
Facilities and Personnel
Facilities and Personnel
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 62 - in line with the province public school average of 64, within 1 point.
Staffing, spaces, and school infrastructure are rated at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
46.44
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 46 - well below the province public school average of 53, trailing by 6 points.
Instructional resources are rated less positively than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen access or quality.
Resources Score Change Over Years
Resources Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Community Support is 71, Facilities and Personnel is 62, and Learning Resources is 46.
The strongest current area is Community Support at 71, while Learning Resources is lowest at 46.
Learning Resources shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 25 points since 2019/2020.
School Culture
50.00
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 50 - well below the province public school average of 66, trailing by 16 points.
Students report a weaker academic orientation than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen the school's learning focus and academic expectations.
53.41
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 53 - well below the province public school average of 78, trailing by 24 points.
Students report weaker relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, suggesting connection and trust are areas to strengthen.
61.40
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 61 - well below the province public school average of 73, trailing by 12 points.
Students report a weaker sense of physical and emotional safety than in comparable schools, making this an area that deserves close attention.
School Culture Score Change Over Years
School Culture Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Relationships is 53 and Safety is 61.
The strongest current area is Safety at 61, while Relationships is lowest at 53.
Safety shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 11 points since 2020/2021.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
61.90
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 62 - well below the province public school average of 72, trailing by 10 points.
Teachers are rated less positively for instructional quality, knowledge, and professional practice than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Knowledge and Skills of Teachers is 62.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 7 points since 2020/2021.