Elementary Schools in Merced, California
Merced, California has 25 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 33.6/100 — 10.2 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is El Capitan High at 54/100, where 11.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Merced schools average 9.7% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.1% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
How Merced schools compare
Merced's 25 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 33.6 — 10.2 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 18.7 to 54.3, a 35.6-point spread.
The top-ranked school is El Capitan High with a Scope Score of 54 and 11.9% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in Merced averages 25.1%, which is below the state average of 18.1%.
How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)
School archetypes in Merced
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Schools in Merced ranked by Scope Score
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Capitan High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 11.9% | Solid 54/100 |
| 2 | Merced High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 9.8% | Solid 51/100 |
| 3 | Golden Valley High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 9.3% | Developing 48/100 |
| 4 | Allan Peterson Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 20.9% | Developing 46/100 |
| 5 | McSwain Elementary McSwain Union Elementary Building Momentum | 19.3% | Developing 44/100 |
| 6 | Independence High (Alternative) Merced Union High Building Momentum | 1.3% | Developing 42/100 |
| 7 | Luther Burbank Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 17.1% | Developing 38/100 |
| 8 | Farmdale Elementary Weaver Union Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 37/100 |
| 9 | Pioneer Elementary Weaver Union Building Momentum | 13.8% | Developing 37/100 |
| 10 | Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 36/100 |
| 11 | Charles Wright Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 12.2% | Developing 35/100 |
| 12 | Plainsburg Union Elementary Plainsburg Union Elementary Building Momentum | 11.0% | Developing 33/100 |
| 13 | John C. Fremont Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 13.1% | Developing 33/100 |
| 14 | Ada Givens Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 10.4% | Developing 32/100 |
| 15 | Joe Stefani Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 11.3% | Developing 32/100 |
| 16 | Weaver Middle Weaver Union Building Momentum | 10.6% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 17 | John Muir Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 18 | Leontine Gracey Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 4.3% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 19 | Rudolph Rivera Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 8.0% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 20 | Don Stowell Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.0% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 21 | Margaret Sheehy Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 22 | Alicia Reyes Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 3.6% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 23 | Merced Scholars Charter Merced County Office of Education Culture First | 0.0% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 24 | Valley Merced Community Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 25 | Yosemite High (Continuation) Merced Union High Building Momentum | 0.8% | Needs Support 19/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Private Schools in Merced
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Merced
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology