School district · Merced County

Merced Union High schools

Merced Union High runs high schools only. Its 7 public high schools run from the 2nd to the 47th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). Elementary and middle school are run by other districts.

High · 7 schools

from 2nd to 47th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests

  • Buhach Colony High: 47th percentile, Developing
  • El Capitan High: 46th percentile, Developing
  • Atwater High: 32nd percentile, Developing
  • Golden Valley High: 31st percentile, Developing
  • Livingston High: 27th percentile, Developing
  • Merced High: 26th percentile, Developing
  • Independence High (Alternative): 2nd percentile, Needs Support
1Needs Support
6Developing
0Solid
0Strong

One dot per school.

Elementary and middle school: other districts

Confirm the school for your address with the district.

  • 1 school not ranked statewide

Schools around the Merced Union High district

8 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

High schools

Which high schools in the Merced Union High district score highest?

Buhach Colony High is highest, at the 47th percentile.

That’s higher than 47 in 100 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Highest in the Merced Union High district

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Show the other 4 high schools
Context

The average high school in the Merced Union High district had 25 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.

1 high school not ranked statewide

The district

Where does Merced Union High’s money go, and what does it plan?

The Merced Union High district spent $19,638 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 54 cents of every Merced Union High dollar went to classroom instruction.

Spending by function

Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.

Share by function, 2024–25

  • Instruction54%
  • Instruction support13%
  • Student services13%
  • Administration8%
  • Buildings & maintenance9%
  • Other3%

Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.

What the district plans

$56.8 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 40 funded actions in 7 goals. That’s 26% of its $221.9 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.

The plan in short

Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 144 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 59% of the money. The plan itself puts 72% of it toward staff.

  • Recruit & Retain Highly Qualified Staff $20.5 million
  • School Climate and Culture $7.5 million
  • Student College and Career Readiness $5.6 million
  • 37 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

5 of the plan’s 40 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Actions whose titles name catch-up help or English learners
  • Catch-up help $2.9 million
  • English learners $2.8 million

Largest of these

  • Intervention Across All Tiers and Domains for Unduplicated Student Subgroups$2.9 million
  • EL and LTELS Progress Toward English Language Proficiency$1.2 million
  • EL Student Academic Performance$899,781
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students

It plans $46.8 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $45.0 million and estimates it spent $45.0 million, the same as planned.

What changed

The total is $3.2 million (6%) higher than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff to Improve Educational Supports and Outcomes, which went from $3.5 million to $600,406.

Largest cuts

  • Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff to Improve Educational Supports and Outcomes−⁠$2.9 million
  • Intervention Across All Tiers and Domains for Unduplicated Student Subgroups−⁠$1.7 million
  • Technology and the Future of Technology in Education−⁠$429,385

Largest increases

  • Recruit & Retain Highly Qualified Staff+⁠$2.9 million
  • Student College and Career Readiness+⁠$2.5 million
  • School Climate and Culture+⁠$947,297
What its goals measure

Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.

What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 442%42%no change
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 413%16%up 3 pts
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoal 2 · School Climate and Culture27 in 10026 in 1001 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 2 · School Climate and Culture0.7%0.9%up 0.2 pts

Goals 5, 6 and 7 track named schools and Goal 3 tracks other measures, so they aren’t shown here.

Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.

The plan’s own titles and amounts
  • Recruit & Retain Highly Qualified Staff · $20,463,470
  • School Climate and Culture · $7,459,930
  • Student College and Career Readiness · $5,649,667
The full plan7 goals, 78 measures and where the money goes

We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($56.8 million).

Where does the money go?

37% to Goal 4. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.

G1
G2
G3
G4

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

  • fell 25% or more
  • fell 10–25%
  • fell 2–10%
  • within 2%
  • grew 2–10%
  • grew 10–25%
  • grew 25% or more
  • new or renamed title
  • not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1College and Career Readiness$11.3 million20% of action budgets

“MUHSD students will acquire the skills necessary to develop and pursue post-secondary goals” p. 18 ↗

7 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $8.2 million (+⁠$3.1 million)

Largest funded actions

  1. Student College and Career Readiness$5.6 millionaction 1.2 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $4.7 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Student Academic Performance$2.1 millionaction 1.1 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.7 million is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Unduplicated Academic Performance$1.0 millionaction 1.4 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $845,484 is state funding counted toward those services
  4. EL Student Academic Performance$0.9 millionaction 1.5 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. Unduplicated College and Career Readiness$0.8 millionaction 1.7 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $629,545 is state funding counted toward those services

