County community school · Merced County Office of Education · Atwater, California

Valley Atwater Community

Atwater · 6–12 · 122 students (2024–25)

1800 Matthew Avenue, 95301(209) 381-4550

Students come here by referral or placement rather than choosing among schools, so we publish its results without a rating.

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Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Common questions

How are students placed here?

Students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral. Confirm placement with Merced County Office of Education. Evidence ↓

How many students reached the top test level here?

In grade 11, spring 2026, no student scored Advanced in English (reading and writing) or math. 88% scored below the standard in English, and every student did in math. Evidence ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

26 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26 (42 of 161), meaning they missed 10% or more of school days. 2.3% of students (5 of 221) were suspended at least once in 2025–26. Evidence ↓

Academic achievement

How did students here do on state tests?

In grade 11, spring 2026, 12% of the 26 students tested scored Proficient or Advanced in English; none did in math.

State tests (CAASPP), grade 11, spring 2026

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Source
Source
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students
all students tested in grade 11: 26
Comparison
None shown: students here are placed rather than chosen, so other schools’ students are not a like group.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standard

English

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 26 tested

Advanced
0%
Proficient
12%
Below the standard
88%

12% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Math

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 26 tested

Advanced
0%
Proficient
0%
Below the standard
100%

0% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Results for each grade, spring 2026English and math · grades 6–8 and 11 · every level, with tested counts

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English

English, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advancedsuppressed0%7%
Advancedsuppressed0%7%
Proficientsuppressed0%0%
Developing levelsuppressed0%0%
Minimalsuppressed100%93%
Tested41214
English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced12%
Advanced0%
Proficient12%
Developing level3%
Minimal85%
Tested26

Math

Math, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advancedsuppressed0%0%
Advancedsuppressed0%0%
Proficientsuppressed0%0%
Developing levelsuppressed0%14%
Minimalsuppressed100%86%
Tested41214
Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced0%
Advanced0%
Proficient0%
Developing level0%
Minimal100%
Tested26

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

New to these scores? Read CAASPP scores explained: how to read your child’s report →

How do the middle grades do?

In grades 7 and 8, spring 2026, 4% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and none in math.

English

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 26 tested

Advanced
4%
Proficient
0%
Below the standard
96%

4% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

Math

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 26 tested

Advanced
0%
Proficient
0%
Below the standard
100%

0% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

Have results changed?

English went from 10% to 12% and math stayed at 0%.

English · top two levels · grade 11

202510%41 tested
→
202612%26 tested

This school

Math · top two levels · grade 11

20250%41 tested
→
20260%26 tested

This school

Each year is a different group of students.

Ask: How do you help students strengthen their skills while keeping graduation and post-school plans on track?

All four levelsThe state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal, with tested counts
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school0%12%3%85%26
Math, grade 11 · This school0%0%0%100%26
English, grades 7 and 8 · This school4%0%0%96%26
Math, grades 7 and 8 · This school0%0%8%92%26

Below the standard combines the state’s Developing and Minimal levels, its two lowest. Data source: California Department of Education, spring 2026.

Grade 11 tests are one part of the picture. Graduation and readiness answer different questions below.

Each grade’s results: English ↑ · Math ↑

Results since 20176 tested years shown

Chart and table: 2017–2026.

English top two levels, grade 11
This school
0%50%100%20172022202612%
Math top two levels, grade 11
This school
0%50%100%2017202220260%

The lines break across the COVID years, when state testing was waived or optional.

In grade 11, the share at the state’s top two levels in English went from 0% in 2017 to 12% in 2026. In math, it was 0% in every year shown. Each year is a different group of students.

Each year’s results and tested counts

English · top two levels · grade 11
YearThis school
20170%
18 tested
20180%
26 tested
201914%
28 tested
2023—
Withheld by CDE
20246%
50 tested
202510%
41 tested
202612%
26 tested
Math · top two levels · grade 11
YearThis school
20170%
17 tested
20180%
25 tested
20190%
29 tested
2023—
Withheld by CDE
20240%
51 tested
20250%
41 tested
20260%
26 tested

CDE withholds a year’s results when fewer than 11 students tested, as it did here in 2023.

What you can do

Who can act on Valley Atwater Community’s results?

Merced County Office of Education’s board decides Valley Atwater Community’s plan.

