Elementary Schools in Merced, California: 18 schools. Average score 11.2 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
Merced, California has 18 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 33.6/100 — 11.2 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Allan Peterson Elementary at 49/100, where 20.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Merced schools average 11.0% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.3% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 18 | Developing 33.6/100 | 11.0% | -11.2 |
| High | 6 | Developing 35.1/100 | 5.5% | -8.6 |
| Middle | 2 | Needs Support 28.9/100 | 5.3% | -13.7 |
How Merced schools compare
Merced has 18 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 33.6/100 — 11.2 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is Allan Peterson Elementary with a Scope Score of 49 and 20.9% of students exceeding standard.
Chronic absenteeism in Merced averages 20.3% — above the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page
School archetypes in Merced
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Every school in Merced
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allan Peterson Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 20.9% | Developing 49/100 |
| 2 | El Capitan High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 11.9% | Developing 48/100 |
| 3 | Merced High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 9.8% | Developing 46/100 |
| 4 | Golden Valley High Merced Union High Building Momentum | 9.3% | Developing 44/100 |
| 5 | McSwain Elementary McSwain Union Elementary Building Momentum | 19.3% | Developing 43/100 |
| 6 | Luther Burbank Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 17.1% | Developing 40/100 |
| 7 | Charles Wright Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 12.2% | Developing 40/100 |
| 8 | Pioneer Elementary Weaver Union Building Momentum | 13.8% | Developing 39/100 |
| 9 | John Muir Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.2% | Developing 37/100 |
| 10 | Joe Stefani Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 11.3% | Developing 37/100 |
| 11 | Independence High (Alternative) Merced Union High Building Momentum | 1.3% | Developing 37/100 |
| 12 | Farmdale Elementary Weaver Union Culture First | 16.9% | Developing 35/100 |
| 13 | Ada Givens Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 10.4% | Developing 34/100 |
| 14 | Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 16.9% | Developing 34/100 |
| 15 | John C. Fremont Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 13.1% | Developing 33/100 |
| 16 | Weaver Middle Weaver Union Building Momentum | 10.6% | Developing 33/100 |
| 17 | Plainsburg Union Elementary Plainsburg Union Elementary Building Momentum | 11.0% | Needs Support 30/100 |
| 18 | Leontine Gracey Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 4.3% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 19 | Don Stowell Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 6.0% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 20 | Rudolph Rivera Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 8.0% | Needs Support 28/100 |
| 21 | Margaret Sheehy Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 22 | Merced County Special Education Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 23 | Alicia Reyes Elementary Merced City Elementary Building Momentum | 3.6% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 24 | Merced Scholars Charter Merced County Office of Education Culture First | 0.0% | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 25 | Valley Merced Community Merced County Office of Education Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 26 | Yosemite High (Continuation) Merced Union High Building Momentum | 0.8% | Needs Support 17/100 |
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.
Private Schools in Merced
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
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