schoolsbycounty

Stanislaus County Schools & Education

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

84.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,694

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

49/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#41

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Stanislaus County

Measured School Summary

Stanislaus County has midrange measured school signals (score: 49/100) with a graduation rate of 84.9%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Stanislaus County spends $8,694 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 11% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Stanislaus 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

189 public schools and 38 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

49/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #41 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

84.9%

2.6 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,694

$68 below the state average

School coverage

189

38 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

Stanislaus County has 189 public schools across 38 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.

Parent decision brief

What Stanislaus 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

Stanislaus 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

#41

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 6 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% 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.

Modesto City High

High school only in this slice

15,482 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 8Other 0

8 listed schools in this county slice.

Modesto City Elementary

Elementary and middle visible

14,030 students

Elementary 22Middle 4High 0Other 0

26 listed schools in this county slice.

Ceres Unified

Elementary to high school visible

13,867 students

Elementary 14Middle 3High 4Other 3

24 listed schools in this county slice.

Turlock Unified

Elementary to high school visible

13,359 students

Elementary 9Middle 2High 3Other 0

14 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Modesto City Elementary is the largest listed district slice, with 26 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 Stanislaus County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 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.

Educating the Heart of the Valley

Stanislaus County supports a massive student population of 106,771 across 189 public schools. The system is managed by 38 districts and features a diverse mix of 109 elementary schools and 40 high schools. This infrastructure is designed to serve a rapidly growing region with significant educational demands.

Modesto and Ceres Lead the Way

Modesto City Elementary is the largest district, overseeing 26 schools and 14,030 students, closely followed by Ceres Unified with 13,867 students. Charter schools also play a role in the local mix, representing 13.8% of the county's total school count. These large districts manage massive high schools, including Modesto High which serves over 2,500 students.

Suburban Focus with Large Campus Feel

Most students attend schools in suburban or city locales, which account for 135 of the county's 189 campuses. The average school size is 574 students, significantly larger than many coastal California counties. Large high schools like Turlock High and James C. Enochs High dominate the landscape with enrollments exceeding 2,400 students each.

School Overview

Total Schools

189

in Stanislaus County

Reported Enrollment

106,771

188 schools reporting

School Districts

38

districts

Charter Schools

26

14% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary109
Middle26
High40
Other14

189 Public Schools in Stanislaus County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 17 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 189 matching schools

Modesto High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95351 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,516 students

Turlock High

Turlock Unified

Turlock, 95380 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,475 students

James C. Enochs High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95355 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,420 students

Joseph A. Gregori High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95356 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,332 students

Central Valley High

Ceres Unified

Ceres, 95307 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High2,309 students

Thomas Downey High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95355 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,145 students

John H. Pitman High

Turlock Unified

Turlock, 95382 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,082 students

Grace M. Davis High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95350 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,059 students

Peter Johansen High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95357 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,984 students

Patterson High

Patterson Joint Unified

Patterson, 95363 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,888 students

Ceres High

Ceres Unified

Ceres, 95307 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,777 students

Oakdale High

Oakdale Joint Unified

Oakdale, 95361 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,644 students

Fred C. Beyer High

Modesto City High

Modesto, 95355 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,575 students

Turlock Junior High

Turlock Unified

Turlock, 95382 / Suburb: Small

Profile7–8Middle1,257 students

Orestimba High

Newman-Crows Landing Unified

Newman, 95360 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,045 students

Elizabeth Ustach Middle

Sylvan Union Elementary

Modesto, 95355 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle1,008 students

Somerset Middle

Sylvan Union Elementary

Modesto, 95350 / City: Midsize

Profile6–8Middle974 students

Creekside Middle

Patterson Joint Unified

Patterson, 95363 / Town: Fringe

Record7–8Middle920 students

Daniel J. Savage Middle

Sylvan Union Elementary

Modesto, 95350 / City: Midsize

Record6–8Middle863 students

Bret Harte Elementary

Modesto City Elementary

Modesto, 95358 / City: Midsize

RecordKG–6Primary852 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,694

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Stanislaus County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Stanislaus County?
Stanislaus County has a school score of 49/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Stanislaus County?
The high school graduation rate in Stanislaus County is 84.9%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Stanislaus County spend per student?
Stanislaus County spends $8,694 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Stanislaus County, California — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Stanislaus County, California?

Stanislaus County supports a massive student population of 106,771 across 189 public schools. The system is managed by 38 districts and features a diverse mix of 109 elementary schools and 40 high schools. This infrastructure is designed to serve a rapidly growing region with significant educational demands.

What are the major school districts in Stanislaus County, California?

Modesto City Elementary is the largest district, overseeing 26 schools and 14,030 students, closely followed by Ceres Unified with 13,867 students. Charter schools also play a role in the local mix, representing 13.8% of the county's total school count. These large districts manage massive high schools, including Modesto High which serves over 2,500 students.

What is the school experience like in Stanislaus County?

Most students attend schools in suburban or city locales, which account for 135 of the county's 189 campuses. The average school size is 574 students, significantly larger than many coastal California counties. Large high schools like Turlock High and James C. Enochs High dominate the landscape with enrollments exceeding 2,400 students each.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.