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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Merced County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 117 public schools serving 59,546 students in Merced County, CA (there are 15 private schools, serving 1,943 private students). 97% of all K-12 students in Merced County, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Merced County, CA are Frank Sparkes Elementary School, Merced City School District Community Day and Merced County Juvenile Court. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Merced County, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 21% (versus the California public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Merced County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public schools.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Merced County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Frank Sparkes Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7265 West Almond Ave.
Winton, CA 95388
(209) 357-6180
Gr: K-5 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Merced City School District Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
601 Mercy Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6647
Gr: K-6 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Merced County Juvenile Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2840 West Sandy Mush Rd.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-4528
Gr: K-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2 - 42. - 4.
Pioneer High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
501 North Ave.
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 854-6414
Gr: 9-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1
Rank: #55.
Yamato Colony Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
800 North Main St.
Livingston, CA 95334
(209) 394-5470
Gr: K-5 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #66.
Peggy Heller Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
201 Lake View Dr.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6517
Gr: K-8 | 712 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #77.
Elmer Wood Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1271 West Bellevue Rd.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6143
Gr: K-6 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #88.
Westside Union Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
659 K St.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 827-9390
Gr: K-6 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #99.
Westside Community Day Middle High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
22368 South Sixth St.
Dos Palos, CA 93620
(209) 392-0280
Gr: 7-12
Rank: #1010.
Luther Burbank Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
609 East Alexander Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6674
Gr: K-6 | 716 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1111.
Mcswain Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
922 Scott Rd.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 354-2700
Gr: K-8 | 912 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1212.
Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3200 Parsons Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6620
Gr: K-6 | 722 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1313.
Thomas Olaeta Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2266 High St.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6148
Gr: K-6 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1414.
Shaffer Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1434 California St.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6145
Gr: K-6 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1515.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4402 West Oakdale Rd.
Winton, CA 95388
(209) 358-5679
Gr: K-8 | 295 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1616.
Winfield Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6981 Chestnut Ln.
Winton, CA 95388
(209) 357-6891
Gr: K-5 | 444 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1717.
Ballico-cressey Community Charter
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
11818 Gregg St.
Ballico, CA 95303
(209) 394-9400
Gr: 1-8 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1818.
Hilmar High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7807 North Lander Ave.
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 667-5903
Gr: 9-12 | 696 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Atwater Senior Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1800 Juniper Ave.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6515
Gr: 6-8 | 5 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Romero Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
13500 West Luis Rd.
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 854-6177
Gr: K-5 | 225 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2121.
Mitchell Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1761 Grove Ave.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6112
Gr: K-6 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2222.
Allan Peterson Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
848 East Donna Dr.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6700
Gr: K-6 | 690 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2323.
Winton Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6300 North Cypress Ave.
Winton, CA 95388
(209) 357-6189
Gr: 6-8 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Plainsburg Union Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3708 South Plainsburg Rd.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 389-4707
Gr: K-8 | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Planada Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
9525 East Broderick St.
Planada, CA 95365
(209) 382-0351
Gr: K-5 | 583 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2626.
Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
601 Mercy Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6330
Gr: 7-8 | 624 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2727.
Harmony Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
16464 West August Ave.
Delhi, CA 95315
(209) 656-2010
Gr: K-6 | 452 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2828.
Charleston Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
18463 West Charleston Rd.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-5270
Gr: K-6 | 374 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2929.
Pacheco High School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
200 North Ward Rd.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 827-4506
Gr: 9-12 | 1,725 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #3030.
Aileen Colburn Elementary School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2201 Heller St.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6136
Gr: K-6 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #3131.
El Capitan High School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
100 West Farmland
Merced, CA 95344
(209) 384-5500
Gr: 9-12 | 1,793 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3232.
Elim Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7677 North Lander Ave.
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 667-1082
Gr: 3-5 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #3333.
Snelling-merced Falls Elementary School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
16099 North Highway 59
Snelling, CA 95369
(209) 563-6414
Gr: K-8 | 55 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #3434.
Bellevue Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1020 East Bellevue Rd.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6140
Gr: K-6 | 599 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3535.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2936 Franklin Rd.
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 385-6623
Gr: K-3 | 602 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Show 82 more public schools in Merced County, CA (out of 117 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Merced County, CA?
The top-ranked public schools in Merced County, CA include Frank Sparkes Elementary School, Merced City School District Community Day and Merced County Juvenile Court.
How many public schools are located in Merced County?
116 public schools are located in Merced County.
What percentage of students in Merced County go to public school?
97% of all K-12 students in Merced County are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Merced County?
Merced County public schools minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public schools average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Merced County are often viewed compared to one another?

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