The state hasn’t placed Valley Atwater Community in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Students at Valley Atwater Community are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral.

What has the state flagged?

The state is giving Merced County Office of Education extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. The 2026 Dashboard flagged results for English learners on two measures: progress in learning English, and college and career readiness; and for long-term English learners on two measures: progress in learning English, and college and career readiness.

Extra help for Merced County Office of Education: CDE’s assistance status files for the 2025 and 2026 California School Dashboards. Source 

When is the plan set, and how can you take part?

Merced County Office of Education’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.

How to take part

  • Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  • Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  • Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  • Read the midyear report, due by February 28.
  • Read Merced County Office of Education’s 2026–27 plan (LCAP, PDF) 

Life at school

How many students here graduate in four years?

72% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25.

State graduation, readiness, college-going, attendance and suspension records

The four-year rate counts regular high school diplomas only, not a certificate of completion. Ask how many students here finish with each, and what each one leads to.

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

72%

2024–25 · 42 of 58 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

2%

2024–25 · 1 of 58 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

2%

2024–25 · 1 of 42 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

What could my child study here?

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
39 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Ask: What help do students get when they fall behind on credits?

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 42 of 58 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 1 of 58 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 1 of 42 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

26 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26. That means they missed 10% or more of school days. 2.3% of students were suspended at least once in 2025–26.

Source
Source
CDE chronic absenteeism and suspension files, 2025–26
Students
chronic absence: 42 of 161 students counted for it; suspension: 5 of 221 students enrolled during the year

Chronically absent, 2025–26

26 in 100This school

42 of 161 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days.

Suspensions, 2025–26

2.3%

of students were suspended at least once (5 of 221).

Ask: When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?

Chronic absence by grade2025–26 · per 100 students, with counts
  • Grade 6: not in the records we hold
  • Grades 7–8: 38 in 100, 12 of 32
  • Grades 9–12: 23 in 100, 29 of 125
Ask families and staff yourselfWhat to ask the people at Valley Atwater Community

Ask current families how the school keeps them informed, and what happened when their child needed help. Ask staff how long teachers tend to stay.

Questions for your visit ↓

Teach here? Tell us Merced County Office of Education’s email domain so staff can answer our workplace questions.

Every learner

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here: 82%.

Students, families and teachers

Who are the students?

2025–26 · students counted
1. Hispanic or Latino: 82%2. White: 14%Unallocated share: 4%. 100% minus available shares; not a student group.Reported shares2025–26
  1. Hispanic or Latino82%
  2. White14%
  3. Asian—
  4. Black or African American—
  5. Filipino—
  6. Two or more races—
  7. American Indian or Alaska Native—
  8. Pacific Islander—
  9. Not reported—
  10. Unallocated share4%
A dash means the share isn’t available; it isn’t zero. The unallocated share is what’s left after the shares we have; it isn’t a student group. Source and comparisons: the full student mix below.

Who are the families and teachers?

94%of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 115 of 122.

12teachers, 2024–25

15 yearsaverage experience, 2024–25

0%in their first year, 2024–25

34%of teaching positions with proper credential and placement, 2021–22

Are English learners moving up on the state’s English test?

32% of English learners here moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026.

Spring 2025 to spring 2026 · English learners with state English test (ELPAC) scores in both years

This school · 8 of 25 English learners32%

Shown as reported, with no comparison. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Data source: California Department of Education, 2026 Dashboard ↗.

Ask: How does the school set learning goals for each student placed here, and how does it share progress with families?

Full student mix, comparisons and sources, 2025–26
Students, 2025–26Here
Hispanic or Latino82%
White14%
Asian—
Black or African American—
Filipino—
Two or more races—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—

Data source: California Department of Education chronic-absence file, 2025–26. Shares are of the students the file counts for attendance (CDE’s “eligible enrollment”); unavailable categories are shown as a dash.

How the credential rate is counted

CDE SARC report 2024–25, measured 2021–22: 34% of teaching positions, 1 properly credentialed teaching-position FTE out of 2.9 total position FTE. This measures positions, not individual teachers.

Next steps

How are students placed here?

Confirm placement with Merced County Office of Education.

Office: (209) 381-4550Administrator: Cindy Gentry

Location and visiting

Get directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
1800 Matthew Avenue, Atwater 95301

Directory location · Explore nearby schools on the map. Confirm placement with Merced County Office of Education.

