Best Schools in Atwater, California
14 schools · 8 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in Atwater?
Use this page to compare every school in Atwater by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Aileen Colburn Elementary
Elementary · Atwater Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Buhach Colony High
High · Merced Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Mitchell Elementary
Elementary · Atwater Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Atwater for 2026 are Aileen Colburn Elementary (8.3/10), Buhach Colony High (7.8/10), and Mitchell Elementary (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$367,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
14
12 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$367,800
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Atwater schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Atwater schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Atwater
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 14 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aileen Colburn Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Buhach Colony High | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Mitchell Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Bellevue Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Thomas Olaeta Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Bellevue Senior Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Atwater High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Peggy Heller Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Mitchell Intermediate | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Shaffer Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $66,669
- Median home value
- $367,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 16%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Atwater compares
California rank
#357 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
67% of California median
Schools in this city
12
Atwater Elementary runs 83% of Atwater's public schools
Atwater touches 2 districts, but Atwater Elementary is the one most addresses actually attend.
Atwater Elementary accounts for 10 of 12 public schools (83%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 2.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Atwater, not a citywide average.
- Atwater Elementary10 public · 83%
- Merced Union High2 public · 17%
About Schools in Atwater, California
Atwater, California is home to 14 schools, including 12 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in Atwater show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Atwater is Aileen Colburn Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Atwater is served by 2 school districts: Atwater Elementary, Merced Union High. These districts collectively serve 16,079 students.
Atwater's community shows 16% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $66,669. The poverty rate in the area is 17.6%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 383 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 550 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.3 | ||
| 3 | 621 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 | ||
| 4 | 387 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 707 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.7 | ||
| 6 | 422 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.9 | ||
| 7 | 507 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Anthony SchoolPrivate 99 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 197 students · 7th–8th | 6.1 |
| 2 | 757 students · 7th–8th | 5.4 |
| 3 | 8 students · 6th–8th | — |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,658 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 2,051 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Landmark ChristianPrivate 35 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Atwater
Atwater, California · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$66,669
Median Home Value
$367,800
Median Rent
$1,215/mo
Population
42,374
College Educated
16%
Homeownership
57%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Community Profile
Atwater has a median household income of $66,669. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $367,800, with a median rent of $1,215/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.6%. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Atwater, California
How many schools are in Atwater, California?
Atwater has 14 schools, including 12 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Atwater, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Atwater is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Atwater, California?
The top-ranked school in Atwater on MySchoolScout is Aileen Colburn Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Atwater, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Atwater on MySchoolScout is Aileen Colburn Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Atwater, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Atwater on MySchoolScout is Bellevue Senior Elementary with a composite score of 6.1/10.
What is the best high school in Atwater, California?
The top-ranked high school in Atwater on MySchoolScout is Buhach Colony High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Atwater, California?
Atwater is served by 2 school districts: Atwater Elementary, Merced Union High.
What is the education level in Atwater, California?
According to Census data, 16% of adults in Atwater have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Atwater, California?
The median household income in Atwater is approximately $66,669 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Atwater, California?
Yes, Atwater has 2 private schools alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Anthony School with a score of 5.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Atwater, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Atwater is 20.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Atwater, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.