2 more funded actions in this goal

  • EL Students College and Career Readiness · action 1.6 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.7 million
  • Advanced Placement Opportunities · action 1.3 · p. 93 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $187,618 is state funding counted toward those services$0.2 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Student College and Career Readiness+⁠$2.5 million$3.2 million → $5.6 million · p. 93 ↗
  2. Unduplicated College and Career Readiness+⁠$387,733$367,721 → $755,454 · p. 93 ↗
  3. EL Students College and Career Readiness+⁠$343,910$326,072 → $669,982 · p. 93 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Student Academic Performance · $2.3 million → $2.1 million · p. 93 ↗−⁠$0.2 million
  • Unduplicated Academic Performance · $1.0 million → $1.0 million · p. 93 ↗−⁠$15,357
  • EL Student Academic Performance · $913,352 → $899,781 · p. 93 ↗−⁠$13,571
  • Advanced Placement Opportunities · $120,468 → $225,142 · p. 93 ↗+⁠$104,674

How the plan measures it · 26 measures · 3 quoted

  • Early Assessment Program (EAP)- Percentage of pupils scoring Standard Met or Standard Exceeded on CAASPP ELA p. 18 ↗
    Baseline
    39.91% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards (2023)
    Target for year 3
    45% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards
  • CAASPP ELA Scores p. 19 ↗
    Baseline
    39.91% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards (2023)
    Target for year 3
    45% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards
  • CAASPP Math Scores p. 19 ↗
    Baseline
    10.82% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards (2023)
    Target for year 3
    20% of Students Met or Exceeded Standards

23 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 2School Climate and Culture$9.2 million16% of action budgets

“MUHSD students will have a safe environment (emotional and physical), a community of supportive relationships, and a sense of belonging to engage in curricular and extracurricular activities” p. 33 ↗

4 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $8.1 million (+⁠$1.0 million)

Largest funded actions

  1. School Climate and Culture$7.5 millionaction 2.3 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $6.2 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. School Facilities$0.6 millionaction 2.1 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $500,336 is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Family and Community Input$0.5 millionaction 2.2 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $454,794 is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Parental participation in programs for low income, English learner, foster youth students, and students with disabilities$0.5 millionaction 2.4 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $454,794 is state funding counted toward those services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. School Climate and Culture+⁠$0.9 million$6.5 million → $7.5 million · p. 95 ↗
  2. Family and Community Input+⁠$30,998$514,755 → $545,753 · p. 95 ↗
  3. Parental participation in programs for low income, English learner, foster youth students, and students with disabilities+⁠$30,998$514,755 → $545,753 · p. 95 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • School Facilities · $600,403 → $600,403 · p. 95 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 20 measures · 3 quoted

  • Average percentage for all sites Facility Inspection Tool (FIT) rating p. 33 ↗
    Baseline
    90% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%
  • Annual percentage of average daily attendance at comprehensive high schools p. 35 ↗
    Baseline
    93.36% (Fall 2023)
    Target for year 3
    96%
  • Percentage of chronically absent students (absent more than 10% of available days) p. 35 ↗
    Baseline
    28.1% (2022-23)
    Target for year 3
    15%

17 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3Equitable Access$14.2 million25% of action budgets

“MUHSD students will have equitable access to develop academic, career, and social- emotional skills to maximize life-readiness opportunities” p. 42 ↗

10 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $14.6 million (−⁠$442,636)

Largest funded actions

  1. Technology and the Future of Technology in Education$2.9 millionaction 3.4 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.4 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Intervention Across All Tiers and Domains for Unduplicated Student Subgroups$2.9 millionaction 3.3 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.4 million is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Equitable Access to Adopted Standards Aligned Curriculum$2.4 millionaction 3.1 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Equitable Access to Adopted Standards Aligned Curriculum for Unduplicated Student Subgroups$2.3 millionaction 3.2 · p. 95 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.9 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Transportation: Bus & White Fleet Expansion/​Upgrade and Services$1.4 millionaction 3.12 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.2 million is state funding counted toward those services

