Merced City Elementary School District
School District · Merced, California
Avg Rating
5.2
out of 10
Schools
19
15 elem, 4 mid
Enrollment
11,013
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.9:1
Avg Rating
5.2
out of 10
Schools
19
15 elem, 4 mid
Enrollment
11,013
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.9:1
How this district compares
California rank
#647 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-1.2
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,186
$2,461 vs California median
District size
11,013 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Merced City Elementary ranks #647 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Merced City Elementary's schools with real test data average 5.2/10 across 19 schools. Its top-rated schools are Margaret Sheehy Elementary (6.7/10), Allan Peterson Elementary (6.5/10), and Charles Wright Elementary (6.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.7/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 City Elementary schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +12.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Merced City Elementary schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Merced City Elementary
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (19 of 19). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margaret Sheehy Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Allan Peterson Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Charles Wright Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | John C. Fremont Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Don Stowell Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Tenaya Middle | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Luther Burbank Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Joe Stefani | 5.2 / 10 |
See all 19 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Merced City Elementary
Merced City Elementary is a Merced, California school district serving 19 schools.The district educates 11,013 students with a student-teacher ratio of 24.9:1. District-level spending was $15,186 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.2/10, Merced City Elementary demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Margaret Sheehy Elementary, which has a composite score of 6.7/10.
In standardized testing, Merced City Elementary students show an average math proficiency of 27.9% and ELA proficiency of 35.5%.
The district includes 15 elementary schools, 4 middle schools.
District Map
Schools in Merced City Elementary, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Merced City Elementary with test data.
Schools in Merced City Elementary
19 schoolsElementary Schools15
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Merced
- Total Enrollment
- 11,013
- Teachers (FTE)
- 443
- District spending per student
- $15,186NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 28.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Merced City Elementary?
Merced City Elementary has 19 schools in total — 15 elementary, 4 middle. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Merced City Elementary?
The average composite rating for Merced City Elementary is 5.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Merced City Elementary?
Merced City Elementary's district-level spending was $15,186 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Merced City Elementary?
The average student-teacher ratio in Merced City Elementary is 24.9:1.
What is the top-rated school in Merced City Elementary?
Margaret Sheehy Elementary is the highest-rated school in Merced City Elementary with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What are the test scores in Merced City Elementary?
Across schools in Merced City Elementary with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.9% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Merced City Elementary compare to other districts in California?
Merced City Elementary has an average school rating of 5.2/10 across 19 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.9%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.5%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Merced City Elementary with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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