Best Public Schools in Merced, CA

The city of Merced, California is home to 35 schools spanning elementary, middle, high, and alternative education, across several school districts including Merced Union High, Weaver Union, McSwain Union Elementary, Merced County Office of Education, and Merced City Elementary.

The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance and other key metrics across Merced schools. McSwain Elementary stands out as a top performer, ranking 3rd out of over 5,800 California elementary schools, with high proficiency rates in core subjects. Other high-achieving schools include Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary and Luther Burbank Elementary. In contrast, alternative and continuation schools like Yosemite High (Continuation) and Come Back Charter struggle with low graduation rates and poor academic outcomes.

The data also suggests a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and academic performance, with schools serving higher proportions of economically disadvantaged students tending to have lower proficiency rates. However, the presence of charter schools like Merced Scholars Charter, which boasts a 100% graduation rate, demonstrates that with the right resources and support, students can achieve high levels of success even in a challenging district.