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Schools in 95340 — Merced, California

95340 has 13 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.4 — 12.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 18.7 to 46.1, a 27.4-point spread.

Avg Scope Score
31.4
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
27.4
18.7 – 46.1
Avg Exceeded %
9.3%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
26.7%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
13
With Scope Scores

How 95340 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Allan Peterson Elementary with a Scope Score of 46 and 20.9% of students exceeding standard.

Declining trajectory: Average proficiency drops by 3.8 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 95340. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 95340 averages 26.7%, below the state average of 18.1%. This elevated rate may indicate systemic attendance challenges in the area.

How 95340 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 95340
95340Merced13Developing
31.4/100
95341Merced7Developing
31.5/100
+0.1
95338Mariposa4Developing
31.4/100
+0.0
95337Manteca4Developing
38.9/100
+7.5
95336Manteca13Developing
31.5/100
+0.2
95334Livingston5Developing
35.7/100
+4.3

School archetypes in 95340

4 On the Rise9 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 4 schools in 95340 are classified as On the Rise (4) — 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 95340

#SchoolExceededScore
1Allan Peterson Elementary
Merced City Elementary On the Rise
20.9%Developing
46/100
2Independence High (Alternative)
Merced Union High Building Momentum
1.3%Developing
42/100
3Luther Burbank Elementary
Merced City Elementary On the Rise
17.1%Developing
38/100
4Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
16.9%Developing
36/100
5Charles Wright Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
12.2%Developing
35/100
6John C. Fremont Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
13.1%Developing
33/100
7Ada Givens Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
10.4%Developing
32/100
8John Muir Elementary
Merced City Elementary On the Rise
6.2%Needs Support
29/100
9Leontine Gracey Elementary
Merced City Elementary On the Rise
4.3%Needs Support
27/100
10Don Stowell Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
6.0%Needs Support
26/100
11Margaret Sheehy Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
7.8%Needs Support
24/100
12Alicia Reyes Elementary
Merced City Elementary Building Momentum
3.6%Needs Support
22/100
13Yosemite High (Continuation)
Merced Union High Building Momentum
0.8%Needs Support
19/100

Schools in 95340 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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about 95340

  • 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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access

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

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Merced good?
Merced's 13 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 31.4/100, which is 12.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. 9.3% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Merced?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Merced is Allan Peterson Elementary with a Scope Score of 46/100 and 20.9% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Merced schools compare to the state average?
Merced elementary schools average a Scope Score of 31.4 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (12.4 points below). The exceeded rate averages 9.3% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.7% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 18.7 to 46.1, a 27.4-point spread.
How many schools are in Merced?
Merced has 13 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
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 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.