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Merced County Office of Education

Below Average2024–25 data3 schools · avg 22.4/100

Merced County Office of Education has 3 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 22.4/100 — 21.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Valley Los Banos Community at 27/100, where 0.0% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $60,035 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 39.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
22.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
7.6
19.8 – 27.4
Avg Exceeded %
0.0%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
39.6%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
3
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
1
of 3 ranked schools
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryNeeds Support
20.0/100
10.0%14.5%
HighNeeds Support
23.6/100
20.0%52.1%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Merced County Office of Education, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
20.0
avg score · 1 school
Merced Scholars Charter
Needs Support
20/100
High
23.6
avg score · 2 schools
Valley Los Banos Community
Needs Support
27/100
Valley Merced Community
Needs Support
20/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Merced County Office of Education's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 23.6.

Consistency: Score range of 7.6 points — remarkably consistent between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 39.6%, 21.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.7%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Valley Los Banos Community leads the district at 27 with 0.0% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Merced County Office of Education

1 Culture First2 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
80.0%
White
8.0%
Asian
1.6%
Black
8.3%
Other
2.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
86%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Merced County Office of Education spends $60,035 per student in current expenditures — $45,221 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$60,035
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
1,472
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↓ 0.1%
$60,068 → $60,035
Spending Efficiency
0.37
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 44%Support 55%Other 1%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$64,222–$118,139
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
194
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (1)

Merced County Office of Education has 1 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 20.0 — 23.7 points below the state average of 43.8.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Merced Scholars Charter with a Scope Score of 20 and 0.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Merced Scholars Charter
Merced County Office of Education Culture First
0.0%Needs Support
20/100

High Schools (2)

Merced County Office of Education has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 23.6 — 23.9 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Valley Los Banos Community with a Scope Score of 27 and 0.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Valley Los Banos Community
Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
27/100
2Valley Merced Community
Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
20/100

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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Merced County Office of Education

  • 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 resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Merced County Office of Education a good school district?
Merced County Office of Education has 3 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 22.4/100, which is 21.3 points below the California state average of 43.8. 0.0% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Merced County Office of Education?
The highest-scoring school in Merced County Office of Education is Valley Los Banos Community with a Scope Score of 27/100 and 0.0% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Merced County Office of Education spend per student?
Merced County Office of Education spends $60,035 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Merced County Office of Education?
Teacher salaries in Merced County Office of Education range from $64,222–$118,139 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.