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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Merced County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 33 public high schools serving 19,750 students in Merced County, CA.
The top-ranked public high schools in Merced County, CA are Merced County Juvenile Court, Pioneer High (Continuation School) and Westside Community Day Middle High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Merced County, CA public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 11% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 51% statewide average). High schools in Merced County have an average ranking of 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public high schools.
Merced County, CA public high school have a Graduation Rate of 92%, which is more than the California average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Buhach Colony High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Merced County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
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: #1 - 21. - 2.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
Le Grand High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
12961 East Le Grand Rd.
Le Grand, CA 95333
(209) 389-9400
Gr: 9-12 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #88.
Los Banos High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1966 11th St.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-6033
Gr: 9-12 | 1,543 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #99.
Delhi High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
16881 West Schendel Ave.
Delhi, CA 95315
(209) 656-2050
Gr: 9-12 | 710 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1010.
Merced High School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
205 West Olive Ave.
Merced, CA 95344
(209) 325-1000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,943 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1111.
Buhach Colony High School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 Buhach Rd.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 325-1400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,704 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1212.
Atwater High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2201 Fruitland Ave.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 325-1200
Gr: 9-12 | 2,029 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1313.
Livingston High School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1617 Main St.
Livingston, CA 95334
(209) 398-3200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,169 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Dos Palos High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1701 East Blossom St.
Dos Palos, CA 93620
(209) 392-0300
Gr: 9-12 | 639 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Gustine High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
501 North Ave.
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 854-6414
Gr: 9-12 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #1616.
Golden Valley High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2121 East Childs Ave.
Merced, CA 95344
(209) 325-1800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,917 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1717.
Merced Scholars Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1850 Wardrobe Ave. Bldg. H
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-5165
Gr: K-12 | 334 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1818.
Independence High (Alternative)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 G St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 325-1600
Gr: 9-12 | 87 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Floyd A. Schelby
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
6738 North Sultana Dr.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 394-1800
Gr: K-12 | 89 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Granada High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
12961 E. Le Grand Rd.
Le Grand, CA 95333
(209) 382-0202
Gr: 9-12 | 20 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Irwin High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7807 North Lander Ave
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 667-0276
Gr: 9-12 | 16 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #19 - 2219. - 22.
Westside High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
22368 South Sixth St.
Dos Palos, CA 93620
(209) 392-0280
Gr: 9-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2323.
Crossroads Alternative Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
929 West Pacheco Blvd.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-4013
Gr: K-12 | 183 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2424.
Valley Atwater Community
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 Matthew Ave.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-4550
Gr: 6-12 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2525.
Valley Los Banos Community
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
715 West H St.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 827-5600
Gr: 6-12 | 160 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2626.
San Luis High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
125 Seventh St.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-8410
Gr: 9-12 | 82 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Valley Merced Community
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1850 Wardrobe Ave.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-4500
Gr: K-12 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Yosemite High (Continuation School)
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 G St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 325-1600
Gr: 9-12 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2929.
Merced County Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: ≤1% | Reading: 3%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
632 West 13th St.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-6711
Gr: K-12 | 942 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: n/an/a
Colony Basic Skills Alternative High School
Alternative School
7807 North Lander Ave
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 667-0277
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Come Back Charter
Charter School
350 West Yosemite Ave
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 386-6025
Gr: 9-12 | 128 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: n/an/a
Merced County Rop
Vocational School
632 West 13th St.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 381-6740
Gr: 11-12
Rank: n/an/a
Sequoia High School
Alternative School
1900 G St.
Merced, CA 95344
(209) 325-1700
Gr: 9-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 87%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Merced County, CA?
The top-ranked public high schools in Merced County, CA include Merced County Juvenile Court, Pioneer High (Continuation School) and Westside Community Day Middle High School.
How many public high schools are located in Merced County?
33 public high schools are located in Merced County.
What is the racial composition of students in Merced County?
Merced County public high schools minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high schools average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Merced County are often viewed compared to one another?

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