5 more funded actions in this goal

  • EL and LTELS Progress Toward English Language Proficiency · action 3.5 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $998,722 is state funding counted toward those services$1.2 million
  • District Child Development Center · action 3.10 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $741,724 is state funding counted toward those services$0.9 million
  • Nutrition Services Support: Providing Student Meals · action 3.11 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $95,000 is state funding counted toward those services$0.1 million
  • Instructional Supplemental Program and Supports for Foster Youth · action 3.9 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
  • Transportation for Low Income Students for Support Services · action 3.8 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Intervention Across All Tiers and Domains for Unduplicated Student Subgroups−⁠$1.7 million$4.6 million → $2.9 million · p. 95 ↗
  2. Equitable Access to Adopted Standards Aligned Curriculum+⁠$0.4 million$2.0 million → $2.4 million · p. 95 ↗
  3. Equitable Access to Adopted Standards Aligned Curriculum for Unduplicated Student Subgroups+⁠$0.4 million$1.8 million → $2.3 million · p. 95 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Technology and the Future of Technology in Education · $3.4 million → $2.9 million · p. 95 ↗−⁠$0.4 million
  • Transportation: Bus & White Fleet Expansion/​Upgrade and Services · $1.0 million → $1.4 million · p. 96 ↗+⁠$0.4 million
  • EL and LTELS Progress Toward English Language Proficiency · $1.0 million → $1.2 million · p. 96 ↗+⁠$0.2 million
  • District Child Development Center · $712,237 → $890,069 · p. 96 ↗+⁠$177,832
  • Nutrition Services Support: Providing Student Meals · $120,000 → $114,000 · p. 96 ↗−⁠$6,000
  • Instructional Supplemental Program and Supports for Foster Youth · $39,772 → $54,426 · p. 96 ↗+⁠$14,654
  • Transportation for Low Income Students for Support Services · $5,500 → $5,500 · p. 96 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 15 measures · 3 quoted

  • Percentage of sites that implement state board adopted academic content standards and curriculum p. 43 ↗
    Baseline
    100% of sites (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100% of sites
  • Percentage of students that have sufficient access to standard- aligned instructional materials p. 43 ↗
    Baseline
    100% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%
  • Percentage of students that have access to a broad course of study as measured by analysis of the master schedules p. 43 ↗
    Baseline
    100% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%

12 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 4Recruit and Retain Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff: MUHSD students will be supported by effective…$21.2 million37% of action budgets

“Recruit and Retain Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff: MUHSD students will be supported by effective, engaged, and innovative staff who are committed to continuous professional growth, ongoing student improvement, and achieving district goals” p. 54 ↗

5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $22.0 million (−⁠$746,260)

Largest funded actions

  1. Recruit & Retain Highly Qualified Staff$20.5 millionaction 4.1 · p. 96 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $17.1 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff to Improve Educational Supports and Outcomes$0.6 millionaction 4.4 · p. 97 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $500,338 is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Professional Development$0.1 millionaction 4.2 · p. 97 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $61,917 is state funding counted toward those services
  4. English Language Development Professional Development for EL and LTEL students$0.1 millionaction 4.3 · p. 97 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $61,917 is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Recruit, Hire and Retain Diverse Staffunder $0.1 millionaction 4.10 · p. 97 ↗

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Effective, Engaged, and Innovative Staff to Improve Educational Supports and Outcomes−⁠$2.9 million$3.5 million → $0.6 million · p. 97 ↗
  2. Recruit & Retain Highly Qualified Staff+⁠$2.9 million$17.5 million → $20.5 million · p. 96 ↗
  3. Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Professional Development−⁠$368,523$442,824 → $74,301 · p. 97 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • English Language Development Professional Development for EL and LTEL students · $442,824 → $74,301 · p. 97 ↗−⁠$368,523
  • Recruit, Hire and Retain Diverse Staff · $6,000 → $6,000 · p. 97 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 11 measures · 3 quoted

  • Teachers in MUHSD are fully credentialed in the subject area and for the students they are teaching p. 54 ↗
    Baseline
    95.4% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%
  • Percent of teachers participating in English Language Development professional development p. 55 ↗
    Baseline
    97% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%
  • Professional development on adopted academic standards and/or curriculum framework (focus on English, math, science, and social studies) p. 55 ↗
    Baseline
    99.7% (2023-24)
    Target for year 3
    100%

8 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 5 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalMUHSD students at Independence High School will enhance college, career, and social-emotional readiness…$214,624under 1% of action budgets

“MUHSD students at Independence High School will enhance college, career, and social-emotional readiness through expanded equitable learning opportunities that integrate a hybrid instructional model combining computer-based curriculum with in-person project-based learning, increased access to CTE courses and pathways aligned with student interests and regional workforce needs, and meaningful in-person engagement opportunities such as monthly seminars and school- connected activities designed to strengthen student connection, engagement, skill development, and postsecondary success by June 2027” p. 64 ↗

5 funded actions · reworded since the 2025–26 plan

Largest funded actions

  1. Design and Implement$83,944action 5.2 · p. 98 ↗
  2. Integrate Curriculum$45,000action 5.1 · p. 98 ↗
  3. Data$45,000action 5.4 · p. 98 ↗
  4. Professional Development$30,680action 5.3 · p. 98 ↗
  5. Recruit and Retain$10,000action 5.5 · p. 98 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Design and Implement · $83,944 → $83,944 · p. 98 ↗unchanged
  • Integrate Curriculum · $45,000 → $45,000 · p. 98 ↗unchanged
  • Data · $45,000 → $45,000 · p. 98 ↗unchanged
  • Professional Development · $30,680 · p. 98 ↗new or renamed
  • Recruit and Retain · $10,000 → $10,000 · p. 98 ↗unchanged

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 2 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 64 ↗.