Questions for your visit

  1. How do you help students strengthen their skills while keeping graduation and post-school plans on track?
  2. What help do students get when they fall behind on credits?
  3. When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?
  4. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  5. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?

Office (209) 381-45501800 Matthew Avenue, directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Source records

Every figure on this page, with its source, grades, year and count.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English562%9%
2026 · Math560%0%
2025 · English740%7%
2025 · Math750%0%
2024 · English831%7%
2024 · Math840%2%
2023 · English5——
2023 · Math5——
2022 · English———
2022 · Math———
2019 · English460%11%
2019 · Math470%2%
2018 · English270%0%
2018 · Math260%0%
2017 · English250%0%
2017 · Math240%0%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 6 · English6—
2025 · Grade 7 · English9—
2025 · Grade 8 · English180%
2025 · Grade 11 · English4110%
2025 · Grade 6 · Math6—
2025 · Grade 7 · Math9—
2025 · Grade 8 · Math190%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math410%
2024 · Grade 5 · English——
2024 · Grade 6 · English——
2024 · Grade 7 · English1118%
2024 · Grade 8 · English166%
2024 · Grade 11 · English506%
2024 · Grade 5 · Math——
2024 · Grade 6 · Math——
2024 · Grade 7 · Math119%
2024 · Grade 8 · Math166%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math510%
2023 · Grade 11 · English5—
2023 · Grade 11 · Math5—
2022 · Grade 11 · English——
2022 · Grade 11 · Math——
2019 · Grade 6 · English——
2019 · Grade 7 · English9—
2019 · Grade 8 · English7—
2019 · Grade 11 · English2814%
2019 · Grade 6 · Math——
2019 · Grade 7 · Math9—
2019 · Grade 8 · Math7—
2019 · Grade 11 · Math290%
2018 · Grade 8 · English——
2018 · Grade 11 · English260%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math——
2018 · Grade 11 · Math250%
2017 · Grade 7 · English——
2017 · Grade 8 · English——
2017 · Grade 11 · English180%
2017 · Grade 7 · Math——
2017 · Grade 8 · Math——
2017 · Grade 11 · Math170%

Current 2025–26 grade results are under Academic achievement, in Results for each grade. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide472%6%47%45%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advanced
Low-income496%
Hispanic or Latino (grades 8 and 11 only)313%

Shown as reported, with no comparison: students here are placed rather than chosen.

Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 21 in 100 → 2025–26 · 26 in 100 · +5 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 0.9% (2 of 226) → 2025–26 · 2.3% (5 of 221) · +1.4 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26
Female90 in 10019 in 100
Male87 in 10032 in 100
Black or African American88 in 100—
Hispanic or Latino89 in 10026 in 100
White82 in 10022 in 100
Students with disabilities83 in 10012 in 100
English learners94 in 10034 in 100
Foster youth71 in 100—
Low-income89 in 10027 in 100
All students88 in 10026 in 100
Homeless—36 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 2% · numerator 1 students classified Prepared · denominator 58 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 0% · AP-pathway numerator 0 · denominator 1 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

This CDE-reported school CCI record has its own population and period. It does not recalculate a SchoolScope score, factor, or rank.

Graduation rate
72%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
0%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
2%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offerednot reported
AP course countnot reported
AP enrollment (male/female)not reported
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 39 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections0
Physics sections0
Chemistry sections1
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)121

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$60,035 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 1,472 pupils

School-level federal expenditures$973 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 122

Central federal expenditures attributed here$66 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 122

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 38%Instruction support 22%Student services 20%Administration 13%Buildings & maintenance 6%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$50,349,71438.39%38%
Instruction support$28,805,27121.96%22%
Student services$26,563,22020.25%20%
Administration$17,315,90913.20%13%
Buildings & maintenance$7,588,0335.79%6%
Other$530,6130.40%1%
Total$131,152,760100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $131,152,760 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$60,035 per pupil
2020$56,143 per pupil
2019$59,366 per pupil
2018$57,724 per pupil
2017$60,068 per pupil
Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders20.2%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 95301 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 95301 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$68,349
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)15%
ZIP-area population43,009
Median age33.5 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. See all schools in ZIP code 95301 →

Downloads and methodologyCSV · sources · corrections

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · Data updated October 15, 2026

How we analyze · Request a correction