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Best Public Middle Schools in Merced County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Merced County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 34 public middle schools serving 14,429 students in Merced County, CA.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Merced County, CA are Merced County Juvenile Court, Peggy Heller Elementary 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 middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 19% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 36% (versus the 46% statewide average). Middle schools in Merced County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of California public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Merced County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #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.
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.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
Mitchell Intermediate
(Math: 21% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1753 Fifth St.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6124
Gr: 7-8 | 744 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1313.
El Nido Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
161 East El Nido Rd.
El Nido, CA 95317
(209) 385-8420
Gr: K-8 | 156 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1414.
Bellevue Senior Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1020 East Bellevue Rd.
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 357-6140
Gr: 7-8 | 178 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1515.
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: #1616.
Hilmar Middle School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
7528 North Scholar Way
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 632-8847
Gr: 6-8 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1717.
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: #1818.
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
161 South Plainsburg Rd.
Planada, CA 95365
(209) 382-0768
Gr: 6-8 | 305 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1919.
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: #2020.
Le Grand Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
13071 East Le Grand Rd.
Le Grand, CA 95333
(209) 389-4515
Gr: K-8 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2121.
Creekside Junior High School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1401 Prairie Springs Dr.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-1005
Gr: 7-8 | 812 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2222.
Delhi Middle School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
16881 West Schendel Ave.
Delhi, CA 95315
(209) 656-2050
Gr: 7-8 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2323.
Los Banos Junior High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1750 San Luis St.
Los Banos, CA 93635
(209) 826-0867
Gr: 7-8 | 938 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
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.
Livingston Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
101 F St.
Livingston, CA 95334
(209) 394-5450
Gr: 6-8 | 809 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
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.
Gustine Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
28075 Sullivan Rd.
Gustine, CA 95322
(209) 854-5030
Gr: 6-8 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2929.
Bryant Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
16695 North Bryant Rd.
Dos Palos, CA 93620
(209) 392-0240
Gr: 6-8 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #3030.
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: #3131.
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: #3232.
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: #3333.
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: #3434.
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%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Merced County, CA?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Merced County, CA include Merced County Juvenile Court, Peggy Heller Elementary School and Westside Community Day Middle High School.
How many public middle schools are located in Merced County?
34 public middle schools are located in Merced County.
What is the racial composition of students in Merced County?
Merced County public middle schools minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle schools average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Merced County are often viewed compared to one another?

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