Goal 6 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalMUHSD students at Sequoia High School will have a decreased suspension rate, over a three year period…$188,913under 1% of action budgets

“MUHSD students at Sequoia High School will have a decreased suspension rate, over a three year period beginning with the 2024-25 school year, by 3% for all students, and particularly for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, Hispanic, and African American students as measured by the State Dashboard and school discipline data. Based upon the 2023 Dashboard data, baselines will be: All Students 10.8%; Hispanic Students 9.8%; African American Students 23.1%” p. 69 ↗

4 funded actions · reworded since the 2025–26 plan

Largest funded actions

  1. Supporting Students’ Social Emotional Development$113,913action 6.1 · p. 98 ↗
  2. Trauma Informed Training for Staff$25,000action 6.2 · p. 98 ↗
  3. Partner with Community Organizations$25,000action 6.3 · p. 99 ↗
  4. Tier 1 Drug Awareness$25,000action 6.4 · p. 99 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Supporting Students’ Social Emotional Development · $113,913 · p. 98 ↗new or renamed
  • Trauma Informed Training for Staff · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 98 ↗unchanged
  • Partner with Community Organizations · $25,000 · p. 99 ↗new or renamed
  • Tier 1 Drug Awareness · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 99 ↗unchanged

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 1 measure · 1 quoted

  • Percentage of Students suspended at least one day at Sequoia High School p. 69 ↗
    Baseline
    All Students 10.6% …
    Target for year 3
    All Students 7.6% …
Goal 7 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalMUHSD students at Yosemite High School will improve college and career readiness outcomes by increasing CTE…$495,9701% of action budgets

“MUHSD students at Yosemite High School will improve college and career readiness outcomes by increasing CTE pathway completion, certification attainment, internship and work-based learning participation, and successful transitions to postsecondary education, training, or employment by June 2027” p. 74 ↗

5 funded actions · reworded since the 2025–26 plan

Largest funded actions

  1. Allocate Resources$387,298action 7.5 · p. 100 ↗
  2. Professional Development$43,672action 7.3 · p. 99 ↗
  3. Enhance Curriculum$25,000action 7.1 · p. 99 ↗
  4. Outreach and Awareness$25,000action 7.4 · p. 99 ↗
  5. Develop Partnerships$15,000action 7.2 · p. 99 ↗

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Allocate Resources+⁠$196,498$190,800 → $387,298 · p. 100 ↗
  2. Professional Development+⁠$18,672$25,000 → $43,672 · p. 99 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Enhance Curriculum · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 99 ↗unchanged
  • Outreach and Awareness · $25,000 → $25,000 · p. 99 ↗unchanged
  • Develop Partnerships · $15,000 → $15,000 · p. 99 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 3 measures · 3 quoted

  • Percent of Prepared on the CCI indicator p. 74 ↗
    Baseline
    All students: 1.2% …
    Target for year 3
    All students: 10% …
  • Percent of students reaching Standard Met on ELA state testing p. 75 ↗
    Baseline
    All students: 4.03% …
    Target for year 3
    All students: 10% …
  • Percent of students reaching Standard Met on math state testing p. 75 ↗
    Baseline
    All students: 0% …
    Target for year 3
    All students: 10% …

All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.

Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends

Student mix

2024–25 · October enrollment count, 11,062 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 73%2. White: 12%3. Asian: 7%4. Black or African American: 4%5. Two or more races: 2%6. Not reported: <1%7. Filipino: <1%8. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%9. Pacific Islander: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino73%
  2. White12%
  3. Asian7%
  4. Black or African American4%
  5. Two or more races2%
  6. Not reported<1%
  7. Filipino<1%
  8. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
  9. Pacific Islander<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.

Free or reduced-price meals

81%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 8,906 of 10,984 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.

The district’s state records

Is the state giving the district extra help?

Merced Union High isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 37% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (472 of 1,270 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (5)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in the Merced Union High district rank highest?

High: Buhach Colony High, 47th percentile (Developing). Each percentile is among the California high schools we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

Does living in the Merced Union High district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)

Are the public schools in the Merced Union High district good?

Merced Union High’s 7 public high schools run from the 2nd to the 47th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 6 Developing and 1 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.

How does chronic absence in the Merced Union High district compare with California?

The average high school in the Merced Union High district had 25 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.

How much does the Merced Union High district spend per student?

The Merced Union High district spent $19,638 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 54 cents of every Merced Union High dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

What is in the Merced Union High district’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $56.8 million into 40 funded actions in 7 goals, 26% of its $221.9 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $21.2 million, 37% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP) from spring 2025 and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by the Merced Union High district, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024–25

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.