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Best Public Schools in Merced, CA (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Merced Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 40 public schools serving 23,233 students in Merced, CA (there are 5 private schools, serving 1,031 private students). 95% of all K-12 students in Merced, CA are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Merced, CA are Merced City School District Community Day, Merced County Juvenile Court and Luther Burbank Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Merced, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the California public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 47% statewide average). Schools in Merced have an average ranking of 3/10, 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, CA (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
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: #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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1010.
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%
Rank: #1111.
Pioneer Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2950 Gerard Ave.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 725-7111
Gr: K-5 | 1,055 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1212.
Weaver Middle School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3076 East Childs Ave.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 723-2174
Gr: 6-8 | 1,073 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1313.
Farmdale Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Winder Ave.
Merced, CA 95341
(209) 725-7170
Gr: K-5 | 919 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1414.
Herbert Hoover Middle School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
800 East 26th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6631
Gr: 7-8 | 629 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1515.
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 student Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1616.
Rudolph Rivera Elementary School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
945 Buena Vista Dr.
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 385-6680
Gr: K-6 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1717.
Rudolph Rivera Middle School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
945 Buena Vista Dr.
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 385-6680
Gr: 7-8 | 608 students Student-teacher ratio: 29:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1818.
Ada Givens Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2900 Green St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6610
Gr: K-6 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1919.
Joe Stefani
(Math: 19% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2768 Ranchero Ln.
Merced, CA 95348
(209) 724-2500
Gr: 3-6 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2020.
John C. Fremont Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2150 S St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6627
Gr: K-6 | 580 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2121.
Leontine Gracey Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
945 West Ave.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6710
Gr: K-6 | 509 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2222.
John Muir Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 25%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
300 West 26th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6667
Gr: K-6 | 613 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2323.
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 student Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
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: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Tenaya Middle School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
760 West Eighth St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6687
Gr: 7-8 | 607 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2626.
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: #2727.
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: #2828.
Charles Wright Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
900 East 20th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6615
Gr: K-6 | 527 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2929.
Alicia Reyes Elementary School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 21%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
123 South N St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6761
Gr: K-6 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3030.
Margaret Sheehy Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1240 West Sixth St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 385-6676
Gr: K-6 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3131.
Don Stowell Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
251 East 11th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 381-2803
Gr: K-6 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3232.
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: #3333.
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: #34 - 3534. - 35.
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: #34 - 3534. - 35.
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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Merced, CA?
How many public schools are located in Merced?
40 public schools are located in Merced.
What percentage of students in Merced go to public school?
95% of all K-12 students in Merced are educated in public schools (compared to the CA state average of 90%).
What is the racial composition of students in Merced?
Merced 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 are often viewed compared to one another?

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