How does La Merced Intermediate compare to other middle schools in Montebello?

La Merced Intermediate has a SchoolScope composite score of 36.4/100, placing it at the 33rd percentile statewide. 9% of students exceed standard, with a total of 1,378 students tested across grades and subjects.

What percentage of students exceed standards at La Merced Intermediate?

8.7% of students at La Merced Intermediate exceed the state standard on CAASPP assessments, while 26.8% meet or exceed it. The gap between these two numbers reveals whether the school pushes students beyond basic proficiency.

Is La Merced Intermediate improving or declining?

La Merced Intermediate's proficiency rate increases by 3.3 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 growth, suggesting the school is adding value over time.

What is the chronic absenteeism rate at La Merced Intermediate?

22.3% of students at La Merced Intermediate are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days). This metric reflects school culture and family engagement, and is weighted at 15% in our composite score.

La Merced Intermediate

Middle School

Montebello Unified MontebelloLos Angeles County90640

Composite Score

out of 100

State Percentile

of middle schools

State Rank

of California middle schools

School overview

Enrollment

756 students

Student-Teacher Ratio

18:1

Free/Reduced Lunch

87%

Teachers

43 full-time

Dashboard indicators

ELA Year-over-Year

Declined

-15.0 pts DFS change

Math Year-over-Year

Increased

+5.6 pts DFS change

EL Proficiency (ELPAC)

22.6%

English learners at Level 4 (Well Developed) · 177 tested

Data source: California School Dashboard 2025, ELPAC 2024

Student demographics

Hispanic95.0%

Asian0.1%

Black0.3%

Other4.6%

Performance breakdown

Performance breakdown for La Merced Intermediate
Category	Percentage
Exceeded Standard	8.7%
Met Standard	18.1%
Below Standard	73.2%

What other rankings don't show you

Most rating sites report "27% proficient" for La Merced Intermediate and stop there. Here's what that number hides:

8.7% of students exceeded standard while 18.1% merely met it. That exceeded rate is 8.6 points below the state average of 17.3%. That's 4.1 points below the Montebello Unified district average of 12.8%. The 4 nearby schools within ~3 miles average 14.8% exceeded — 6.1 points higher. The gap between "met" and "exceeded" is the difference between a school that clears the bar and one that raises it.

Students here improve by 3.3 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 growth, suggesting the school is adding value beyond what students arrive with.

California's Dashboard shows ELA performance declined and Math increased year-over-year. 22.6% of English learners reached Level 4 (Well Developed) on ELPAC.

Chronic absenteeism is 22.3%, above the state average of 19.3%.

Why the exceeded vs. met split matters →

A low score doesn't tell the whole story. Read: Your School Scored Low — Here's What That Actually Means