Best Schools in Merced, California
45 schools · 23 Elementary · 5 Middle · 10 High · 7 Other
Choosing a school in Merced?
Use this page to compare every school in Merced 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.
Franklin Elementary
Elementary · Merced City Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Luther Burbank Elementary
Elementary · Merced City Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Independence High (alternative)
High · Merced Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Merced for 2026 are Franklin Elementary (7.7/10), Luther Burbank Elementary (7.5/10), and Independence High (alternative) (6.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 39 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
45
38 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$343,733
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
45
38 public · 7 private
Avg Score
5.2
out of 10
Median Home
$343,733
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 7.7/10 despite 83% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.5 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 Merced schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Merced schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Merced
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (39 of 45). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Luther Burbank Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Independence High (alternative) | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Stone Ridge Christian School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Leontine Gracey Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Sequoia High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Valley Atwater Community | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | EL Capitan High | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Farmdale Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Valley Merced Community | 6.1 / 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
- 5.2/10
- Median household income
- $61,425
- Median home value
- $343,733
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
5% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Merced compares
California rank
#522 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.0
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$61k
62% of California median
Schools in this city
40
About Schools in Merced, California
Merced's public school system spans 37 ranked schools, covering elementary through high school across the city and its surrounding districts. The landscape is broad, giving families a genuine range of options to evaluate — but performance varies considerably from school to school, and knowing where to focus attention matters.
The city-wide average sits at 5.4 out of 10, which reflects a competitive challenge many Central Valley communities share. Only 3 schools, or 8% of Merced's ranked public schools, score 7 or higher — so high-performing options are real but limited. Franklin Elementary leads the city with a score of 7.8, making it the strongest-performing public school in Merced by a clear margin. Plainsburg Union Elementary follows at 7.3, and Sequoia High rounds out the top three at 7.0, giving families with high schoolers at least one strong public option to consider. Leontine Gracey Elementary (6.9) and Merced Scholars Charter (6.7) fall just outside the top tier but still perform above the city average by a meaningful gap.
For elementary-aged children, the search narrows quickly. Franklin and Plainsburg Union are the standouts, and attendance boundaries or enrollment eligibility will be a deciding factor for many families. Merced Scholars Charter, operating outside traditional district boundaries, may offer an alternative path for families who don't fall within those zones. At the high school level, Sequoia High's 7.0 score places it well above the city average and makes it a practical anchor for parents planning ahead.
The practical takeaway: Merced offers solid schools at the top of its range, but the average score of 5.4 signals that school selection within the city carries real weight. Parents should prioritize confirming attendance boundaries early, look closely at school-level data rather than relying on district-wide impressions, and consider charter options if district schools in their area fall below their threshold. With only 3 schools clearing the 7-point mark across 37 ranked options, targeted research pays off more here than in cities with broader high-performing school networks.
Elementary Schools
23 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 568 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 7.7 |
| 2 | 727 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 509 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 |
| 4 | 970 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 5 | 31 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.6 |
| 6 | 1,062 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 |
| 7 | 939 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 565 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 894 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 |
| 10 | 546 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.1 |
Show all 23 elementary schools in Merced
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 607 students · 7th–8th | 5.7 |
| 2 | 607 students · 7th–8th | 5.4 |
| 3 | 585 students · 7th–8th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 1,000 students · 6th–8th | 5.1 |
| 5 | 630 students · 7th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 2 | 106 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 | ||
| 3 | 120 students · 6th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 4 | 1,811 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 1,955 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 195 students · 6th–12th | 5.3 | ||
| 7 | 355 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 8 | 1,951 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 9 | 120 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 28 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 297 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 3 | 84 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 4 | 895 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.3 | ||
| 5 | 18 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Stone Ridge Christian SchoolPrivate 448 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 520 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Merced
Merced, California · 45 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$61,425
Median Home Value
$343,733
Median Rent
$1,291/mo
Population
109,664
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
48%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
22.1%
Community Profile
Merced has a median household income of $61,425. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $343,733, with a median rent of $1,291/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 23
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 10
- Other
- 7
School Districts (6)
Nearby Cities
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 Merced, California
How many schools are in Merced, California?
Merced has 45 schools, including 38 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Merced, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Merced is 5.2 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 Merced, California?
The top-ranked school in Merced on MySchoolScout is Franklin Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Merced, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Merced on MySchoolScout is Franklin Elementary with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Merced, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Merced on MySchoolScout is Herbert Hoover Middle with a composite score of 5.7/10.
What is the best high school in Merced, California?
The top-ranked high school in Merced on MySchoolScout is Independence High (alternative) with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Merced, California?
Merced is served by 6 school districts: Mcswain Union Elementary, Merced City Elementary, Merced Union High, Plainsburg Union Elementary, Weaver Union, Merced County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Merced, California?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Merced have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Merced, California?
The median household income in Merced is approximately $61,425 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Merced, California?
Yes, Merced has 7 private schools alongside 38 public schools. The top-rated private school is Stone Ridge Christian School with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Merced, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Merced is 21.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Merced, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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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.