Schools in 95301 — Atwater, California: 11 schools. Average score 6.6 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
95301 has 11 ranked schools in Atwater, averaging a Scope Score of 38.3/100 — 6.6 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025). Scores range from 17.5 to 56.7, a 39.3-point spread.
How 95301 schools perform
The top-ranked school is Juniper Elementary with a Scope Score of 57 and 18.6% of students exceeding standard.
Average proficiency falls 5.9 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 95301. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.
Chronic absenteeism across 95301 averages 12.7%, below the state average of 17.9%. CDE CAASPP 2025.
How 95301 compares to nearby zip codes
| Zip | City | Schools | Avg Score | vs 95301 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95301 | Atwater | 11 | Developing 38.3/100 | — |
| 95304 | Tracy | 10 | Developing 39.6/100 | +1.3 |
| 95307 | Ceres | 17 | Developing 37.6/100 | -0.7 |
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
School archetypes in 95301
Hidden gems: 2 schools in 95301 are classified as Growth Engine or On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
All schools in 95301
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juniper Elementary Atwater Elementary Growth Engine | 18.6% | Solid 57/100 |
| 2 | Thomas Olaeta Elementary Atwater Elementary Culture First | 23.7% | Solid 54/100 |
| 3 | Buhach Colony High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 12.7% | Developing 47/100 |
| 4 | Atwater High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 9.8% | Developing 44/100 |
| 5 | Mitchell Elementary Atwater Elementary Culture First | 15.3% | Developing 43/100 |
| 6 | Elmer Wood Elementary Atwater Elementary On the Rise | 18.5% | Developing 42/100 |
| 7 | Aileen Colburn Elementary Atwater Elementary Building Momentum | 14.0% | Developing 36/100 |
| 8 | Bellevue Elementary Atwater Elementary Culture First | 15.2% | Developing 35/100 |
| 9 | Shaffer Elementary Atwater Elementary Building Momentum | 12.5% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 10 | Peggy Heller Elementary Atwater Elementary Building Momentum | 10.7% | Needs Support 21/100 |
| 11 | Valley Atwater Community Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 17/100 |
Schools in 95301 on the map
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology