Best Schools in Merced County, CA
Merced County, CA has 120 public schools (26 high, 19 middle, 65 elementary) serving 68,236 students. On average they score 26% on state proficiency tests against a projected 25%, so schools in Merced County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Merced County, CA
The top high schools in Merced County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Pacheco High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Banos Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1799 Students
2. Turlock High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Turlock Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2475 Students
3. Buhach Colony High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1746 Students
4. El Capitan High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1839 Students
5. Le Grand High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Le Grand Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 464 Students
6. Hilmar High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hilmar Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 693 Students
7. Orestimba High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newman-crows Landing Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1045 Students
8. Gustine High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gustine Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 586 Students
9. Los Banos High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Banos Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1617 Students
10. Merced High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1894 Students
Best Middle Schools in Merced County, CA
The top middle schools in Merced County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Marvin A. Dutcher Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Turlock Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 851 Students
2. Winton Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Winton • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 624 Students
3. Cesar E. Chavez Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Planada Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 286 Students
4. Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced City Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 616 Students
5. Mitchell Intermediate
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Atwater Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 739 Students
6. Hilmar Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Hilmar Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 504 Students
7. Bellevue Senior Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Atwater Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 195 Students
8. Weaver Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Weaver Union • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1003 Students
9. Rudolph Rivera Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced City Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 579 Students
10. Yolo Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newman-crows Landing Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 696 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Merced County, CA
The top elementary schools in Merced County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Frank Sparkes Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Winton • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 426 Students
2. Thomas Olaeta Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Atwater Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 564 Students
3. Sybil N. Crookham Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Winton • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 383 Students
4. Mitchell Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Atwater Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 553 Students
5. Snelling-merced Falls Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Snelling-merced Falls Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 53 Students
6. Mcswain Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mcswain Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 883 Students
7. Allan Peterson Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 664 Students
8. Harmony Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delhi Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 492 Students
9. Grasslands Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Banos Unified • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 892 Students
10. Luther Burbank Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Merced City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 678 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Merced County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Merced County, CA has a total population of 281,202 with 32% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 72%, and 15% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Merced County, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Merced County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
26.75 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
5.20 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
21.55 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Merced County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Merced County, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Merced County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Merced County, CA
How many schools are in Merced County, CA?
Merced County, CA has 120 public schools: 26 high schools, 19 middle schools and 65 elementary schools, serving 68,236 students in total.
How do schools in Merced County perform on state tests?
On average, 120 schools in Merced County score 26% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 25%, so on average schools in Merced County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Merced County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Merced County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 27%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 28%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 27%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 39%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 41%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Merced County
17 places in Merced County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (17)
- Merced (32)
- Los Banos (16)
- Atwater (13)
- Livingston (6)
- Delhi (5)
- Winton (5)
- Dos Palos (4)
- Gustine (3)
- Hilmar (3)
- Le Grand (3)
- Planada (2)
- Ballico (1)
- Cressey (1)
- El Nido (1)
- Snelling (1)
- South Dos Palos (1)
- Stevinson (1)
School districts (12)
- Merced City Elementary (19 schools)
- Los Banos Unified (16 schools)
- Atwater Elementary (10 schools)
- Merced Union High (9 schools)
- Merced County Office of Education (7 schools)
- Delhi Unified (5 schools)
- Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified (5 schools)
- Gustine Unified (5 schools)
- Hilmar Unified (5 schools)
- Livingston Union (4 schools)
- Winton (4 schools)
- Weaver Union (3 schools)