Merced County Schools & Education
Merced County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,658
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#5
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Merced County
Measured School Summary
Merced County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.4%.
Funding Context
Merced County spends $8,658 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 23% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Merced County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
114 public schools and 22 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
68/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #5 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
91.4%
3.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,658
$104 below the state average
School coverage
114
22 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Merced County has 114 public schools across 22 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Merced County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Merced County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#5
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 13 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 95% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Merced Union High
High school only in this slice
11,226 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Los Banos Unified
Elementary to high school visible
11,002 students
17 listed schools in this county slice.
Merced City Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
10,973 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
Atwater Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
4,929 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Merced City Elementary is the largest listed district slice, with 19 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Merced County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Merced County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Merced County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Merced County’s Robust School Infrastructure
Merced County supports 59,654 students through 114 public schools and 22 districts. The county features a large elementary network of 58 schools, complemented by 27 high schools and 17 middle schools. This comprehensive system is designed to handle a large and growing Central Valley student population.
Los Banos and Merced City Lead the Way
Los Banos Unified and Merced City Elementary are the largest districts, serving 11,002 and 10,973 students respectively. Merced Union High also plays a critical role, managing several of the largest schools in the area. Charter options are present but rare, making up only 2.6% of total schools.
Diverse Locales from Cities to Rural Fields
Schools in Merced County are found in a variety of settings, including 32 in city locales and 25 in rural areas. The average school size of 568 students reflects a more urbanized student population compared to northern neighbors. Large campuses like Atwater High serve over 2,000 students, providing extensive extracurricular and academic programs.
School Overview
Total Schools
114
in Merced County
Reported Enrollment
59,654
108 schools reporting
School Districts
22
districts
Charter Schools
3
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
22 School Districts in Merced County
Merced Union High
GuideLos Banos Unified
GuideMerced City Elementary
GuideAtwater Elementary
GuideWeaver Union
Livingston Union
Delhi Unified
Hilmar Unified
Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified
Winton
114 Public Schools in Merced County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 12 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 114 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater High | Profile | Merced Union High | Atwater, 95301Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 2,095 |
| Golden Valley High | Profile | Merced Union High | Merced, 95344City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,956 |
| Merced High | Profile | Merced Union High | Merced, 95344City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,894 |
| El Capitan High | Profile | Merced Union High | Merced, 95344City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,839 |
| Pacheco High | Profile | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,799 |
| Buhach Colony High | Profile | Merced Union High | Atwater, 95301Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,746 |
| Los Banos High | Profile | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,617 |
| Livingston High | Profile | Merced Union High | Livingston, 95334Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,156 |
| Pioneer Elementary | Profile | Weaver Union | Merced, 95341City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 1,126 |
| Weaver Middle | Profile | Weaver Union | Merced, 95341City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 1,003 |
| Farmdale Elementary | Profile | Weaver Union | Merced, 95341City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 1,001 |
| Elim Elementary | Profile | Hilmar Unified | Hilmar, 95324Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 943 |
| Grasslands Elementary | Record | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 892 |
| McSwain Elementary | Record | McSwain Union Elementary | Merced, 95341Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 883 |
| Los Banos Junior High | Record | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 862 |
| Merced County Special Education | Record | Merced County Office of Education | Merced, 95341City: Small | KG–12 | Special Education | 848 |
| Rudolph Rivera Elementary | Record | Merced City Elementary | Merced, 95348City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 840 |
| Livingston Middle | Record | Livingston Union | Livingston, 95334Suburb: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 833 |
| Creekside Junior High | Record | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | 7–8 | Middle | 817 |
| R. M. Miano Elementary | Record | Los Banos Unified | Los Banos, 93635Town: Distant | KG–6 | Primary | 803 |
Atwater High
Merced Union High
Atwater, 95301 / Suburb: Midsize
Golden Valley High
Merced Union High
Merced, 95344 / City: Small
Merced High
Merced Union High
Merced, 95344 / City: Small
El Capitan High
Merced Union High
Merced, 95344 / City: Small
Pacheco High
Los Banos Unified
Los Banos, 93635 / Town: Distant
Buhach Colony High
Merced Union High
Atwater, 95301 / Suburb: Midsize
Los Banos High
Los Banos Unified
Los Banos, 93635 / Town: Distant
Livingston High
Merced Union High
Livingston, 95334 / Suburb: Small
Pioneer Elementary
Weaver Union
Merced, 95341 / City: Small
Weaver Middle
Weaver Union
Merced, 95341 / City: Small
Farmdale Elementary
Weaver Union
Merced, 95341 / City: Small
Elim Elementary
Hilmar Unified
Hilmar, 95324 / Rural: Fringe
McSwain Elementary
McSwain Union Elementary
Merced, 95341 / Rural: Fringe
Merced County Special Education
Merced County Office of Education
Merced, 95341 / City: Small
Rudolph Rivera Elementary
Merced City Elementary
Merced, 95348 / City: Small
R. M. Miano Elementary
Los Banos Unified
Los Banos, 93635 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,658
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Merced County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in Merced County?
What is the graduation rate in Merced County?
How much does Merced County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Merced County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Merced County, California?
Merced County supports 59,654 students through 114 public schools and 22 districts. The county features a large elementary network of 58 schools, complemented by 27 high schools and 17 middle schools. This comprehensive system is designed to handle a large and growing Central Valley student population.
What are the major school districts in Merced County, California?
Los Banos Unified and Merced City Elementary are the largest districts, serving 11,002 and 10,973 students respectively. Merced Union High also plays a critical role, managing several of the largest schools in the area. Charter options are present but rare, making up only 2.6% of total schools.
What is the school experience like in Merced County?
Schools in Merced County are found in a variety of settings, including 32 in city locales and 25 in rural areas. The average school size of 568 students reflects a more urbanized student population compared to northern neighbors. Large campuses like Atwater High serve over 2,000 students, providing extensive extracurricular and academic programs.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.